Brace Face Off: Ossur Unloader1 vs Icarus Brace. Which one is best for you?

My expertise with knee braces extends far beyond merely prescribing them for my patients; I possess an in-depth understanding of what to look for in an effective brace. I am not just a doctor but also a patient suffering with knee pain. My perspective on knee braces is based on my personal experience and that of my patients.
As a Board-Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon practicing in Orange for over 22 years, I specialize in sports trauma and the repair of knees, shoulders, elbows, and pec major muscles.
I suffer from severe knee arthritis, a condition exacerbated by a traumatic injury where both of my knees were run over by a bus. This incident led to severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis in my right knee, which is also deformed and significantly more impaired than my left. For many years, I have relied on unloading stabilizing knee braces, specifically designed to address arthritis and instability.
Brace Face-Off:
Recently, I had the opportunity to evaluate two high-quality knee braces intended for patients with arthritis and instability. Both braces require a physician's order and clinical documentation confirming their medical necessity.
Below are my thoughts on these two braces. I hope this information proves helpful to anyone suffering from knee pain.
Ossur UnloaderOne
Pros- super lightweight, adjustable, easy to pack, provides good side to side support, comfortable, can adjust as body weight changes , low profile, available off the shelf, provides good to excellent unloading.
Cons- Single hinge design provides less stability than double hinge, multiple straps can be cumbersome and can become tangled, can be a little difficult to put on, Straps get damaged overtime and need replacement.
Icarus Medical Ascender
Pro- Excellent fit, excellent stability, 3D constructed custom fit, spring loaded to help patients with poor extension, double upright provides solid stability.
Cons- Bulky due to thick frame, cannot be folded hard to transport when not being worn, girth adjustments are restricted due to hard rigid frame, custom fit increases price.


[@neilrosalina1998]

Hi Dr. Mora, you fixed my torn meniscus in 2017. Nice video. Have a great hiking trip in South America.

[@SteveMoraMD]

@@neilrosalina1998 Thank you. I hope you are well. Visit anytime:)

[@nedhenningsen1724]

Does folding the Unloader One brace like that strain the hinge joint in a way that can damage / loosen it? I want to be able to easily store it like that. Thanks

[@SteveMoraMD]

@@nedhenningsen1724 no it will not damage unloading mechanism. Unloading comes from the straps.