OA Patient Ken Robke Continues Pursuing Life’s Adventures Thanks to His Unloader One Knee Brace

Ken Robke is accustomed to his body doing whatever activities he wants — without any "backtalk" from pain. So, he continued working out vigorously, enduring months of pain and swelling in his knee before finally seeking medical help. After being diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, Ken immediately knew he wanted an osteoarthritis knee treatment that would help keep him moving

"I suffered for about two years before I went to see a doctor," he recalls. "I wasn't getting full extension or full bending of my knee, but I was working out all the time, as well as skiing and wakeboarding. My knee was constantly sore."

A former high school principal, Ken first talked with his school's team doctor about his pain. That doctor suggested he meet with an orthopaedic surgeon for a consultation. 

"The surgeon examined my knee. I told him of a previous ACL surgery I had had on my knee, and he did an X-ray that showed I had developed OA," Ken says. "Participating in numerous half marathons, skiing snow bumps, wake surfing, and wakeboarding had taken their toll. The surgeon said my ACL was in good shape but that the OA was nearly bone-on-bone." 

Millions Have OA Today

Like Ken, millions of Americans suffer from OA, which is the most common joint disorder in the United States. An estimated 27 million Americans, including 10% of men and 13% of women over the age of 60 experience symptoms of knee OA, including pain, swelling, and problems moving the joint, according to the National Institutes for Health. 

OA is considered a degenerative disease and often is described as "wear and tear." OA is also progressive. This means that as time goes on, the cartilage that should be protecting the ends of the bones gradually breaks down. The joint fluid loses its shock-absorbing qualities and bones may begin to rub against each other. 

There are many risk factors for developing OA, including having a family history of OA, carrying extra body weight, and advancing age. 

In Ken's case, he had two of the primary risk factors for developing OA. First: overuse, which is considered one of the primary causes of OA. Ken's knee was likely suffering from overuse due to his high levels of regular physical activity.

His prior knee injury, which required surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL,  also multiplied his risk for OA. Researchers have shown that damaging crucial ligaments can cause cartilage degeneration to start much earlier or progress more rapidly. People who have damaged ACLs like Ken did, are at an increased risk for developing OA within the following 10 years.  

Off-loader Bracing for OA

Although there are no known cures for OA, Ken wanted to explore osteoarthritis knee treatment options that would allow him to stay as physically active as possible. One clinically proven treatment option for OA patients like Ken is an off-loader brace, which has been designed to adjust alignment issues associated with diminishing cartilage and reduce the bone-on-bone "load" in the joint. 

Through his doctor, Ken learned about the Unloader One from Össur, a lightweight, easy-to-use brace that has been specifically designed for knee OA. The Unloader One brace is clinically proven to reduce osteoarthritis pain without the use of surgery or painkillers.  In a 2012 study, researchers reported that many OA patients, like Ken, wanted not only to experience pain relief and improved function, but to be able to return to recreational sports.  These researchers also found that patients who wore Össur's Unloader One brace experienced significant improvements in pain, stiffness, function and overall quality of life.  

It's important to note that not all braces are alike when it comes to helping with OA symptoms. A 2005 study by Richards, et. al that compared two types of knee brace reported differences in patients' pain and function, depending on whether they wore a simple hinged brace or Unloader One.  In comparing both types of braces, researchers reported that medial OA patients experienced greater benefits, including significant improvements in pain and function as a result of wearing Unloader One. 

Immediate Relief With Unloader One

When Ken first tried on Unloader One, he felt immediate relief. "Wearing an Össur brace is like putting on a warm blanket," he says. "It helped my entire knee, stabilizing it so that I could be as active as I wanted."

Ken's enthusiasm for his Unloader One led him to become a product champion for Össur, which makes the brace. He now talks about the Unloader One and the benefits he has experienced with medical professionals who are attending major scientific conferences.  

"To think that I could have been relegated to sitting in a chair and complaining about my knee is frightening. The Össur braces extend the life of my knee so that I can avoid or delay what would be a major surgery and allow me to be involved in activities that are fun, enjoyable and rewarding," he says.

In the seven years since his OA diagnosis, the active sportsman has found both versions of the Unloader One helpful. He wears the Unloader One with SmartDosing™ for athletic activities.  "I use the Unloader One for golfing, wakeboarding, and wake surfing. It wraps around the knee, clips on the side and then snaps down," Ken explains. "This very low-profile brace is great for athletic activities  such as skiing bumps and where the knee receives a heavier impact than usual. It allows me to play golf without pain. Recently I was able to do tough workouts at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, running up and down as well as hopping the stairs." 

He also wears an Unloader One Lite for daily activities. "Unloader One Lite, made of Lycra, slips on like a sock and has a single button that you twist and push to adjust the tension," he says. "When my leg is in extension this brace helps keep my knee from going to bone-on-bone."

He also knows first-hand the physical difference in his experience, based on whether he is wearing his Unloader One or not. "The other day I went skiing and I realized I had forgotten my brace. After three or four runs I had to quit because it was just too painful. My knee became unstable and so when I made a turn or went over a bump, my knee was essentially bone-on-bone."

Ken readily acknowledges that when it comes to osteoarthritis knee treatment, there is no miracle cure. But he says that if he owned a magic wand, he would have created the Össur braces. "There is not much you can do with arthritis, but the Unloader One braces allow me to be ready for any kind of adventure that presents itself… and to do so without much pain or discomfort."