The study, published in the BMJ, showed that people with osteoarthritis who received a tailored knee brace intervention from their physiotherapist together with self-management advice and an exercise plan reported a greater improvement in their symptoms, compared to people that received the advice and exercise plan alone.

Around 1 in 5 adults over 45 are affected by painful knee osteoarthritis, often causing significant long-term pain, lost time and productivity at work, and problems with daily activities. The researchers in this study wanted to investigate whether a knee brace might provide lasting benefit.