How Are Braces And Splints Used To Relieve Pain Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Dr. Cruciani answers the question: 'Braces, Splints For Rheumatoid Arthritis?'

By
Ricardo Cruciani, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center
August 14, 2008, 12:15 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: How are braces and splints used to relieve pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer: Braces and splints are utilized to reduce pain in rheumatoid arthritis by stabilizing the joint. What you do is you give more structure to it. One of the problems that you have with the joints when you have rheumatoid arthritis, is that there are deformities in it. So the gravity and the pressures on it, they are changed.

So the way your weight is distributed that's changed also. So your knee for example tends to go to the side. If you put a brace, you give more stability. If you give stability, then you have less friction between the different tissues. And that will decrease the pain.

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