Questions about braces, sizing and coverage

Not to buy one privately — you can order most off-the-shelf braces and supports directly. You do need a written order from a physician if you want us to bill Medicare or your insurance, because a brace is only a covered DME benefit when it is prescribed for a diagnosed condition.

Yes, when prescribed. Off-the-shelf orthoses fall under the Medicare Part B durable medical equipment benefit. Part B pays 80% of the approved amount and you are responsible for the remaining 20% once your deductible is met. We bill Medicare directly and tell you your share before the order ships.

L-codes are the HCPCS billing codes that identify a specific type of orthosis — L1843 for a unicompartmental knee brace, L0637 for a rigid LSO, and so on. Your prescription will usually carry one. Listing it against every product means the brace you receive matches the code your doctor wrote, which is what stops a claim being denied.

Each range has its own measurement: knee braces are sized on thigh and calf circumference, back braces on waist, wrist braces on wrist circumference, and boots on shoe size. Our sizing guide lists all of them. Measure the affected limb, not the healthy one, and call us if you fall between two sizes.

A hinged brace has rigid uprights and mechanical hinges that physically limit how far the joint bends — it is what a surgeon prescribes after a repair. A sleeve is elastic compression that provides warmth, mild support and proprioceptive feedback but does not restrict motion. They are not interchangeable, and using a sleeve where a hinge was prescribed can compromise a repair.

It is a brace for osteoarthritis affecting one side of the knee. Instead of restricting motion, it applies a corrective force that shifts load away from the worn compartment, which reduces the bone-on-bone contact that causes pain. It is fitted to the affected side, so left and right are not interchangeable.

Rigid spinal braces are usually prescribed for a set number of hours a day and stepped down as you recover, because wearing one constantly allows the supporting muscles to weaken. Follow the hours your physician specified. Elastic lumbar supports worn for lifting are a different matter and can be used as needed.

For carpal tunnel syndrome, night wear is usually the more effective of the two, because the numbness is caused by the wrist flexing while you sleep. A night splint holds it in a neutral position. Day splints allow more hand function but restrict the wrist less. Many patients are prescribed both.

That is your surgeon's decision, not ours, and it varies from two weeks for a simple sprain to three months for a ligament reconstruction with a staged range-of-motion protocol. We supply the brace and adjust the hinge settings to whatever range they specify.

Yes. Call us — most fit problems are strap adjustment or a size that needs exchanging, and we would far rather fix it than have you stop wearing it. Unworn braces can be exchanged within 30 days, and we can often resolve a fit issue over the phone or in the fitting room.

Unworn braces in original packaging can be returned within 30 days with an RMA number. For hygiene reasons, compression garments and any brace that has had direct skin contact in use are not returnable — which is exactly why we check measurements before shipping.

Yes. Hinged knee braces, unloaders, wrist splints, thumb spicas, stirrup ankle braces, AFOs and slings are all side-specific. Back braces, cervical collars and most walking boots are not. Every product page states which applies, and the request form asks you to specify the side.

Yes. The fitting room in Downers Grove is open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. Bring your prescription and insurance card, and a fitter will size the brace, adjust the straps and hinges, and show you how to put it on and take it off correctly.

Thirty-two states, listed in full on the Insurance and ordering page, covering the Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Ground freight takes two to five business days depending on distance, and local delivery is available within 30 miles of the store.

Yes. Orthopedic offices, physical therapy clinics and workers' compensation case managers can open an account for stock bracing at contract pricing. Call the orthotics desk and ask for wholesale terms.