US Patent 8235924 Orthotic brace

An orthotic brace (30) for a joint includes a bracing device (40) having first and second portions (42, 44) movable relative to one another and a mechanism (100) for placing the bracing device (40) in a first condition in which the first portion (42) has a first resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) and a second condition in which the first portion (42) has a second, different resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44). The mechanism (100) is capable of placing the bracing device (40) in a third condition in which the first portion (42) has a third resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) that is between the first and second resistance.