The present invention relates to an external load bearing distracting device (1) which can be positioned to fully unload a knee joint cartilage while providing the knee joint normal motion. The external load bearing distracting device (1) for an articulating anatomical joint comprising a first(6) component configured to be attached to a first anatomical member of an articulating anatomical joint and a second (7) component operably associated with the first (6) component； a third (3) component configured to be attached to a second member of the anatomical joint and a fourth (8) component operably associated with the third (3) component； and a joint (17) joining the second component (7) and the fourth component (8). The first component (6) is slidably arranged inside the second component (7), and the third (3) component is slidably arranged inside the fourth (8) component The second (7) and the fourth (8) component each at distal end comprise a retaining component (15) for limiting movement along a longitudinal axis (18) of the first component (6) inside the second component (7), and the third component (3) component inside the fourth component (8). Central parts of the first component (6) and of the third component (3) are provided with an external threaded portion (24), where on each of the external threaded portion (24) is arranged a pair of nuts (4, 5). Each pair of nuts (4,5) serve for adjusting the first component (6) and the third component (3) at desired longitudinal position, where each pair of nuts (4, 5) is retained at said position by the respective retaining component (15). The joint (17) is carried out as a ball-and-n'ng-joint or as a cardan joint The external load-bearing distracting device (1) is temporarily attached to the patient preferably for a period of 6 to 8 weeks, and is intended for use particularly, but not exclusively, in relation to treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), focal cartilage defects and treatment of fractures occurred inside the knee
