There are numerous knee braces available in the market nowadays, depending on the needs of a person. There are knee sleeves that are slid over the knee to provide minimal protection and warmth in the area. Knee sleeves are commonly found in athletic stores since they are worn by sports enthusiasts.
Knee braces, on the other hand, are specially designed to support the wearer for a painful or injured knee, or to prevent injuries to happen. They are designed to help the wearer continue his daily routine and functions even with an injured knee.
Best Knee Braces
What are the Purposes of Knee Braces?
- First of all, knee braces aim to improve knee stability. Due to unexpected accidents, a tear in one of the knee ligaments or tendons can cause a lot of pain and knee instability. Osteoarthritis is also a major reason why people use knee braces.
- Secondly, knee braces are made to provide knee protection for past minor injuries. You can wear them if you are feeling minor knee pains to avoid your knee from getting further hurt. They can also be worn to prevent knee injuries, especially when engaging in a strenuous sport or activity.
- Lastly, knee braces are worn to specifically reduce the amount of pain experienced by a person in the knee area.
What are the types of knee braces?
there are several types of braces available in the market. Knee braces can be summarized into four types, prophylactic, functional, rehabilitative, and unloader/ offloaded. There
1. Prophylactic braces
Prophylactic braces are used as knee protection from contact sports such as football or rugby where the wearer’s body is exposed to massive physical contact and injuries.
These types of braces were popularized in the late 1970s was tested for NFL players. As such, studies show that wearing prophylactic braces can minimize the risks of getting knee injuries.
2. Functional braces
Functional braces are worn by people who have already been injured. They are specially designed as a support for damaged ligaments in the knee such as an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear. In this manner, the wearer can use the support of a functional knee brace to avoid surgeries.
3. Rehabilitative knee braces
Rehabilitative knee braces are a form of “transitional” brace where it is worn after an injury or surgery to limit harmful knee movements that can further affect the knee.
It is designed to control knee movement until the healing process is finished, such that this type of brace has full-length bars and hinges with foam linings. These hinges are adjusted to better control knee movements.
4. Unloader of Offloader knee brace
The Unloader of Offloader knee brace is designed for people who have osteoarthritis (OA). These types of braces are commonly made with a metal or plastic composite, which reduces the pressures in a degenerative area by redirecting pressures on other knee areas.
As such, different knee braces are designed for different and specific functions for every person. It is a must that a doctor or a physical therapist is consulted before purchasing a knee brace.
You should look for a manufacturing company or store that will facilitate you in looking for the best knee brace that you are looking for.
Normal Bracing Guidelines
Knee Instability – Your knee support should keep it secure and stop your knee from sliding. Normally, the support isn’t assisting you. Poor-fitting knee braces allow for re-injury.
Proper Fit and Size – Finding the right size to make certain a proper fit for your knee is crucial. The right support selection will be the one which suits you well and is comfortable while supporting and protecting your knee. Custom or off-the-shelf? Your knee or calf shouldn’t go numb and your leg shouldn’t enlarge – if that occurs, then knee support is too tight or isn’t fitting right.
Activity – You must manage to bend and extend your knee reasonably well (except during rehabilitation once your knee’s activity may be purposefully restricted for recovery). You will involve some limited mobility using leg support.
Which knee support is correct for your knee injury?
This depends on your diagnosis, how old your leg injury is, and where you are in your therapy. Broadly speaking, a leg brace operates well underneath the proper conditions for ligament tears, compartmental arthritis, and nearly as well for Pre-arthritis, Patellofemoral Syndrome, or Chondromalacia.
