Musculoskeletal injuries are becoming increasingly common with the vigorous and active lifestyles of people today. The knee is the largest joint in the body and is most susceptible to injury during athletic activities. In the past, knee injuries were detrimental not only to athletes but also to people trying to lead everyday lives. However, with increased understanding of the knee's anatomy combined with the development of less invasive surgery, lighter and stronger knee supports, recovery and rehabilitation for this type of injury have improved tremendously.
When a person has to apply a knee brace it is used to reduce pain, promote a quick recovery from some injury, or protection. When you have a healthy knee, it is capable of straightening easily, flexing, and bending without any pain but with knees which are unhealthy, things are different. For example, incase your knee is injured you may have trouble doing simple things like sitting, running, walking and kicking. People with arthritis have knee pain which is more than the different joint pain.
Knee braces are available in various types and is made specifically for different sorts of knee problems like injured kneecaps, torn ligaments, or pain from arthritis.
- Hinged knee braces are usually the kind of brace where sports physicians or orthopedic surgeons prescribe for athletes that have ligament damage. This sort of brace is standard and will help protect the ligament and to increase their stability after being injured.
- Prophylactic knee braces are normally used to help protect your knees from any injuries while playing contact sports. The brace is designed to protect your un-injured joint. Studies have shown that they do help to lower injuries from contact sports.
- Functional knee braces help those who have existing injuries. The people who are supposed to use this sort of brace are individuals who have medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PC), or Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. They are durable, lightweight braces that are used to support the knee also to help in the rehab of these injured ligaments.
- Arthritic knee braces are also referred to as unloader braces were made specifically for people with arthritis. The main function of the brace is to help reduce pain and give stability. They can also minimize the chance of having surgery. You can purchase a rigid or soft version of this knee brace. The brace will help to lower the weight on the knee joints that has damage. There is also a sleeve version of this brace that will offer warmth to the area that is affected to help promote faster healing and decreased pain.
All braces should be chosen for their ability to stay where needed and not to migrate down the leg. Any brace that moves is not going to be acting to protect the joint and will be inadequate. For a cross motor injury, it is good idea to buy in a brace that offers high levels of protection and control with comfort to allow a long day of competition or practice. If the injury was caused by skiing or water sports activity, then you need a brace that offers support and also control, particularly for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which is the most commonly damaged of the knee ligaments. An increased strain occurs when the feet are restricted to a fixed position, so it's a good idea to wear a brace that is comfortable, with no low support.
If a patient opts for arthroscopic repair surgery; a procedure done after someone has torn their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), a post-op knee brace is often used to restrict motion. While the surgery isn't overly invasive to the body, the internal mechanisms of the knee will need to recover, and the support of the brace will aid the recovery process. After healing and any swelling has gone down, the use of a knee brace will allow earlier return to normal activities and eventually play sports, minimizing the risk of damaging the repair or straining the knee ligaments.
How do you choose a knee brace? Make sure you choose a brace that allows a good range of mobility while helping to lower the pain you feel during a particular activity. This means the brace you choose should help keep your knee stable without limiting your motion.
There are many benefits to wearing a knee brace; they are used to prevent knee injuries also protect existing injuries. They also provide increased stability, protection, and support for many sorts of knee related injuries.
