Knee injuries are painful experiences that many avoid as much as possible. Read more about them here. It can be caused by osteoporosis, accidents, high-impact sports, improper training, and a lot more.
The person with the injury may not be able to walk, work, or do his daily activities for a while. They might limit their movements so that they won’t cause additional pain and complications to the part of the body that got injured.
Accidents happen, but injuries can be avoidable as long as an athlete or an individual wear protective clothing. If you already had the injury, the next thing to do is to limit activities that can put pressure on the muscles. Some people use knee braces that serve as protection for their knees.
A brace limits the movement of the knee and the kneecap. Although some argue that this constitutes a weakened movement because the muscles rest for too long, some say that proper wearing protects them from further harm.
If you want to shield your knees, then braces are the best option for you. If you’re going to get them, here is some information that can be helpful.
The braces are usually made from plastic, foam, or even metal. They come in many colors, sizes, and styles. You can choose from different knee brace options as long as it was prescribed by a physician. It is always good to check with your doctor about what’s right for you.
Different Kinds of Braces
Functional Varieties
This are the ones that are commonly found in athletes who got injured. Many athletes wear these after their major wound has healed. This stabilizes the motor control in the lower extremities and can prevent the injury from recurring.
Unloader
This is common in people who are suffering from arthritis. People who have arthritis should not put force on the area where it is hurting the most. Therefore, they can unload their weights using the brace. This is a reliable crutch that they can lean on for support.
Prophylactic
These are designed for protection, especially if extreme sports are involved. They are designed to reduce or prevent injuries from happening in the first place. If you are playing football, then this might be an excellent choice for you. Read more about prophylactic bracing here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445064/.
Knee Sleeves
These are not considered as braces, but they are common when it comes to supporting the knees. They provide compression and pressure around the knee. These are ideal for people who are experiencing pain from swelling. If you have medical conditions such as edema, then this can be an excellent choice for you.
Other Things about Knee Braces
Since pain on the knees are the most common problems that young people, older adults, and athletes experience nowadays, they can take some of the pressure off with the help of braces.
In young athletes, structures such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, femur, tibia, patella, and a lot more can be susceptible to injuries. You should protect areas such as the joint, which consists of tibia, patella, and femur. You should also take good care that the muscles, which are the hamstrings, patellar tendons, and quadriceps, will have sufficient freedom to move. This is why you should use the braces at specific times of days.
Levels of Protection
When you choose a brace, the levels of protection range from 1 to 3. The level 3 variety offers the most support, and level 1 provides the least. Examples of level 1 brace are mostly flexible sleeves. They are best for pain relief, especially if one experiences swelling. Level 1 is best for people who want to protect their knees but want to remain fully active.
The level 2 varieties are not as flexible as level 1, but they are great for protection. They allow a bit of movement, and you’ll receive mild to moderate pain relief. This is commonly used by people who have instability in their ligaments or who experience tendonitis. Great examples of these are straps and braces.
Level 3 is called the hinged variety. It limits one’s movement, but it offers the most support. This type is generally heavier compared to others. These can only be brought when a doctor recommends them, and they need to be under strict supervision, and the wearer should have medical follow-ups. These types of support are great for medical instabilities.
Benefits of Knee Braces
- If you are suffering from arthritis or injuries, the brace will unload the weight off your knees. They can help you to move around and stay active without pressuring your injuries or medical condition too much.
- If you do warm-up exercises, you may want to prevent knee sleeves to avoid injuries. Activities that consist of standing or sitting can injure the muscles, especially if they are done abruptly. Warming up will be much easier when there’s support available.
- Most people walk as part of their routine, especially when they exercise. They can move their bodies and prevent blood from clotting in specific areas. But when they are already injured, a brace will be able to put off the pressure from low-impact exercising.
- The muscles and ligaments are kept in good condition. If paired along with shoes that fit perfectly, they can be excellent support for people who are into sports.
- Braces help in improving one’s posture. Read more about postures when you click here. This may not be visible at first. However, pain on the lower extremities can make the back bend slightly. The head should be centered ideally between the shoulders. On the other hand, the joints should be over the pelvis and the abdomen.
A Final Word
Injuries can be prevented as long as you have a protected gear. If you are already experiencing pain on your knees, the first thing that you need to do is to consult your physician. He can diagnose the injury and administer the right treatment. If it is recommended to wear knee braces, then ask if what kind of compression you need. Protection and prevention are some of the main reasons why you need these in your daily life.
