Types of Knee Braces for Support and Injury Prevention

The use of knee braces in sports medicine is a controversial topic. Knee braces are used for a wide variety of problems and conditions. But are knee pads useful?

Types

There are two basic types of knee pads:

• Functional knee pads: Studies show that functional knee braces can reduce pain and swelling and speed recovery from acute injuries, including those related to sports. For example, a patient who undergoes ACL tear may be offered a knee brace so they can participate in certain activities without surgery.
• Prophylactic knee pads: Prophylactic knee braces are used to prevent knee injuries. Prophylactic knee braces are worn by athletes who participate in certain high-risk sports to minimize their risk of knee injury.

Functional knee pads

Most patients concerned about knee braces already have a ligament injury. These patients may be interested in functional knee braces. These functional knee braces are designed to compensate for a torn knee ligament.

Functional knee braces are not as effective as normal knee ligaments; however, functional knee braces may be helpful in patients who have ligament injury like an ACL tear. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these knee pads. The summary of these studies is that functional knee braces provide some protection to the knee at low loads. This means that when force is applied to a knee supported by a functional knee brace, it is more stable than without the knee brace. knee pad.

The forces applied in these studies are believed to be much weaker and applied more slowly than the forces applied to the knee during competitive athletics. When a knee injury occurs during high-level sport, the knee is subjected to very high forces that occur very quickly. Unfortunately, testing these orthodontic appliances under these unique conditions is difficult. It is difficult to prove whether functional knee braces are of much help in these unique conditions.

Should you wear functional braces?

You should discuss this with your healthcare professional, as it depends on several factors, including:

• Which ligaments are injured
• What sport do you play
• What rehabilitation have you done or plan to do?

What is known is that physiotherapy, particularly strengthening, is an important factor in returning to sport following a ligament injury. Therapy and rehabilitation are much more important than a knee brace. Knee braces can help prevent re-injury of the knee, but this is likely a minor factor, if any.

Prophylactic knee pads

Prophylactic knee braces are designed to prevent knee injuries in healthy athletes. These knee pads were popularized in the late 1970s when the use of prophylactic knee pads was tested among NFL players. Since then, several studies have investigated injury rates in athletes who wear prophylactic knee braces compared to those who do not.

Again, the data is fuzzy because the difference is very small. Studies actually show that athletes practicing certain sports (like football) have a rate of MCL injury when wearing a prophylactic knee brace. However, the effect of the prophylactic knee brace must be put into perspective.

Much more important factors in determining the likelihood of injury include:

• Practiced sport
• Player position
• Player Conditioning
• Player size

There was concern that knee braces could change the forces on the knee, so prophylactic knee braces could prove problematic. However, knee braces, when properly fitted and worn, have not been shown to increase injury rates. They are probably safe to wear and have not been shown to increase rates of knee pain or ankle injuries.

Where to buy knee pads

The knee pads studied in these studies are not simple knee pads or knee pads that can be purchased at a pharmacy. These knee pads must be specially ordered and prescribed by your doctor. If you wish to use a knee brace for competitive sports, you should contact your team doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Your doctor can prescribe the right type of knee brace for you and your sport. Moreover, all effective the knee brace should fit well. Once you wear a knee brace, make sure your practitioner inspects the fit of the knee brace to ensure it is sized and placed correctly.