Everything You Need to Know about Knee Braces
What is a Knee Brace?
Do you have knee pain? Well, you’re not alone…it’s one of the most common issues we see in physiotherapy clinics and doctors’ offices all over the world!
Knee pain is one of the most common issues for people all over the world. If you have knee pain, you’ve probably either been recommended a knee brace by a friend or you’ve seen them advertised online. But what exactly are knee braces?
Knee braces are a type of external support that you wear on an injured or painful knee. Knee braces can be made of a variety of materials including plastic, foam, metal and straps and come in a large variety of sizes colours and designs.
Types of Knee Braces
There are many different types of knee braces that may or may not be appropriate for you. The five main kinds of knee braces are:
- Rehabilitative braces
- These limit movement and provide support to your knee when it is healing from an injury or surgery. These are generally used for a short duration of time.
- Functional braces
- These are knee braces designed to support your knee if it has already been injured. They are often used for day-to-day activities for a longer time than rehabilitative braces.
- Prophylactic braces
- These braces are used to protect your knees from injury during specific activities like hockey or other contact sports.
- Custom braces
- These are braces are made to support your knee specifically. These braces must be measured by a trained physiotherapist and can only be custom ordered.
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Do Knee Braces work?
There is evidence to support the use of bracing to reduce pain especially after you have had an injury or surgery.
If your knee feels like it might buckle when you put weight on it, a knee brace can help you stand and move around with more confidence and less pain. A knee brace can also take pressure off the part of your joint most affected by osteoarthritis and help relieve pain, improve function and delay the need for surgery.
Overall, this is a tough question to answer because bracing may help more for some people and less for others. Researchers are still looking into when bracing is most appropriate, but a qualified physiotherapist can help determine if knee bracing is right for you.
How to get a Knee Brace
There are many ways to get a knee brace. In most pharmacies and medical supply stores, you can find basic knee braces and supports. Often, you can also purchase knee braces directly from the manufacturer through their website.
A physiotherapist can also help you get a knee brace directly. This way, you can make sure your knee brace is the right type to meet your specific needs.
At PhysioPlus Health group, we offer several types of knee braces from Breg, Ossur and Donjoy.
How to use a Knee Brace
1. Choose the right brace
The first step to using a knee brace is making sure you have the right type! A physiotherapist can inform you on which type of brace best meets your needs.
2. Apply brace
Apply the brace directly onto your knee with no fabric below. This will allow the knee brace to provide you with the most support and move around more freely
3. Centre the brace on your kneecap
Most knee braces have a hole on the front where your kneecap sits. Centring the brace here is crucial for the brace to provide the support where you need it!
4. Tighten the straps once the brace is properly situated
Many braces have adjustable straps to ensure a snug fit. As a general rule, you should be able to fit two fingers under each strap
5. Periodically remove the brace
Just as important as wearing the brace is giving your knee a break. Your physiotherapist will tell how much you should be wearing your brace and when you should be wearing your brace.
How to care for your Knee Brace
Most of the time knee braces are worn directly next to your skin, so frequent cleaning is needed. Your brace can be cleaned with a cloth and soapy water. If your brace has removable pads, they should be hand-washed and rinsed thoroughly. A hairdryer on the “cool” setting can be used to help dry your knee brace.
Try to avoid keeping your knee brace in extreme temperatures such as a hot car on a sunny day. These extremes can weaken the material your knee brace is made of.
It is also very important to periodically check for signs of wear and tear on your knee brace. If you do notice signs, ask your physiotherapist if your brace is still appropriate for you.
Other things you can do to help your knee
While knee braces can be very helpful in managing your knee pain, it is only one part of the solution.
Physiotherapy treatment can be very helpful in reducing knee pain and helping you get back to the activities you want to do. Your physiotherapist will create a comprehensive treatment plan to optimize your recovery and reduce your chance of re-injury. Along with possibly bracing, this plan may include:
- Strengthening exercises
- Hands-on treatment (massage/joint mobilizations)
- Taping
- Stretching
- Acupuncture
If your knee is hurting and you’re thinking about bracing, book in today for a free 20-minute consultation where you can get honest advice from one of our physiotherapists!
This blog was written by Luke Gregg, a Physiotherapy student at the University of Toronto
Click here to read our blog on “5 Ways Knee Bracing Can Improve Your Pain!”
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