How to find the beste knee brace for you
Pain in the knee can be very frustrating for anyone, but particularly for those who love being active. Choose the right knee brace to support you during sports and daily life or to recover from an injury with our guide.
Did you know that knee pain is one of the most common complaint that affects people of nearly all ages? Knee pain may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. But also, medical conditions including arthritis, gout and infections can cause knee pain. Pain in the knee can be very frustrating for anyone, but particularly for those who love being active! Team sports, walking, running, hiking or even weightlifting are just a few of the numerous activities knee pain can interrupt or limit.
What’s the solution? Knee braces help treat these issues and get you back to the activities you love. But which kind of knee brace is the right once for you? There are different options like knee braces, knee sleeves or knee straps which will help by alleviating the pain you’re experiencing. The particular knee support product you need to choose will depend a lot on what kind of knee pain you’re dealing with and what kind of activities you’d like to do while wearing the brace, sleeve, or strap.
When to wear a knee brace?
First, let’s go a bit into your knee’s anatomy: your knee joint includes bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. This joint has a considerable range of motion and carries a lot of weight (actually your whole-body weight). A knee brace is structured to reduce motion in a way that protects your knee in a way that matches your needs at a given time. In general, a knee brace should be selected based on the situation and should help manage and distribute the pressure around your knee.
A knee braces should be worn if you’re having pain in your knee or if you wish to prevent injuries during high contact sports such as basketball or rugby where there is a higher likelihood of knee injury. Some braces stabilize the knee if it’s prone to injury, and some immobilize the knee to optimize healing after an injury. Knee braces can also be used for rehabilitative purposes, for example, following an ACL injury. The brace will provide slow, limited movement allowing the patient to gradually regain their range of motion. After healing, a functional brace can be worn during athletic activity. Moreover, knee braces also come in handy for arthritis sufferers as it can aid in reducing pain and inflammation. After healing, a functional brace can be worn during athletic activity.
Choose the right level of protection
A knee brace can offer different levels of protection. When you are looking for the perfect knee brace for your needs, it is essential to look at the different levels of protection each of them offers. The levels of protection range from 1 to 3+.
Level 1 knee braces
Level 1 knee braces offer the least amount of support, but these braces are very flexible. These braces are best for moderate pain relief and moderate support when you want to remaining active or doing sports with your brace.
Level 2 knee braces
Level 2 knee braces offer more protection than Level 1, but they aren’t quite as flexible. You can take wraparound knee braces and knee straps as an example. By using these products, you still have a good range of motion. They offer more moderate and mild support for knee pain caused by ligament instabilities and tendonitis.
Level 3 knee braces
Level 3 knee braces offer the most support and allow for the least movement. An example is a hinged knee brace. Keep in mind that this type of brace is also generally heavier. It’s best for recovering from a surgery, when knee movement should be limited to prevent re-injuring yourself. Level 3 braces are best for therapeutic recovery or post-surgical joint protection. To take it a step further, there is always the option of a 3+ Level for Maximum Protection. This level is best for aiding in pain relief and support for moderate to major instabilities and conditions.
Choose the right type of knee brace
There are several types of knee braces available to choose from, such as sleeves, wraparound braces, hinged braces, knee straps and knee braces with open or closed patella. Whether it’s sports protection,pain relief, work situations, there’s a knee brace, knee sleeve, knee strap, and so on, to meet the need.
WHAT DO “OPEN PATELLA” AND “CLOSED PATELLA” MEAN HERE?
Open and Closed Patella Knee Braces are the most common types of knee supports available. The difference in selection between “open patella” and “closed patella” is the type of sports or workouts you do.
The main difference between them is that in an Open Patella Knee Support the kneecap (or patella) is left uncovered at the front of the knee. This helps to relieve pressure on the patella. Open patella knee braces are better for running, cycling or walking because they’re lighter and flexible – but at the same time they provide a lower degree of support.
Closed Patella Knee Supports take the form of a continuous sleeve of reinforced material, so they allow plenty of movement of the knee joint while still providing the overall support required. Crossfit athletes or weightlifters often prefer closed patella knee braces because of increased support.
Knee sleeves
Knee sleeves belong to the same family as braces. They usually come in different sizes, and you can slip them easily right over your knee. Knee Sleeves provide knee compression, which helps control swelling and pain. Knee Sleeves often work well for mild knee pain, and they help minimize arthritis. If you regularly run, jump, or do weightlifting, either a knee sleeve or brace can be a good option for you. Plus, knee sleeves are very comfortable and can fit under clothing.
Wraparound or Dual-Wrap braces
Wraparound or Dual-Wrap braces provide more support than knee sleeves, they are good for moderate knee pain. These type of knee brace is very easy to put on and take off. Therefore, they can be used while training in the gym, while playing basketball or any other team sports as wraparound braces are not as bulky and heavy as hinged braces.
Hinged knee braces
Hinged knee braces are often used post-surgery, for people who need a high level of protection and support. This type of brace keeps your knee in the proper alignment when it bends to help heal. Also, this brace avoids further injuries. Often this type of knee braces is recommended by doctors after surgery. Also, these knee braces are very popular amongst skiers and snowboarders to recovery from knee injuries. Hinged braces are either rigid or soft, with soft ones providing less support than rigid braces.
One of the best handball players ever, Nikola Karabatic, is currently recovering from a knee injury. The PSG Handball star is suffering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be unavailable for several months.
The playmaker of the Blues and the PSG, double Olympic champion (2008, 2012), quadruple world champion (2009, 2011, 2015, 2017) and triple European champion (2006, 2010, 2014), was injured during the large victory of his team at Ivry 35 to 25. For his recovery, a hinged knee brace is essential to brace avoids further injuries.
Knee straps
A knee strap is the best solution if you suffer from Knee Pain due to Runner’s knee or jumper’s knee (Patellar Tendonitis), Osgood-Schlatter Disease, or Patella Tracking. Knee straps can fit under clothes and is easy to put on and take off. Wearing this type of strap helps prevent patella injuries. Knee Straps can minimize knee pain by putting compression on your Patellar Tendon.
