Everything you Need to Know about Knee Braces
With the brace on, you can comfortably walk up and down stairs after an injury or surgical treatment. Knee braces are structured to provide the right compression and help reduce the direct pressure from the upper leg on a torn ligament. The extra pressure of a knee brace improves blood circulation too. Then the increased blood flow sends more oxygen to the affected area which promotes healing.
If you experience problems with your knees be it pain or stiffness, it can really hamper your mobility. But, with the right use of a knee brace, you can get your legs to move swiftly again.
How Does a Knee Brace Work?
As you know your knee joints are made up of bones, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, and tendons. The knee joint carries a lot of weight. But, the structure in your knee can be dislocated. Your knee can be bruised because of the intense blow during sports activities.
Different knee braces vary based on their level of support and function. Some knee braces are designed to protect the knee from injury while others support the knee to help it heal from pain. In fact, knee braces help balance out the knee if it is prone to injury.
What do knee braces do?
The optimum use of a knee brace can support the knee and prevent injuries in the future. It helps an individual remain mobile while they are engaged in physiotherapy. Let’s have a look at what knee braces do to your knee and overall body structure:
1. Unloads Body Weight
A knee brace helps to unload stress from the injured area and direct pressure to the thigh which creates better mobility in the knee joint while treating the stiffness.
There are plenty of support gears and knee braces available online that prevent further injuries and speed the recovery of damaged ligaments.
2. Prophylactic Benefit
When the knee is twisted or sharply bent, it can become injured. This is where a brace prevents injury by keeping the knee from compressing the tissue around it. A slip-on brace can be pretty useful for people engaged in day-to-day activities. However, a bulkier brace may be recommended for those involved in high-intensity activities.
For instance, basketball players may wear knee braces to prevent sprains and cramping. While volleyball players may put on a knee brace to provide cushioning while diving for the ball.
3. Functional Rehabilitation
Post your surgery or after injury, doctors recommend a knee brace during the rehabilitation phase. Putting on a knee brace promotes tissue healing since the knees have a longer recovery period. In order to avoid future damage, the use of a knee brace assists to control mobility in joints.
How Long Can You Wear a Knee Brace?
Generally, doctors recommend wearing knee braces for at least one week when you first slide them. During sleep time, consider taking it off and your knee will get some break too. However, your physician may still suggest you wear it while you’re resting in bed.
Therefore, it is best to follow the doctor’s instructions before you increase or decrease the time of wearing a knee brace. Some other factors when figuring out how often you must wear a knee brace are here:
- Wearing a knee brace for a longer period of time can result in skin abrasion.
- Removing a brace before your knee joint is ready can increase the timing of wearing one and delay the healing process.
- Restricting your range of motion while putting on the brace can eventually result in joint stiffness.
If you have apprehensions about the working of knee braces then we recommend you to try it once. It gives you the required stability and improves your confidence in the knee. Recent studies have found that knee braces can lessen symptoms and improve function in people with knee osteoarthritis.
An excellent way to find out if a knee brace is what you need is to make sure to talk to medical healthcare professional. The expert will help you select the right brace that gives your knee the comfort and healing it needs.
Wrapping it up
In the end, remember you’d want to have a feeling of tightness in your knee when putting on a brace. Your knee should feel the comfort of wearing a support to help keep the joint stable. In case your brace feels uncomfortably tight, loosen the straps a little or pick a bit bigger size.
Many companies claim that their medical and sports products work really well. But not all of them are credible like Maxar Braces. We provide an extensive range of quality bio-magnetic, compression, knee braces, and sleeves for the effective treatment and prevention of injuries.
In fact, you can shop braces and supports for the ankle, back, knee, hernia, wrist, and elbow. So, check out our sports and medical supplies with free shopping assured on all US orders.