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How Helpful Is Using a Knee Brace?

Knee braces are used for a wide variety of problems and conditions, but are available in two basic types: functional knee braces and prophylactic knee braces. How do they work, and do they help?

Functional knee braces are designed to support the knee joint and substitute for damaged ligaments. For example, an athlete with an ACL tear might wear a functional brace to enable him or her to participate in certain activities while awaiting surgery.

Functional knee braces aren’t as reliable as healthy ligaments, but they can help patients with a knee ligament injury. Studies show that the braces give some protection to the knee at low loads, but don’t help in situations of very high forces that occur very quickly.

Whether you should wear a functional knee brace for a ligament injury should be discussed with your doctor. Factors on wearing a knee brace include determining which ligaments are injured, what sport you are participating in, and what rehabilitation you have done or plan to do.

A functional brace should only be used as a temporary solution. Physical therapy, including strengthening, is an important factor in returning to sports following a ligament injury.

Prophylactic knee braces are used to prevent knee injuries and are worn by athletes in high-risk sports to minimize the risk of knee injury.

They became popular in the late 1970s when the use of prophylactic knee braces was tested in NFL players. Since that time, several studies have investigated the injury rates in athletes who wear prophylactic knee braces versus those who don't wear a knee brace.

There is no concrete evidence that athletes who wear braces have fewer injuries. Studies do show that athletes in football have a lower rate of medial collateral ligament injury when wearing a prophylactic knee brace, but the effect of that brace should be placed in perspective. Much more important factors in determining the likelihood of an injury include the sport played and the player’s position, conditioning, and size.

Keep in mind that the braces studied are not the simple knee sleeves that can be purchased at a drug store. These knee braces need to be special ordered and prescribed by your physician. If you are interested in using a knee brace for competitive sports, you should discuss this with your orthopedic physician. He or she can prescribe the proper type of knee brace for you and ensure a proper fit.

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