Brace Yourself: 2 Types of Knee Braces to Consider
- Posted on: Apr 15 2017
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Having an injured knee is enough to not only put you in a bad mood, but it’s enough to put you behind on all of the things that you love— especially if you’re the outdoorsy type. As one of the first steps that we at Redwood Orthopaedic Associates encourage our patients to do (as long as the surgery isn’t required), wearing a knee brace will help stabilize the joints to prevent further injury and help it heal. With three different types of knee braces out there, however, it can be hard to know which kind will give you the best results. From a Kneecap Stabilizer to Compression braces, this article will discuss a few of your options. Read on to learn more.
Kneecap Stabilizer
Typically used for patients who need to have surgery or have already had it, a kneecap stabilizer type brace is designed to do just what the name suggests: stabilize your knee. With a circular cutout in the middle and typically some sort of metal casing on the sides, if you wear this type of brace, there is no way it’s going to move side to side. Make sure that your doctor at Redwood Orthopaedic Associates has approved you for this type of knee brace because it could otherwise cause further damage.
Compression Braces
If you rolled your knee, have tendonitis, or a little bit of arthritis, one of our doctors may encourage you to wear a compression brace. Made from a tight, spandex material, compression braces will hug your knee while giving you enough support. And the best part about these types of braces is that they give you the flexibility needed to participate in sports. Additionally, because the fabric is designed to compress your knee, it will help you get rid of any inflammation you may be experiencing while encouraging blood flow to the area. When choosing a knee brace, make sure that it’s tight enough to compress but loose enough to not cut off circulation.
These are just two options you have to choose from when getting a knee brace. If you would like to learn more about how you can take better care of your knees and overall health, contact Redwood Orthopaedic Associates today and schedule an appointment.
Posted in: Knee Injury
