Knee Braces, Knee Stabilizers, Knee Supports, Hinged Knee Braces

Is a Knee Brace Right for Me?
A knee brace or support may be very helpful for you if you have injured your knee, have had knee surgery, are at a higher risk for knee injuries, or are prone to chronic knee problems. It is always recommended to consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before you select a knee brace, as this ensures that all of your individual requirements are taken into consideration. Different knee issues require different knee supports. A brace that would be used to help prevent injury is not necessarily going to be the best choice for helping to treat or rehab an injury. And if you are using a knee brace for treatment of an injury or a painful knee, physical therapy and specific rehabilitation will be necessary to combine with this use for the healthiest and long-lasting positive outcome.

What Type of Knee Brace is Right for Me?
Prophylactic knee braces help to provide additional protection and support during sports and other activities that require heavy or repeated use of the knees, or where the knees are liable to come into direct contact with other people or objects. A functional knee brace can include specific treatment support after injuries or surgeries, rehabilitation or for chronic pain conditions such as arthritis. Your doctor may recommend one type of brace right after surgery, then advise a different type once you have started healing and start rehabilitation. Some doctors even prescribe certain knee braces to promote healing in lieu of surgery. Here are some basic knee brace designs and what they are typically used for:

Bledsoe Knee Brace
Most often prescribed after ACL surgery or meniscus repair, this brace is usually utilized to stabilize the knee post-surgery. Highlighting metal support brackets on both the inside and outside parts of the knee joint, the Bledsoe brace also has straps that wrap around the shin and thigh. A small locking mechanism can be unlocked to let the knee bend to specified degrees, or it can lock the knee into a full extension.

Immobilizer Knee Brace
Specifically designed to prevent the knee from moving, a knee immobilizer is typically constructed as a long, cloth support that extends the length of the thigh and shin, with metal support struts on both the inside and outside. Velcro straps are generally added to firmly hold the brace in place. Immobilizers are typically used after tendon and ligament injuries, and after various knee surgeries in place of plaster or fiberglass casts. Fractures of the patella or shin bone may lead your doctor to using an immobilizer for these injuries, which help to keep bones in place, but still allow gentle motion during the healing process.

Patella Control Knee Brace
Generally used to hold the patella in proper place while staying active, this brace is typically a neoprene sleeve slid over the knee, with a cutout for the patella. Used for a dislocated patella, this support also works great for knee arthritis, CMP (chondromalacia patella) and patellofemoral stress syndrome.

Motion Control Knee Brace
Similar to the patella control knee brace, the motion control support is a neoprene sleeve that includes metal supports on both sides to provide additional support to the ligaments. As a good choice for a prophylactic brace, it can be used for sports or activities that require stopping and starting, pivoting or repetitive bending of the knees, but it can also be appropriate as a functional brace for sprained or strained ligaments, especially the lateral and medial collateral ligaments.

Specific Condition Knee Braces
While there are a wide range of varied knee braces and supports to specifically help all health issues connected with the knee, ACL tears and arthritis are two of the most common conditions that require the use of knee braces. ACL braces help to provide the utmost protection and stability after ligament ruptures/tears, and after reconstruction surgery, preventing the risk of re-injury. Arthritis braces can often delay the need for surgery, and help to reduce the forces going through the painful parts of the knee affected by arthritis.

More About Different Styles of Knee Braces and Supports
Knee braces and supports are constructed from varying combinations of elastic materials, foam, plastic, metal and straps, available in a multitude of designs, colors and sizes. Here are a few examples:

Pull Up Sleeve Knee Braces
Easy pull-up supports that can be used for minor injuries, pain and simple protection. They provide compression, warmth and basic support.

Neoprene Knee Braces
Considered the best material for retaining heat, neoprene supports help reduce pain, inflammation and swelling, promoting healing.

Wrap Around Knee Braces
For chronic conditions where swelling and inflammation come and go, the wrap around support style with Velcro straps is adjustable, enabling a perfect fit for every knee.

Knee Strap Knee Braces
Well suited for ITBS, Jumpers Knee and anterior knee pain, these special supports feature single or double straps to specifically relieve pressure on the tendons of the knee.

Hinged Knee Braces
Used to support and offload the joint of the knee, specially designed hinges aid in relieving moderate to severe instability and pain.

Magnetic Knee Braces
Innovatively designed with built-in magnets, these supports induce faster healing as they help to reduce pain, promoting general well-being.

Rehabmart is pleased to offer quite an extensive collection of superior quality knee braces and supports from such illustrious manufacturers as Captain Sports, Posey, DeRoyal, Allard USA, Restorative Care of America, United Surgical and the Medi Kid Company.

Mike Price, OT & Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Founders

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