What You Must Know Before Choosing A Knee Brace

Posted by MVMT Team

Choosing a knee brace that suits your needs isn’t as simple as walking into your nearest second-hand sporting goods store and grabbing the first brace you see on the rack…

There are a few things you absolutely must know before choosing a knee brace that will help rather than harm you.

You see, a knee brace comes in four different types:

1. Knee sleeves; which are sized and meant to be slipped on over the knee.
2. Knee supports; which are adjustable and are made to wrap around the knee.
3. Knee stabilizers; which contain steel springs on either side.
4. Hinged knee braces; contain hinges.

Sleeves and supports are the most basic knee braces available and are generally able to provide basic support as well as compression of the knee.

The stabilizers offer a slightly more advanced support, while the hinged braces confer the most advanced support due to their ability to more or less mimic the natural movement of the knee.

Now, with that in mind…

The next question to ask yourself is what kind of knee brace do you want?

Knee braces come in two basic styles:

1. The wraparound: easily adjustable due to Velcro straps
2. The slip on: requires the ideal fit in order to provide the best support

Now if you want to get the best fit, you need to ensure that your knee brace is the right size.

This immediately depends on what kind of brace you end up choosing, but once you do, each brace usually has instructions for the measurements that will provide the best fit and most support.

In some cases, the knee brace requires a measurement around the knee, while others will focus primarily on measuring three inches above or below the knee. In some cases, the brace might even require a calf and thigh measurement…

Either way, this may seem like a whole lot of thinking for just a knee brace, but you can’t underestimate the importance of getting the right kind of support in order to prevent further damage to your knee and ligaments.

Just a side note for those of us who may find ourselves in between sizes; when in doubt, go for the larger of the two.

Finally, we should mention that knee braces are made with a closed patella to ensure that your knee cap receives the same support and pressure that the rest of your knee enjoys. If you feel you may not need pressure on the kneecap, make sure you purchase an open-patella knee brace instead.

With all of this information, you’re well on your way to having everything you need to know about purchasing the perfect knee brace that will support and compress your knee as needed!

If for some reason you still don’t feel confident in your choice of knee brace, or require additional treatment, book a no-obligation appointment to see one of our specialists today to get a thorough analysis of your knee pain, as well as get you the treatment you need for optimal health and vitality!