Various joint injuries require long-term treatment and rehabilitation. In the arsenal of medical equipment, there are many devices that will help you quickly recover from injuries. One of these aids is a knee brace, which allows you to fix the joint and reduce the load on it.
Knee joint
It is the knee joint, which has a complex structure, that bears the greatest load. The upper and lower bony parts are interconnected by muscles, cartilage (menisci), ligaments and tendons. This is a unique mechanism that allows for motor movements, but this ability is lost when damaged.
Problems with the knee joint are people associated with regular physical activity. Age, overweight and various degenerative-dystrophic diseases also have a great influence. For treatment and rehabilitation after joint damage, doctors prescribe a set of drugs and a mandatory knee bandage to reduce pain andload.
Indications for knee brace use
The bandage is an orthopedic product that fits snugly around the knee. Wearing knee pads is recommended both for the treatment and as a prevention of damage to the knee joint. This is especially true for athletes who face the constant danger of injury. With a small injury in the form of a sprain, swelling or inflammation of the joint, an elastic knee brace will help to cope. It has a compression, warming and unloading effect. It is also used to prevent injury.
Fixation of the knee joint is necessary in the following situations:
- Various injuries (dislocations, bruises).
- Arthrosis, arthritis, gonarthrosis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis.
- Sprain.
- After knee surgery.
- Meniscus injury.
- Inflammation of the tendons.
- Unloading joints.
- Swelling of the knee joint.
- Pain from an old injury.
- Osgood-Schlatter disease.
What does the bandage help with?
The main property of the knee brace is rigid fixation of ligaments and joints. This cannot be fully provided by an ordinary elastic bandage. If the knee pad is chosen correctly, a significant reduction in the load on the joint is provided, which inhibits the development of the inflammatory process. Soft (elastic) bandages have a layer of animal hair for a warming effect and improve blood circulation. Compression properties allow you to restore joint mobility, relieve inflammation.
For each type of injury or disease, it is necessary to choose a specific stiffness of the knee brace. Regularly using an orthopedic knee brace, you can get rid of pain, stop the development of a degenerative-dystrophic disease, and contribute to the speedy recovery of motor function.
Varieties of knee bandages
There are a huge number of types of bandages, different not only in structure, but also in the material of manufacture. The simplest in design are soft knee pads. They replaced elastic bandages and are successfully used in sports and in the treatment of ailments of the knee joint.
The knee brace with stiffeners is a construction made of polymeric materials. They have Velcro and straps to ensure complete rest and stabilization of the joint. Rigid fixation is necessary after serious injuries, operations and for the treatment of arthritis, osteoarthritis.
If pain occurs under the kneecap, a tendon support brace should be used. Such a device does not restrict the movement of the ligaments. The most complex in design are splints, orthoses and articulated kneecaps. The latter are a universal option and can be used both to eliminate pain after sprains, dislocations, and to treat pathological changes. Magnetic knee pads allowretain heat and relieve stress on the joint.
Types of bandages by medical effect
In medical practice, knee pads are distinguished by type and strength of fixation:
- Dynamic (compression) type - such a knee brace is indicated after injuries, operations and as a prevention of joint damage during physical exertion. Often used during exacerbation of chronic pathologies.
- Functional type allows you to stabilize, protect and limit unwanted joint mobility. These can be articulated, reinforced with ribs and regulators knee brace.
- The stabilizing type is a product with metal and plastic inserts. Such bandages (orthoses) can replace a splint and are indicated after serious injuries and operations. Allow to completely immobilize the diseased joint.
- Step-functional type - these are rigid bandages that allow you to gradually increase the range of motion during the recovery period of the joint by reducing the fixation force.
How to choose a knee brace for arthrosis?
This pathology of the musculoskeletal system covers more and more people every year. Joint deformity causes pain and limits movement. Even simple walking becomes a painful process for the patient. Using a knee brace with ribs, you can alleviate the symptoms of the disease, relieve swelling, restore free movement.
At the initial stage of the disease, the doctor may prescribe the wearing of softknee pad. With minor manifestations of the pain syndrome, experts recommend the use of open-type bandages. For the prevention of arthrosis or an indefinite place of pain, a closed type of device is used.
You should pay attention to the material from which the product is made. Polyester and elastane are considered the most comfortable and practical. Knee pads made of animal wool will warm well and prevent hypothermia of the diseased knee joint. Bandages with tourmaline have similar properties. This mineral emits infrared radiation and, penetrating deep into the skin, warms up the affected joint.
Self-treatment for diseases of this kind is not allowed, so the choice of a suitable bandage for the knee joint must be entrusted to an orthopedist.
Popular Manufacturers
In the salons of medical equipment you can find a large number of manufacturers of orthopedic bandages.
The most popular are:
- Mueller Sports Medicine is considered a leader in sports medicine products. A wide variety of models, developed with the latest innovative technologies, allows you to choose a Mueller knee brace for leisure and professional sports.
- Orlett - products of the German company Rehard Technologies GmbH. They produce various orthopedic devices for the treatment of the spine and joints, using the latest developments and materials. Products are registered, and the quality of finished products is confirmed and complies withworld standards.
- Medi is another German brand that produces high quality sports bandages, orthoses and other orthopedic products.
- Pharmacel is an American company specializing in physical therapy and sports medicine products. Products are developed taking into account the latest technologies and can alleviate pain symptoms, discomfort when moving.
What should I look for when choosing a brace?
Before buying a knee brace, you should consult a doctor who will give recommendations on the type of product. You can independently purchase an elastic retainer that will protect the knee joint from damage.
Carefully you need to approach the choice of the size of the product. It should be borne in mind that each manufacturer has its own dimensional grid. To correctly determine the size, you need to measure the circumference of the leg above and below the knee.
It is better to buy a medical product in professional salons or trusted online stores (with the possibility of trying it on). A rigid knee brace should not pinch and squeeze the leg strongly so that blood circulation is not disturbed. This will only worsen the situation and cause harm instead of benefit. There will be no therapeutic effect from a loose bandage that does not wrap tightly around the leg.
When buying, you must choose a product from a practical material that will be wear-resistant and can pass air. All fasteners and fasteners fixing the bandage are also carefully checked. Costskeep in mind that Velcro is short-lived and wears out quickly.
Cost and maintenance
Wearing a knee brace is recommended during sports or physical activity. The total time of wearing the product should not exceed 3 hours per day. The doctor determines the duration of therapy, during which medications will be taken and a knee brace will be applied.
The prices of such products vary widely and depend on the manufacturer and type of product. The most affordable are elastic (soft) bandages for the knee joint of a domestic manufacturer. Their cost starts from 400 rubles. For the treatment of arthrosis, a knee brace with rigid fixation can be purchased for 900–1300 rubles. Articulated bandages are expensive medical products, the price of which can exceed 20,000 rubles.
