Arthrosis of the joints is a very unpleasant disease that often affects people of age, but young people are not immune from it. To help those suffering from pain, knee pads are prescribed for arthrosis of the knee joint: how to choose them, how to determine your size, how to wear them correctly - we'll talk about this today. This choice should be carefully considered so that the benefit of such a tool is maximized.
Risk group
The disease develops in those who regularly expose their legs to excessive stress. These are, as a rule, people belonging to the age category older than old age (they are at risk due to the loss of elasticity of muscles and ligaments with age). No less often the disease occurs in athletes and people working in constant motion (the load on the knees exceeds the norm), and often with manifestationsOsteoarthritis is experienced by people who are overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle, such as a sedentary job. Active pensioners involved in jogging or walking are also prone to manifestations of arthrosis, but the joints should be protected a little with the help of a knee brace, and such prevention will be much more significant, the only hope is that over time the pain will stop by itself.
Knee pads for arthrosis of the knee joint: how to choose the right type
The neglected form of arthrosis in the area of ligament damage gives tangible pain. But its danger lies in the fact that untreated arthrosis can lead to the destruction of the ligament and surgical intervention. The symptoms cannot go unnoticed, because the pain intensifies with the load on the damaged joint. And anesthesia through external influence (ointments, compresses), internal (medication) can provide good therapeutic assistance. But the effect will be noticeably better, and sometimes just necessary, if you resort to the use of knee pads.
There are different knee pads for arthrosis of the knee joint: how to choose and not make a mistake? Firstly, it is worth consulting with an orthopedist, it is desirable that he observes you constantly. Secondly, it is better to imagine how one species differs from another. Such a medical certificate will not hurt. Thirdly, it is important to understand that profiting from the price difference by replacing the knee brace with another means is not recommended at all. After all, medical knee pads for arthrosis, according to the principle of action, differ fromelastic bandage, and he alth is worth taking care of. And finally, it will not be superfluous to have information about how the different materials from which the knee pad is made will behave in the sock.
Types of knee pads
Depending on the causes that influenced the intensity of pain in the knee, on localization, medical knee pads for arthrosis are of different types. The degree of fixation depends on how serious the form of the disease is. And choosing tight knee pads for better joint support is not always the best option. If the leg is pinched due to the fact that the knee pad is small or too tight, blood circulation may be disturbed and the knee will receive swelling of the tissues.
• Closed types of knee braces are prescribed by an orthopedist, this decision is resorted to if the diagnosis is not established and the genesis of the pain is unclear. These bandages help to overcome pain due to the large area of knee support.
• Open bandages are prescribed if the pain is not very strong and episodic, for example when going down stairs or just under the kneecap. Here you can resort to the help of open knee pads with spiral stiffeners, they will help to overcome small loads.
• Articulated types of knee pads are quite versatile. Post-traumatic arthrosis responds better to treatment with the use of such agents. Pains of various origins go away faster if such knee pads securely fix the joint.
Warming knee pads
Warm knee pads for arthrosis have a separate effect. They are of the following types:
• With a halogen lamp (or infrared) that warms up the joint and relieves pain when moving the knee.
• Magnetic knee pads that have the ability to relieve overload from muscles and ligaments, thereby providing better uniform warmth and being a support for the knee joint, which both facilitates movement and restores the efficiency of the affected joint.
• Mineral knee pads, in the core of which is placed tourmaline, known for its unique property to influence tissues with deep heat, at the cellular level they affect blood circulation and cell repair. This effect is used in cases where cartilage is damaged to increase the volume of intra-articular fluid. Its unique feature is that after the heat from the sun accumulates in the mineral (and for this it needs to be left in the sun for several hours), its device will give up to two weeks.
• Wool knee pads. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Natural wool knee brace
It is known that woolen knee pads for arthrosis of the knee joint give an excellent warming effect: how to choose from a variety of options? Knee pads are made of dog, camel, sheep wool and their combinations. In cold weather, such a knee brace will protect the knee from hypothermia.
It is believed that dog hair has the ability to warm up the affected area of the joint in the best way. With maximum hygroscopicity, thisthe type of material, which includes natural dog hair, is optimally relaxing and has an excellent warming effect. During a period of acute pain, such a bandage will be the best option - it will help restore blood circulation in the affected area and relieve swelling, and during the rehabilitation period it will continue to gently affect the knee.
The camel hair in the composition of the knee pad has a similar effect. Sheep perfectly copes with the task of warming up. But not always woolen orthopedic knee pads for arthrosis have positive reviews. Mostly it has to do with taking care of them. Wool bandages tend to shrink when machine washed. Therefore, it is enough just to wash it well by hand and dry it unfolded and not on the battery, so that the wool inside the knee pad does not stray.
Materials from which knee pads are made
Which knee pads are best for arthrosis - depends on the situation, but you should know a little about what materials are better and more comfortable to wear and take care of. From time to time, the bandage will have to be washed.
If you're into natural fabrics, cotton and woolen knee pads are fine, but be aware of the downsides you'll face: wear and shrink when washed in water above 40 degrees.
For better wear resistance, materials with synthetic additives are suitable. These are polyester, neoprene, nylon, lycra, spandex and elastane. But, for example, neoprene will not allow the skin to breathe, the warming process will be accompanied by sweating,which under the kneecap and will remain. The way out of this situation is to wear cotton underwear under the device, or at least make a pad from the fabric between the skin and the patella.
Elastane in the material of the knee pad is very comfortable to wear and care for. The addition of polyester also makes it durable, lycra and nylon will allow you to use it for a long time, but such knee pads for arthrosis (the photo illustrates how they look) will not give a warming effect.
Choosing a knee pad by size
A bandage loosely put on the knee will not bring benefits and the expected effect. It should be fixed so that the fixation is palpable and tight, but not excessively, so as not to provoke swelling and impaired blood circulation. The sizes of the knee pads are oriented to the following volumes:
Size S is for knee circumference 30-36cm; size M - for knee circumference from 36 to 40 cm; size L is suitable for 40-45 cm and XL - for 45-49 cm.
Recommendations for the use of knee pads
Don't wear a knee brace all the time. It is enough to wear it for several hours a day, during active walking or exercise. The duration of use of the knee brace in case of pain should be monitored by an orthopedist: if the pain does not stop or subside, most likely, another type of bandage or additional impact in the form of medications will be needed. Wash these items in cold water withoutuse bleach and hand dry with a towel.
