Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow They WorkPurposeTypesWhen to Wear ItContraindications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How They Work
Purpose
Types
When to Wear It
Contraindications
A knee brace for knee pain is a medical device that supports and stabilizes the knee joint, which can help with knee pain and aid recovery after an injury or surgery. They are made out of a variety of materials and offer a range of support levels.
There are many different types of knee braces, and a healthcare provider will recommend the appropriate one for your condition. While knee braces are generally safe, people with some health conditions (such as poor circulation) should be cautious when using them.
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Your knee joint includes bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A knee brace stabilizes these structures, preventing them from moving too much or too suddenly. In addition, some knee braces redistribute the weight on the knee joint, decreasing the amount of force it has to absorb.
A knee brace is used after surgery to aid in healing and following an injury, such as:
Knee braces are also used to support the knee and relieve pain from somechronic conditions, including:
Types of Knee Braces
Knee braces differ based on their function and level of support. For example, some braces stabilize the knee while others completely immobilize the joint.
Your healthcare provider and/or physical therapist will tell you what type of support you need and how you should use it. They can also check the fit of your brace and determine if adjustments or a different size are needed.
The mostcommon knee bracesinclude:
What is the difference between a knee brace and a knee support?A knee support (such as a knee sleeve) is usually a tight-fitting fabric garment. It provides compression to help reduce swelling and discomfort. A knee brace provides much more support and may also limit mobility.
What is the difference between a knee brace and a knee support?
A knee support (such as a knee sleeve) is usually a tight-fitting fabric garment. It provides compression to help reduce swelling and discomfort. A knee brace provides much more support and may also limit mobility.
You may need to wear a knee brace all day or only when doing specific things—it depends on the individual and the condition the brace is used for. Some people only need to wear a knee brace when doing certain activities or during a flare-up of pain.
Wearing a brace for unnecessarily long periods can cause skin abrasion, joint stiffness, andmuscle atrophy(shrinking).On the other hand, neglecting to wear it may make you more susceptible to an injury or impair healing.
Ask your healthcare provider about when you should and should not wear your knee brace. Specifically, make sure you’re clear on whether you need it when you’re:
Some medical conditions can make a person susceptible to adverse effects from a knee brace. These include:
If you have one of these conditions, your healthcare provider will decide if a knee brace is safe for you.
Summary
Knee braces can provide relief from discomfort and aid healing after an injury or surgery. There are many different types of knee braces, and a healthcare provider or physical therapist can suggest the best kind for you.
It’s important to wear a knee brace correctly and for the recommended amount of time. If you’re not sure when to wear your knee brace, ask your healthcare provider.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee Bracing: What Works?Sprouse RA, McLaughlin AM, Harris GD.Braces and Splints for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 15;98(10):570-576. PMID: 30365284.American Academy of Pediatrics.Knee pain: how to choose the right knee brace for your child.American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee bracing: what works?.Mayo Clinic.Knee braces for osteoarthritis.Holden MA, Callaghan M, Felson D, Birrell F, Nicholls E, Jowett S, Kigozi J, McBeth J, Borrelli B, Jinks C, Foster NE, Dziedzic K, Mallen C, Ingram C, Sutton A, Lawton S, Halliday N, Hartshorne L, Williams H, Browell R, Hudson H, Marshall M, Sowden G, Herron D, Asamane E, Peat G.Clinical and cost-effectiveness of bracing in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis management: protocol for a multicentre, primary care, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 26;11(3):e048196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048196. PMID: 33771832; PMCID: PMC8006841.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee Bracing: What Works?Sprouse RA, McLaughlin AM, Harris GD.Braces and Splints for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 15;98(10):570-576. PMID: 30365284.American Academy of Pediatrics.Knee pain: how to choose the right knee brace for your child.American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee bracing: what works?.Mayo Clinic.Knee braces for osteoarthritis.Holden MA, Callaghan M, Felson D, Birrell F, Nicholls E, Jowett S, Kigozi J, McBeth J, Borrelli B, Jinks C, Foster NE, Dziedzic K, Mallen C, Ingram C, Sutton A, Lawton S, Halliday N, Hartshorne L, Williams H, Browell R, Hudson H, Marshall M, Sowden G, Herron D, Asamane E, Peat G.Clinical and cost-effectiveness of bracing in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis management: protocol for a multicentre, primary care, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 26;11(3):e048196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048196. PMID: 33771832; PMCID: PMC8006841.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee Bracing: What Works?Sprouse RA, McLaughlin AM, Harris GD.Braces and Splints for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 15;98(10):570-576. PMID: 30365284.American Academy of Pediatrics.Knee pain: how to choose the right knee brace for your child.American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee bracing: what works?.Mayo Clinic.Knee braces for osteoarthritis.Holden MA, Callaghan M, Felson D, Birrell F, Nicholls E, Jowett S, Kigozi J, McBeth J, Borrelli B, Jinks C, Foster NE, Dziedzic K, Mallen C, Ingram C, Sutton A, Lawton S, Halliday N, Hartshorne L, Williams H, Browell R, Hudson H, Marshall M, Sowden G, Herron D, Asamane E, Peat G.Clinical and cost-effectiveness of bracing in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis management: protocol for a multicentre, primary care, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 26;11(3):e048196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048196. PMID: 33771832; PMCID: PMC8006841.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee Bracing: What Works?
Sprouse RA, McLaughlin AM, Harris GD.Braces and Splints for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Nov 15;98(10):570-576. PMID: 30365284.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Knee pain: how to choose the right knee brace for your child.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Knee bracing: what works?.
Mayo Clinic.Knee braces for osteoarthritis.
Holden MA, Callaghan M, Felson D, Birrell F, Nicholls E, Jowett S, Kigozi J, McBeth J, Borrelli B, Jinks C, Foster NE, Dziedzic K, Mallen C, Ingram C, Sutton A, Lawton S, Halliday N, Hartshorne L, Williams H, Browell R, Hudson H, Marshall M, Sowden G, Herron D, Asamane E, Peat G.Clinical and cost-effectiveness of bracing in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis management: protocol for a multicentre, primary care, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. BMJ Open. 2021 Mar 26;11(3):e048196. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048196. PMID: 33771832; PMCID: PMC8006841.
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