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Exploring the Different Types of Knee Braces and Their Uses

Can a knee brace relieve discomfort, provide support, and expedite recovery for individuals recovering from an injury or surgery?

Knee Brace

A knee brace is a medical device that supports and stabilizes the knee joint to help with pain and recovery after an injury or surgery. Many knee braces are made of various materials and offer a range of support levels. A healthcare provider or physical therapist can recommend the appropriate one for your condition and suggest the best one. Ask a healthcare provider if you’re unsure, as wearing a knee brace correctly and for the recommended time is important for healing. They are generally safe. However, individuals with health conditions such as poor circulation should be cautious when using them and consult their healthcare provider.

What They Do

The knee joint comprises bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A knee brace stabilizes these structures, preventing them from moving too much or too fast. Some braces redistribute the knee joint’s weight, decreasing the force the knee absorbs. (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2020)

Conditions

A knee brace is used after surgery to aid in healing and following an injury. This can be:

  • Sprain
  • Ligament injury
  • Patellar/kneecap dislocation

They are also used to support the knee and relieve pain from some chronic conditions including: (Sprouse R. A., McLaughlin A. M., & Harris G. D. 2018)

  • Tendonitis
  • Patellar tendinopathy
  • Chondromalacia patellae
  • Patellofemoral stress syndrome
  • Medial knee osteoarthritis

Types

Knee braces differ in function and support level. Some stabilize the knee, while others completely immobilize the joint. A healthcare provider and/or physical therapist will explain what support is needed and how to use it. They can also check the brace’s fit and determine if adjustments or a different size are required.

Most Commonly Used

Prophylactic Brace

Unloader

  • This brace helps rebalance the weight and shift the pressure on the knee joint to other parts of the leg, reducing pain. (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2020)
  • A knee unloader is typically used to control discomfort due to inflammatory conditions like tendonitis and osteoarthritis.

Functional

  • This brace limits motion in the joint after an injury or prevents dislocation.

Bledsoe Brace

  • This brace has straps to wrap around the thigh and shin and support brackets on the inside and outside of the knee joint.
  • A small mechanism locks the knee into full extension or allows the knee to bend a specific amount.

Knee Immobilizer

  • A knee immobilizer keeps the knee in one position.
  • It is a long cloth brace that runs the length of the shin and thigh.

Knee Brace vs Knee Support

A knee support or sleeve is usually a tight-fitting fabric garment. It provides compression to help reduce swelling and discomfort. A knee brace offers more support and can also be set to limit mobility.

Wearing The Brace

Individuals may need to wear a knee brace all day or only when performing specific tasks and operations. It depends on the individual and the condition the brace is being used for. Some may only need to wear a knee brace during certain activities or a flare-up of pain. (Mayo Clinic, 2022) Wearing a brace for unnecessarily long periods can cause skin abrasion, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy. (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2020) Conversely, neglecting to wear it can cause more susceptibility to injury or extend and or impair healing time. Ask a healthcare provider when you should and should not wear the brace. This could be when:

  • Sitting
  • Walking
  • Driving
  • Sleeping
  • Stretching

Contraindications

Some medical conditions can make an individual susceptible to injury and adverse effects from wearing a knee brace. These include: (Holden, M. A. et al., 2021)

  • Poor circulation
  • Superficial wounds on the knee
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • Arterial insufficiency
  • Severe varicose veins
  • A history of thrombophlebitis

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

If you have one of these conditions, a healthcare provider will decide if a knee brace is safe. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to build optimal health and wellness solutions. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, prevent injury, and help mitigate issues through adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal problems.

Best Knee Injury Chiropractor

References

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2020). Knee Bracing: What Works? https://familydoctor.org/knee-bracing-what-works/

Sprouse, R. A., McLaughlin, A. M., & Harris, G. D. (2018). Braces and Splints for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions. American family physician, 98(10), 570–576.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Knee pain: how to choose the right knee brace for your child. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/sports-injuries/Pages/Knee-Pain-and-braces.aspx

Mayo Clinic. (2022). To brace or not to brace: What’s the best answer? https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/to-brace-or-not-to-brace#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20early%20onset%2C%20mild%20arthritis,below%20the%20knee%20for%20compression%20and%20comfort.

Holden, M. A., Callaghan, M., Felson, D., Birrell, F., Nicholls, E., Jowett, S., Kigozi, J., McBeth, J., Borrelli, B., Jinks, C., Foster, N. E., Dziedzic, K., Mallen, C., Ingram, C., Sutton, A., Lawton, S., Halliday, N., Hartshorne, L., Williams, H., Browell, R., … Peat, G. (2021). Clinical and cost-effectiveness of bracing in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis management: protocol for a multicentre, primary care, randomised, parallel-group, superiority trial. BMJ open, 11(3), e048196. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048196

By admin 0 Comments Chiropractic Care, Sporting , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Key Exercises in the Treatment of Achilles Tendonitis: A Protocol

Can incorporating an exercise program like the Alfredson Protocol help athletes and individuals who have hurt their Achilles tendon find pain relief and healing so they can return to regular physical activities?

Exercise Protocol Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis occurs when the tendon at the back of the ankle gets injured. It is common in runners. For individuals who have Achilles tendonitis, walking and running can be painful. You might have to stop engaging in exercise and physical activities like sports. Depending on your job, having the condition may make working harder. Here are a few of the signs and symptoms of the condition:

  • Pain in the back of the lower leg, just above the heel.
  • Pain with running, jumping, or pointing the toes.
  • A small lump on the Achilles tendon just above the heel.

The first line of treatment is to rest and ice the tendon. Anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce pain. (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2022) Physical therapy can include strengthening exercises, ultrasound heat therapy, and deep massage. Exercises stretching the nearby muscles will help gradually increase the stress the tendon can handle, eventually reducing inflammation and swelling. Stretching and flexibility exercises will help an Achilles tendon heal. (University of Michigan, 2023)

The only way to determine if an individual has injured their Achilles tendon is to see a doctor. If the injury is Achilles tendonitis, a physical therapist may be recommended. A physical therapist can train individuals on the Alfredson protocol, an exercise protocol program for those with Achilles tendonitis (tendinopathy) that research has shown is helpful for those with the condition. The therapist will train on how to exercise to strengthen the tendon. The exercises stretch the Achilles tendon to help it handle forces and stress, known as eccentric loading. (Stevens M., & Tan C. W. 2014)

Inflammation

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. However, studies have shown that the tendon might not be inflamed in those with the condition. When an area of the body is inflamed, inflammatory cells are present. Individuals usually feel pain in the inflamed area. For those with Achilles tendonitis, the tendon will present with pain, but not necessarily because the tendon is inflamed. Under a microscope, researchers examined tissue from the tendons of those with Achilles tendonitis. They did not find inflammatory cells in the tissue. (Stevens M., & Tan C. W. 2014) This means that although individuals felt pain, they were not inflamed. If there are no inflammatory cells in the tendon, this could explain why those with Achilles tendonitis often do not find relief from the anti-inflammatory treatment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Studies have shown that gentle exercise protocols for the tendon are more helpful. However, researchers are not sure why these exercises are so beneficial. (O’Neill S., Watson P. J., & Barry S. 2015)

Eccentric Exercise

A chiropractic physical therapy team can help individuals heal the injury with eccentric loading exercises. Eccentric loading exercises work the muscles and tendons to help them get stronger. Once healing has begun, they can help strengthen the tendon. Individuals start slowly with easy exercises and then work up to harder ones. They will have the patient lengthen or stretch out the muscle. As the patient moves, the muscles and tendons contract or shorten. The Alfredson protocol consists of eccentric loading exercises for the Achilles and the muscles that support it.

Alfredson Protocol

Before exercising, talk to a doctor or physical therapist to know if it’s safe. How to do the Alfredson protocol:

  1. First, stand on a small step or curb.
  2. Stand with the balls of your feet on the edge.
  3. Your heels should hang over the edge.
  4. Hold onto something for balance.
  5. Keep the knees straight.
  6. This will load a muscle part of the Achilles tendon called the gastrocnemius.
  7. Using both feet, lift the heels and rise onto the balls of the feet.
  8. Keep the foot with the painful Achilles tendon on the step.
  9. Lift the non-injured foot off the step.
  10. Slowly lower down using the injured ankle.
  11. The heel should move towards the floor.
  12. The ball of the foot should remain in contact with the edge of the step.
  13. Return the non-injured foot to the step.
  14. Repeat the exercise.

Do three sets of 15 reps with the knees straight. Then, do the Alfredson protocol again with the knees slightly bent. This will work a muscle called the soleus, which connects to the gastrocnemius. Perform three sets of 15 repetitions. Perform both exercises twice a day. This could be in the morning and the evening. The Alfredson protocol is most beneficial when done for about 12 weeks. (Stevens M., & Tan C. W. 2014)

Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic

The Alfredson exercise protocol can be done at home with a step or raised platform to put the feet on safely. Individuals should consider working with a personal trainer to ensure safety and get the most out of the workouts. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to build optimal health and wellness solutions. We focus on what works for you to relieve pain, restore function, prevent injury, and help mitigate issues through adjustments that help the body realign itself. They can also work with other medical professionals to integrate a treatment plan to resolve musculoskeletal problems.

Functional Foot Orthotics Achieve Optimal Performance

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. OrthoInfo. (2022). Achilles Tendinitis. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/achilles-tendinitis/

University of Michigan. (2023). Achilles Tendon Injury: Physical Therapy and Rehab. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/tr2261

Stevens, M., & Tan, C. W. (2014). Effectiveness of the Alfredson protocol compared with a lower repetition-volume protocol for midportion Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy, 44(2), 59–67. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2014.4720

O’Neill, S., Watson, P. J., & Barry, S. (2015). WHY ARE ECCENTRIC EXERCISES EFFECTIVE FOR ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY?. International journal of sports physical therapy, 10(4), 552–562.