As an athlete, one of the worst events that you can experience is an injury to the joint. If you are suffering from reoccurring pain and injury of the knee, ankle, or another area frequently used during your sport, you may need to be fitted for an orthopaedic brace.
When a Brace Is Needed
Orthopaedic braces and splints are commonly used for athletes who have suffered one of the following injuries:
- osteoarthritis of the knee
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- anterior knee pain
- acute ankle sprain
- acute knee injury
For these conditions, knee braces or stirrup braces are usually recommended. When you see an orthopaedic specialist, you will be fitted with a custom brace or a prefabricated one, depending on your unique situation. A custom-made brace is necessary if you have a deformity of the knee, an unusually large knee, or a disproportionate size between the calf and thigh. Prefabricated knee braces can be used regardless of the height of the athlete.
How a Knee Brace Helps
The purpose of a knee brace is to immobilize the knee to prevent injury. One type, the unloader knee brace, apples external valgus force. This is designed to reduce load on the medial compartment, and this reduces pain. The pain reduction then makes it possible for the patient to live his or her life. While this treatment is designed to improve the quality of life for some patients, for others, the treatment is a medical necessity. To keep the knee secure, the brace needs to be of high strength. However, for the brace to be wearable by the patient, it must also be lightweight.
Anterior Knee Braces
The anterior knee brace is another common and essential brace since anterior knee pain is a common complaint of athletes. One common problem that is treated by the anterior knee brace that may alleviate anterior knee pain is the misalignment of the patellofemoral joint. The braces are made using elastic straps and come with additional supporting straps.
Ankle Braces
Athletes often suffer from ankle sprains as well, which makes ankle braces necessary. Once an ankle has been sprained, it will be more prone to sprain afterward. The ankle braces can either be rigid and completely immobilize the ankle or can be semi-rigid, depending on the needs of the patient. The brace allows for the improvement of proprioception, which is an essential part of preventing ankle sprains. Therefore, if you suffer from ankle sprains or any of the other conditions above, you should contact a specialist.
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