Each knee support and brace that we offer here at PhysioRoom is designed for a specific knee injury or condition. They all have different designs and purposes. Hinged Knee Braces are ideal for recovering from medial collateral ligament injuries (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament injuries (LCL).
They can also be used to support arthritic knee joints. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may get more support from the PhysioRoom Hinged Knee Brace due to the configuration of its straps.
The effectiveness of a knee support depends on the type of knee injury that you have sustained. Then, whether or not you have the correct support for the problem. There is strong evidence for the use of graded loading and strengthening exercises in the pain management of a variety of knee conditions (including arthritis).
A knee support is used as an aid in the management of your condition. It is hoped that the support and confidence that it provides you will enable you to keep active and commence strengthening exercises. In acute injuries, you'll usually start with a supportive hinged brace and then gradually wean down to an unhinged brace or compression sleeve as your knee improves.
Knee sleeves provide valuable compression in the knee, which means pain and swelling can be substantially reduced. They work best when used in conjunction with gentle exercise. Wearing a knee compression sleeve during sport will not only help ease pain, but it can help you return back to your best performance level.
Knee supports are designed to offer different levels of support and can be found in all different shapes and sizes. Some supports are made from neoprene and offer additional support and breathability whilst playing sports, whereas others offer protection after specific ligament injuries such as ACL or PCL damage.
With any knee pain, you should seek an assessment with a Chartered Physiotherapist. They will help to identify individual weaknesses or biomechanical issues that could lead to pain. Strengthening the Gluteal muscles or improving ankle stability can also help to address knee pain and improve stability. In the meantime, wearing a brace can help to protect the knee from further harm and offload the stress it endures in day-to-day activities. PhysioRoom offers a large range of premium knee braces that can help reduce pain and discomfort from many knee injuries.
A torn meniscus can be an extremely painful injury. Wearing a hinged knee brace can help to protect the meniscus from further damage and pain. It can also support the structures around the knee to prevent the giving way sensation of the knee. A hinged knee brace is ideal as it offers protection and provides stability to the joint.
If your pain levels allow, it's a good idea to give yourself a break during the day from wearing a knee support. Like any brace, a knee support provides external support that can mean your body becomes reliant on that extra support. If worn full-time, the muscles, ligaments and tendons can weaken as a result. To prevent this from happening, take breaks from wearing it. And, unless you're in pain, it can be taken off in bed. Using a memory foam pillow to support the leg while you are not wearing a brace will continue to provide the required level of support and pain relief, without weakening your muscles.
If knee pain persists, it's a good idea to seek an assessment from a Chartered Physiotherapist. If the root causes are identified and addressed, the long-term injury risk will be reduced. Also, function may be much improved.
The Medial Collateral ligament (MCL) is a ligament that runs along the inside of your knee. It can be injured with twisting movements that can lead to symptoms of instability, pain and "giving way". The best way to diagnose an MCL injury is to seek an assessment by a Chartered Physiotherapist. They can diagnose the injury and differentiate the problem from other possible causes.
Hinged Knee Supports can help reinforce and protect the MCL after injury.