Knee Braces for Sport

It is a common sight to see not only amateurs, but also professional athletes wearing a knee brace or support. The knee is a very complex joint which is commonly injured both through a sudden force or impact on the joint, or through repetitive strains, known as overuse injuries. When running, it is estimated that forces of around 4 times an individual's body weight are passed through the knee joint with each step, so it is not surprising that so many people choose to wear a knee support for sport and exercise.

The reason that an individual may choose to wear a support will vary depending on their circumstances, however the main reasons include:

• Following injury

The athlete may have had a previous injury and be using the support to prevent it returning, or to help get them back into full training.

• Prevention

A knee support may be used in an attempt to prevent an injury in particularly demanding sports (such as skiing) or where the knee may be more susceptible, although nothing is guaranteed to prevent an injury!

• Reassurance

Many people like to wear something on the knee just to help reassure them and make the knee feel more comfortable and supported. This is more common in older athletes where there may be a degree of wear and tear (osteoarthritis) in the joint.

There are many different types of knee support and brace available depending on the specific injury and the amount of support required. Some braces are also not suitable for certain sports.

• Hinged Braces

These have a solid metal or plastic hinge on each side of the knee brace. They provide a high level of support to the knee and are ideal for moderate to severe injuries and sports such as skiing. They are not suitable for sports with a contact element, such as Rugby or Football, due to the potential for injury to an opponent.

• Stabilised Supports

These have a metal or plastic stay or spring embedded into the side of the support. They are more lightweight and less bulky than a hinged support, although offer less resistance against twisting and sideways movements. Provided there are no exposed solid parts, these supports can be used for contact sports. They are also ideal for sports such as Tennis and Badminton, as they are comfortable, lightweight and do not restrict movement.

• Simple supports

These have no extra reinforcement and so provide low level support, along with compression and heat retention. They can be worn for any type of sport or exercise.

• Straps/Bands

Knee straps can be worn in place of a full knee support and are particularly suitable for certain injuries, such as patella tendinopathy (jumper's knee) and IT band syndrome (runner's knee). Again, these can be worn for all types of sport.

When choosing knee braces for sport, it is important to consider what type of support is suitable and permitted for your sport, that it provides the level of support you require and most importantly, that it is comfortable to wear!