What do Knee Braces do, how do they work, and finding the right one for you

Knee braces are designed to prevent and help heal knee injuries. And knee injuries are very common, especially in athletes and overweight people. Knee braces serve multiple purposes. An athlete might use a knee brace to support her knee during highly stressful sports. A knee surgery patient may wear a different type of knee brace to support his knee during healing. Here is a guide to different knee braces and which functions they serve.

Types of Knee Braces

There are four major kinds of knee braces:

• Prophylactic knee braces protect knees from injuries during high-stress sports.
• Functional knee braces support healed knees from being injured again.
• Rehabilitative knee braces restrain the knee so it can properly heal after surgery or injury.
• Patellofemoral knee braces relieve pain and pressure by smoothing kneecap movement.

You can buy many knee braces at a pharmacy, but knee braces designed for specific injuries should be procured from your doctor. If you know what kind of knee brace you need (or what purpose your knee brace should serve), you may save money buying it online or directly from the manufacturer.

When buying a knee brace, consider these tips:

If you're looking for pain relief, try a knee brace with a hole over the kneecap If you want a knee brace that provides compression, check out hinged neoprene knee braces. They're a good choice for protecting knees that have already been injured. Look for good lateral support that allows full range of motion (like that provided in lace-up knee braces). Find out if your insurance plan covers a customized knee brace. See if you can use your company's “cafeteria plan” will cover OTC knee braces.

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