anyone know anything about knee braces?
Feb.03, 2010 in
Knee Braces
I have knee pain. doc thinks i tore a ligament in my knee. while doc is running tests and guessing, he suggested i wear a knee brace.
i bought a cheap hinged one from walmart, but i would like to try one that takes all the weight off the knee, like the post op ones, but i still need to walk and bend the knee.
any one know if the one in this pic gives good support? can you walk in it? bend the knee? wear pants over it ? ( i realize the brace wont be hidden, it is too bulky, just wondering if it fits under pants.)
http://www.betterbraces.com/procare-kneeranger-range-of-motion/
or, can any one recommend a better one?
I dont need one for sports, just walking and standing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:41 am
The one in the picture is a great brace, but it is intended for post op support and has features that you may not need. Such as limiting your range of motion immediately after surgery.
Since you haven’t had surgery I’d stay away from this one as it probably isn’t what you need right now.
Ultimately I’d need to know what is wrong with your knee to determine which brace is right for you.
If you aren’t going to know that for a bit and need a great overall brace go with the DonJoy Playmaker. It will fit under loose fitting clothes and does a great job of providing compression and it’s hinges will help stabilize your knee. One thing to point out it comes in a wrap around version that you can actually wear over pants or leggings if you need to.
If you’ve done something more serious you may need a more rigid brace. Your doctor will ultimately know best and having the info regarding your specific injury is really the key.
To view the DonJoy Playmaker Knee Brace go here: http://www.betterbraces.com/donjoy-drytex-playmaker-wraparound-sleeve/
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:41 am
its hard to say. different injuries in different areas of the knee need different pressure in different places. The doc should be able to tell you if you need all over support, or padding in certain places, like around the kneecap, etc. My sister had to have one custom made with supports in certain areas inside the brace. If the brace is solely for relieving pain, I guess the best way is to try it on and see if it makes you more comfortable. An ace bandage might even provide the relief you are looking for. if you’re wanting to take the weight off. a crutch or cane might be what you’re looking for. I had to use a cane to take weight off my left leg due to sciatica during pregnancy. Worked great, and I had maybe a little too much fun picking out and decorating my cane.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:41 am
I once had a knee brace that a doctor prescribed for me after I had hurt my knee during a high school football game. Turns out that I had torn 2 ligaments and a cartilage in that knee and needed major reconstructive surgery. I couldn’t and can’t see how something that goes over the outside of your skin can really help much given the force that one exerts on a knee during sports or strenuous activity. I mean, skin is this loose, moving thing on the outside of the knee, and the thing that you seek to stabilize is all on the inside. I could never get my brace tight enough so that I felt any support.