A Guide to Purchasing your Knee Brace
Buying a Knee brace be it your first or a replacement is a daunting process. Knee braces come in several different shapes and sizes, as well as offering different levels of support it is difficult to be sure what brace is right for you and your injury. Therefore, here at Firsatid4sport we have produced this guide to help give you the confidence before you purchase that you are getting the correct knee brace for your needs. The three main areas to consider when looking at purchasing your knee brace are your type of injury, the level of support you need and the sizing of your knee brace.
Type of Knee Injury Before beginning to look for a suitable knee brace, you need to be sure of the injury you have sustained, if you are unsure of your injury you should always seek medical advice. The risk of buying a knee brace not designed for your particular injury could be that further damage is caused to the area. Having got a final diagnosis on the injury sustained to your knee, you can the begin to look for the knee brace you need. There are several different braces designed for specific injuries such as ACL braces, Arthritis braces and Post-surgery braces. Each of these braces are designed differently and have certain features and fitting which will add support and relieve pressure from specific areas of the knee.
Level of Support for your Knee & Planned Activity The level of support which is provided is crucial. Certain injuries will require more support than others, such as a post-surgery will require a lot support to stabilise the knee but compared to a less serious injury such as patella tendonitis will require a low level of support, allowing flexibility of the knee without too much restriction. Alongside the amount of support the type of activity you are planning to undergo is an important consideration when buying a knee brace. For example, someone who has a mild knee injury but is looking to run still may only need a knee brace, to provide a low level of support allowing them to run whilst still relief of pain and pressure from the injury.
However, if you require a rest period with minimal movement of the knee, a higher supporting brace will be required to ensure the injury is immobilised. Many people my also change between braces as the progress of the injury changes, meaning you may begin by using an ultimate support brace before decreasing the level of support as your rehabilitation begins and they return to sport. Knee Brace Sizing Most knee braces will have an online sizing guide but be sure to still to measure you leg or knee depending on where the brace will sit rather than hoping you’ve ordered the correct size. Again, wearing an ill-fitting brace can again cause more damage. A brace which is too tight will place too much pressure on the injury and restrict the area causing discomfort, whereas, as a brace which is loose will not offer the support needed and may led to further damage while exercising. Be sure to check out our video guides to fitting and sizing of a several different knee braces. If when taking your measurements you are above or below the average proportions provided you can contact us either at sales@firstaid4sport.co.uk or alternatively call us on 0808 169 9985. Purchasing So hopefully, you will feel more confident to purchase your knee brace. You can browse our full range of knee braces, here.