Articles
Types of Knee Braces
1. Prophylactic (Knee Sleeve, Patellofemoral, Hinged)
2. Rehabilitative
3. Functional (Hinged, off-the-shelf, custom)
4. Unloader/Offloader (off-the-shelf, custom)
A knee sleeve may be used to increase general warmth to the area, provide compression, and enhance balance. It is a soft fabric (neoprene), slip-on device generally used for knee pain. If used with a raised pad (either circular, C-shaped or J-shaped), it may be effective in treating patellofemoral joint conditions such as patella subluxation, patella dislocation, and abnormal patellofemoral tracking. It does not support any of the knee’s ligamentous structures.
A prophylactic knee brace is used to protect or decrease the severity of injury to the outside ligaments of the knee from impact and forces applied (medial and lateral collateral ligaments). The brace has rigid bars on one side, or both sides, hinges, and nonelastic straps.
A rehabilitative brace is used to protect injured ligaments and control range of motion of the knee after acute injury or surgery. It has full-length bars on both sides of the knee, with hinges that are adjusted to control the range of motion. The bars are contained in a foam liner, which is applied to the leg with nonelastic straps.
Knee Sleeve
Rehabilitative Brace
A functional brace is used to provide stability and/or protection for the anterior cruciate ligament and other knee ligaments after repairs, reconstructions, or injury. The brace is made of rigid composite bars designed to limit hyperextension. It can be either custom made or off-the-shelf.
An unloader/offloader brace is used to provide pain relief in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The brace is made of a metal or plastic composite and hinges similar to that of a functional knee brace. It reduces pressure in the degenerative area by redirecting forces to another area of the knee, reducing pain and improving knee function.
Sources:
Functional Brace
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The use of knee braces [position statement]. Rosemont, IL:AAOS; 1997 Oct. Revised 2003 Dec. Available at URL address: http://www.aaos.org/ wordhtml/papers/position/1124.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine. Knee brace use in the young athlete. Pediatrics. 2001 Aug; 108(2): 503-7
