Knee ligament injuries can be a real pain especially when they stop you from doing the activities you love. But have no fear, with BioPed we are here to help you kick that knee pain to the curb.
Often ligament injuries are seen in activities that require running, jumping and sudden changes in direction. It could happen in your morning workout or even turning the wrong way at work.
There are four main ligaments in the knee:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
Stabilizes the knee by preventing excessive forward movement and rotational movements
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
Stabilizes the knee by preventing excessive backwards movement and rotational movements
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
Stabilizes the knee by preventing excessive medial movement (to the inside)
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL)
Stabilizes the knee by preventing excessive lateral movement (to the outside)
Symptoms most often will include pain, issues with stability, popping or crunching noises, inability to fully extend the knee etc. If you ever suspect that you have sustained a knee injury, it’s always best to first get in to see your doctor or nurse practitioner, as imaging might be required to see the full extent of the damage.
Should I look into knee bracing?
Knee bracing can be a fantastic solution to helping with a ligament injury. There are many different types and styles of braces, but most work to give stability to the knee. If the knee feels stable, you will feel more confident doing all the activities that you love to do. In addition to providing confidence, braces also work to limit motion in certain directions depending on what ligament the brace is specifically accounting for. This protects the ligament from additional damage and helps to offer support to the knee that the ligament lacks.
Types of knee bracing
Knee braces can be non-hinged or hinged.
Non-hinged knee bracing consists of mainly compression sleeve style braces. These braces help to aid the knee with mild stability but where they truly shine is aiding in reducing swelling and improving proprioception. Proprioception is our body’s ability to know where a limb is in location, movement and action. If we are more aware of the knee, we will be more balanced and apt to focus on stabilizing it and protecting it throughout the day. Often non-hinged knee braces are people’s first approach as they are cheaper and more readily available. The biggest issue with these are that they are often not a custom product which, depending on your leg, could mean they might have a tendency to slip, requiring readjusting.
If you haven’t worn one, chances are you’ve seen someone wear a hinged knee brace. These braces are often slightly bulkier than non-hinged knee braces but give much more stability to the knee joint. Over the years, hinged braces have come on the market that are less bulky and quite comfortable. Often used in more severe injuries, a rigid styled brace has the benefit of having over-the-counter (OTC) and custom options. Custom knee bracing is best used in severe injury cases and when leg shape causes issues with OTC brace fitting.
3 factors to consider when choosing the perfect brace
Severity of injury
As the injury gets more severe, the style of the brace also will change. A mild grade sprain often requires a more cloth based low profile brace whereas with a grade 3 injury you might want to consider a rigid shell brace.
Level of activity
For someone who leisurely walks and isn’t involved in high intensity sport often, maximal protection and support is not always necessary.
Comfort
No matter how great the brace, you won’t wear a brace that is not comfortable. When looking for a brace look for the best combination of comfort and function. This will make getting back into the game that much easier.
Come see us!
If you’re suffering from a knee injury or anything else lower limb related, please book an appointment today! At BioPed Footcare, whether its bracing, shoes, or footwear we are here for you. With our on-site lab there is nothing we can’t do! Meet with one of BioPed’s lower limb clinicians to see how you can keep your knees and lower body healthy!
