Recommended Knee Braces and Sleeves

In a nutshell, braces are orthopedic devices used to protect an injured knee, elbow or arm from further aggravation. They work by supporting, stabilizing, protecting and properly aligning various parts of the body as they recover from injury. They also help reduce pain and speed up the recovery process without impeding your performance.

Sleeves are also orthopedic appliances. However, rather than protecting an existing injury from further damage, these devices help prevent future injury, allowing you to participate in active sports without much worry.

Here is a look at the differences between braces and sleeves and what they can do.

There are different types of knee braces available today. The most prominent types include the following:

• Functional braces: As the name suggests, functional knee braces provide support to knees injured in the past. They help stabilize the knee and monitor movement, preventing another injury in the future.
• Unloader braces: These braces work by shifting the load from the injured part of the knee to a more muscular area, which relieves pain. For this reason, unloaders are widely regarded as one of the best knee braces for arthritis.
• Prophylactic braces: Contact sports can be fun to watch and play, that is until the injuries start to set in. To protect yourself from injury, it’s advisable to wear prophylactic braces. This type of brace can go a long way toward guarding your knees against harm.
• Rehabilitative braces: You should wear rehabilitative braces right after an injury to help with the healing process. These braces help keep the knee stable while allowing limited movement, which encourages faster recovery.

Distinguishing between sleeves and braces can be hard considering their striking similarities. Nevertheless, these two appliances have some notable differences.

Braces provide protection against aggravating existing injuries and protect the anterior knee. They do this by immobilizing the knee, limiting its natural range of motion. This makes braces ideal for providing support after an injury or surgery in comparison to sleeves.

Essentially, athletes who want to remain active in sports after sustaining a knee injury can wear braces without worrying about aggravating the injury.

Sleeves protect the knee from future injury, but they do not offer the same type of ligament support since they do not inhibit motion. The main advantage that knee sleeves have over braces is that they add a valuable compression element to the affected area, thus increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation. They also help alleviate muscle tension and post-workout swelling.

CopperFitPro Compression Knee Sleeve: The CopperFit Compression Sleeve is renowned for its high performance and superior protection. The sleeve consists of kinesiology bands that provide targeted compression. This enhances circulation and oxygenation, thus reducing muscle tension and inflammation. Moreover, this copper knee brace is machine washable, making it extremely easy to maintain.

Knee Cast Cover: The BioFreeze knee cast cover is an FDA-certified brace designed for active adult athletes. It provides maximum protection while recovering from injuries, burns, rashes, wounds and scratches. The best part is that it’s very easy to use and maintain.

VivaKnee Ice Pack: For fast knee pain relief, consider picking up the Viva Knee Ice Pack Wrap. This brace targets both the front and back of the knee, effectively reducing swelling, pain and inflammation caused by injury or muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the brace uses hot-cold therapy for targeted relief. The best part is that it comes with non-toxic gel packs that are removable and reusable.

PowerLixKnee Sleeve: PowerLix Sleeve is one of the best compression knee sleeves available. This premium quality sleeve offers superior support and comfort allowing you to push yourself to the limit. Moreover, it provides phenomenal protection against injury.

The kind of knee braces you should wear depends on various factors such as the type of injury. However, it’s imperative to seek the advice of an orthopedic surgeon for recommendations on the ideal braces and sleeves for your lifestyle.

Dr. Mufaddal Gombera can help you find the right type of knee braces and sleeves to protect your injury and speed up your recovery process so that you get back to competitive sports in a short period. For more information about our services, call Dr. Gombera at (713) 766-581 or contact his office online today.