Knee brace for running. How to choose a sports knee support: tips and reviews. What are knee pads made of?
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When playing sports, it is important to pay attention not only to the results and muscle training. It is necessary to monitor the condition of the joints, especially the lower extremities. The knee is subject to the greatest load, so careless movements may result in injury. And due to constant physical impacts, the joint wears out: cartilage is destroyed and ligaments become inflamed. Therefore, it is very important for athletes to choose the right equipment for sports. Fixators are especially needed. Do not confuse them with therapeutic orthoses, which provide immobility to the knee. There are various sports braces that do not interfere with movement, but protect the joint from injury.
Functions of clamps
Such knee pads are most often used for therapeutic purposes. Patients with arthrosis, arthritis, after injuries and knee surgeries wear them to reduce the load on the knee, reduce pain and fix parts of the joint in the correct position. But healthy people also use them. For example, a sports brace is used. People experiencing increased physical activity often suffer from microtrauma to ligaments and muscles, dislocations, knee pain and swelling. To reduce discomfort during exercise, you need a knee joint brace.
It also performs the following functions:
- reduces pain, swelling and inflammation;
- fixes the joint in the correct position, preventing wear of the cartilage;
- reduces the risk of injury;
- improves blood circulation, lymph flow and metabolic processes;
- protects the joint from overload.
Such knee pads are especially important for those who are involved in professional sports and cannot interrupt training. The brace helps maintain freedom of movement and reduce pain. In addition, it helps improve athletic performance.
What qualities should knee pads have?
The fasteners used for sports must fit the person perfectly in size. This is the main quality of the knee pad, thanks to which it can perform its functions. It is very important that the material from which the orthosis is made allows the skin to breathe and does not cause allergies. In addition, it is necessary that the retainer has the features necessary for certain sports. For example, when practicing acrobatics, volleyball, and figure skating, knee pads with soft silicone or gel inserts are needed, and when playing aggressive team sports, the kneecap should be protected with a reinforced stitched pad.
What types of knee braces are there?
Knee pads are made from different materials. In addition, depending on the degree of rigidity and the functions performed, clamps come in several types.
- Elastic bandages and tapes provide little support for the joint, but are easy to use and slightly reduce the load.
- Bandages made of elastic material that follow the shape of the leg usually cover not only the joint, but also the leg above and below it. They can be worn as stockings, but those that are secured with Velcro fasteners are more convenient.
- Orthoses with hard inserts or reinforced knee pads are designed to protect the joint from impacts and falls.
- Knee pads with strong fixation are usually equipped with metal or plastic inserts, hinges and stiffening ribs. They are rarely used during sports, only by those athletes who have suffered an injury or disease of the joint.
There are also other types of knee pads: detachable, compressor, warming, with additional cushions and inserts. In addition, they may have different names. Athletes often use elastic bands with an adhesive surface - tapes. Splints, calipers, bandages, and braces are also used for fixation.
What are knee pads made of?
Knee braces are made from different materials. When choosing a knee pad for sports, you need to pay attention that it is natural, allows the skin to breathe and does not cause an allergic reaction. Therapeutic rigid fixators are made using medical steel and plastic. Such knee pads are used by athletes only after injuries, as they severely limit movement. Most often, two types of materials are used to reduce the load on the knee.
- Natural fabrics: cotton or wool. To enhance the elastic properties, lavsan fibers can be added. Such knee pads have a warming effect and, when playing sports, prevent muscle and ligament sprains, as well as hypothermia.
- Synthetic materials: polyester, neoprene and nylon. They are used in all types of knee pads. The most comfortable is a neoprene knee brace. It securely fixes the knee, does not interfere with movement and allows the skin to breathe. In addition, knee pads made of synthetic materials can be used for a long time.
Elastic fasteners
These types of knee pads are most often used when playing sports. An elastic support is needed to reduce the load on the knee. In addition, it stimulates blood circulation, relieves pain and swelling. If there is a high risk of injury, elastic models with a reinforced kneecap are used. There are these types of soft knee pads:
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Hard clamps
Orthoses with strong fixation are used only after injuries and for joint diseases. Knee pads of maximum rigidity are equipped with metal spokes and hinges. They have a rigid frame, often made of plastic, and a rather complex design. Such orthoses are used after fractures and dislocations. Strong-hold knee pads are made of neoprene or other elastic material, have metal and firmly fix the joint, limiting movement. They are used for arthritis or arthrosis.
But a rigid knee joint brace is not suitable for sports training, as it severely limits movement. Therefore, athletes often use semi-rigid knee pads. They stabilize the joint and protect it from unwanted movements and injuries.
How to choose the right brace for sports
For a knee brace to truly help an athlete prevent injury and reduce stress on the joint, it must be chosen correctly. But this is often not easy to do, since when playing sports, the muscles tense and change their relief. A properly selected knee joint brace should quickly take the desired shape, adapt to changing muscles and reliably fix the joint. In addition, the knee pad needs to be able to adjust on the fly depending on the load. It is best to seek help from a specialist who can advise which knee joint brace is most suitable in this case and help you choose the size.
After all, the main thing is that the knee pad fits tightly around the joint, holding it, but does not put pressure on it and does not interfere with blood circulation. To determine the size, you need to measure the thigh 10-15 cm above the knee. Depending on this, there are several sizes. But it’s better to try it on before buying a brace, since everyone’s muscle profile is different.
The best sports braces
Anyone who is seriously involved in sports knows for what purpose which knee pads are best to use. Their popularity depends on reliability, ease of use and cost. Several knee pads are considered the best for athletes.
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Features of using knee pads
If wearing a brace was prescribed by a doctor for rehabilitation after an injury or to reduce the load on an injured knee, then you should follow his recommendations regarding the time of wearing. Typically, sports braces are worn during training or outdoor activities. Most models are recommended to be worn for no more than 8 hours. Do not wear a knee pad if metal parts are visible on the inner surface, as it can injure the skin.
How to properly care for knee pads
Elastic fasteners without metal or plastic inserts can be washed in a machine, but it is better to wash them by hand so that they retain their shape longer. Semi-rigid knee pads can only be washed in cool water without powder. To avoid damaging the product, it should not be ironed or dried near heating devices.
Professional and amateur sports often involve a risk of injury. Improper load distribution and training lead to damage to muscles, ligaments and joints. One of the main complaints is knee injuries. Running and jumping, squats and cycling without proper preparation can lead to pain and inflammation, damage to the meniscus, ligaments, and fracture of the bones that make up the knee joint.
The use of bandages has proven successful in preventing sports injuries. Modern products are made of hygroscopic, elastic fabric that is pleasant to the touch, which eliminates the appearance of diaper rash or irritation. A high-quality bandage comfortably fixes the knee and does not create inconvenience even with prolonged use.
The use of bandages is widespread in the professional environment: sports training exposes the joint and ligamentous apparatus to danger due to its high intensity and duration. Using a bandage while performing weight-bearing exercises, jogging or playing volleyball will protect the joints even if the load is distributed incorrectly.
Using a knee brace allows you to:
- Reduce the likelihood of joint damage: Soft locking maintains flexibility and mobility, while the compression effect supports joints and ligaments during efforts. Sports bandages and knee pads have a local warming effect and improve blood circulation.
- Perform exercises even if there is a dysfunction of the knee joint: the support helps reduce pain and absorb the load during training during the rehabilitation period. The use of a bandage also helps relieve swelling and prevents the development of the inflammatory process.
The risk of injury is not a reason to give up physical activity; you just need to buy knee braces for sports, and always follow the following rules:
- Before playing sports, always do a joint warm-up to thoroughly warm up the ligaments and joints.
- Increase the load gradually, even if the initial physical data allows you to perform the workout more intensively. Pain and actual manifestations of knee injury may appear some time after the injury.
- Follow the exercise technique, as incorrect execution can lead to dislocation or fracture.
- Alternate strength training with relaxing stretching, yoga, and swimming.
- Use a bandage of the required degree of compression in accordance with the recommendations.
Both professional and amateur athletes can injure the knee joint. During long and intense training, bones, muscles, and the ligamentous-tendon apparatus are subjected to excessive stress. Microtraumas occur that provoke inflammatory or degenerative processes in the joint. Wearing orthopedic products - bandages (or calipers) on the knee for sports - can prevent the development of events in such a negative scenario.
Sports stores sell various models of equipment. They can be elastic or reinforced with special rigid inserts, and they also differ in their range of applications. Some orthopedic devices are used by athletes to prevent injuries, while others are used to quickly recover from a knee injury. Knitted products fit tightly to the skin, stabilizing the joint, preventing dangerous displacement of its constituent elements.
Varieties of bandages depending on the material of manufacture.
Purpose of sports bandages
The use of a sports knee brace is recommended for people involved in various sports. They are necessary when lifting weights, running, cycling, long jump and high jump. Professionals always wear elastic products on the knee. Sports doctors recommend this to them to prevent injury. During intense training, compression of the joint may occur, accompanied by severe pain. But if an athlete uses a bandage, then no serious displacement occurs; the person feels only slight discomfort while performing movements.
The elastic support is comfortable to wear, and when stabilizing the joint, it does not compress blood vessels, muscles, or nerves. It serves as a kind of shock-absorbing device and provides additional strength to the ligaments and tendons.
Athletes who regularly use calipers rarely experience pain in the knee joints due to excess accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. They recover faster after training and can tolerate even increased loads more easily.
What else are knee sports devices used for:
- accelerated regeneration of soft tissues, ligamentous-tendon apparatus. Prolonged immobilization after a serious sports injury is strictly prohibited. In an immobile joint, nutritional deficiency occurs due to poor blood circulation. This provokes the destruction of cartilage and atrophy of muscle fibers. The victim is advised to undergo regular exercise therapy and gymnastics. During training, the knee is stabilized by an elastic support;
- therapy of inflammatory and degenerative diseases. With age, professional athletes may develop chronic pathologies of the knee joints, for example, gonarthrosis. The cause is usually damage to hyaline cartilage as a result of frequent and prolonged microtrauma. Sports doctors recommend avoiding increased stress on the knee, including using elastic bandages reinforced with silicone inserts.
Bandage fastening system with several clamps.
A common mistake made by people who decide to quickly improve their health through intense training is refusing to wear supports. Even after a short period. And it may take several days for damaged muscles and ligaments to recover. The use of calipers is necessary for amateur athletes who are overweight, have any chronic diseases, or have joint hypermobility.
Contraindications
There are a number of contraindications for using a sports knee brace. It should not be worn if there is damage to the skin - open wound surfaces, cracks, scratches, cuts. This can provoke an increase in the inflammatory process, including as a result of tissue infection by pathogenic bacteria. If there are large raised moles in the area of the knee joint, then a sports doctor can write a referral to an oncologist. It is necessary to assess the condition of the formation and predict the risk of its growth during rubbing. Contraindications also include:
- thrombophlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency;
- skin pathologies, the external manifestations of which are localized in the knee area - eczema, psoriatic plaques or papules;
- diseases of the joints that recur when exposed to heat.
People with sensitive skin may experience a local allergic reaction. This should not be a reason to refuse to use the caliper. You should choose models made from natural hypoallergenic fabrics. They are also indicated for young athletes. The inner surface of children's products is made of hypoallergenic, breathable materials.
Types of bandages
The selection of a knee brace for running, walking, cycling, and lifting weights is done by a sports doctor or trainer. People who train independently have certain difficulties when purchasing due to the variety of orthopedic products, which are made in the form of elastic covers that fit on the leg. There are also models with a more complex design, equipped with a fastener system. High-quality calipers have advantages:
- built-in soft silicone needles or rings prevent excessive pressure on the kneecap, reducing the intensity of pain;
- knitted material resembles knitted products and provides free access of air to the skin;
- synthetic materials with high elasticity are used for the outer surface, cotton fabrics are used for the inner surface.
While using the support, the functional activity of the joint increases as a result of warming up and increasing muscle tone. For sports, you should choose models equipped with silicone spirals on the sides, which prevent the knee brace from shifting for running or other sports.
Sports stores sell special models for kneecaps. They are a Velcro bandage designed to be attached under the knee joint. This contributes to the secure fixation of the semi-rigid pilot even during intense sports training. Elastic models with silicone rings are recommended. They protect the kneecaps from bruises and excessive displacement during falls or strong impacts. The shape of a good knee brace for sports is ergonomic and follows the contours of the joint. Its use does not cause any discomfort.
Soft
The material from which the soft support is made resembles an elastic bandage. Sometimes amateur athletes fix the joint with such a bandage, wrapping it around the knee several times. This provides the necessary degree of compression, but the bandage often moves during running or jumping. An alternative would be a soft caliper - comfortable, easily stretchable. It is designed to prevent injury during sports training. The use of a support is a means of preventing the formation of edema and the occurrence of pain after performing any physical exercise. A soft bandage is suitable for a morning jog or bike ride. But it will not protect the kneecap from damage in the event of a fall or strong impact.
Soft elastic bandage for the knee.
Semi-rigid
Unlike soft sports knee braces, semi-rigid models will slightly limit the mobility of the joint. The calipers have a “memory” function, that is, they take a given shape. Semi-rigid models securely fix the knee joint and prevent movements that could damage it. In their manufacture, synthetic and natural materials, various inserts, fasteners, clamps and compression regulators are used. Typically, semi-rigid calipers are recommended for athletes to wear after an injury. This allows the knee joint to recover faster by eliminating increased stress.
How to choose
You should buy a sports knee brace in full accordance with the size. Such a caliper will effectively support the joint, fix it, and prevent damage under heavy loads. Only when using any model of the appropriate size does blood circulation in the knee joint improve and muscle tone increases. A bandage that is too small will compress the tissue, increasing the load on the ligaments, tendons, and nerve roots. But a large one will not have any therapeutic or preventive effect. What else you need to pay attention to when purchasing:
- degree of compression;
- environmental safety of materials;
- availability of quality certificates;
- ergonomics of the entire structure.
The quality of tailoring is of great importance. The lines should be straight, the stitches should be the same, and protruding threads indicate poor quality. It's better to focus on price. A good sports knee brace cannot be too cheap. But a high price does not always become a guarantee of quality, since it is often formed taking into account the costs of advertising, freight transportation, and customs expenses.
Using a support will help prevent injury during sports training. The use of a bandage reduces the likelihood of developing severe chronic pathologies, the most dangerous of which is.
Exercise and an active life have health benefits. However, during physical activity it is difficult to avoid injuries and damage. For sports, orthopedic bandages are used to protect knees and other joints from possible injuries. Due to the high loads on the knee joints, pain, crunching, inflammation and other unpleasant processes often occur in them. The use of special knee pads will help avoid this.
When is it used?
A sports brace is used to provide the required degree of protection and firmly fix the joint. The knee brace has light compression properties and there is no need to bandage the knees. improve blood flow and increase muscle tone. You can conduct effective training with them. Sports braces are divided into the following groups, as shown in the table:
Device type | Design | Usage |
Soft goods | Fabric base | For mild and moderate forms of arthrosis and arthritis, sprains |
For the prevention of injuries and injuries in sports, predisposition to dislocations | ||
Orthosis | Elastic base, adjusters, stiffeners, fastener, hinges, instep support | For minor joint fixation and moderate injuries |
Replaces an elastic bandage | ||
Supports the knee, retains heat and relieves stress on the joint | ||
Reinforced orthoses | Rigid retainers made of hard plastic or medical grade steel | Orthoses limit joint mobility |
Used after serious injury or surgery | ||
Splints | Splint includes metal splints, fastening straps and Velcro fasteners | Maximum fixation level |
Completely immobilize the joint | ||
Replace plaster | ||
Used during the rehabilitation period after injuries and operations performed |
The possible threat to the knee, the required degree of fastening and the type of fixation required are determined by an orthopedic doctor. He may also recommend a bandage for preventive purposes.
How is it useful?
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A knee joint bandage is necessary for additional fixation of the joint during physical activity. It helps prevent injuries. A knee brace for sports reduces the load on the knee joint when running, jumping, during squats and other sudden movements during training in volleyball, handball, football, etc. The knee brace protects the knee well when performing heavy loads during bodybuilding and weightlifting. , powerlifting. Knee braces help improve training efficiency. During movements, additional cushioning and support is created.
Efficiency of fixatives:
- pain reduction;
- reduction of muscle tension and fatigue;
- partial relief of stress from the knee;
- reduction of swelling;
- protecting the knee from injury;
- improving the performance of ligaments and muscles;
- increasing knee flexibility.
Manufacturers and products
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The type of knee fixation depends on the purpose of using the orthosis, the stage and type of disease. Therefore, different devices are produced. The podiatrist must decide what kind of brace is needed for safe and effective training. There are many bandages on the sports product market, which are divided by functionality and level of fixation. In the manufacture of fasteners, different materials are used - elastic fabrics, plastic, metal elements, hinges, adjusters, Velcro fasteners. Athletes use soft, semi-rigid and hard bandages.
Manufacturers of orthopedic sports products are mainly developing their own technologies for the production of knee braces. One of the most famous companies is LP Support, USA. The products of the Jaowners association have a good reputation. They produce orthopedic devices under the Torres brand. Products from the brands MedSpecs, Orliman, Pharmacels, Medi, ASO, Cramer, Push-Braces, OPPO have proven themselves.