Choosing The Right Knee Brace
Knee Braces, Knee Braces, Knee Braces. Lot's of choices. Which one is right for your knee injury?
There are many choices when in comes to knee braces. Your decision should be based on what type of injury you've had or your are trying to prevent. You also may need to factor in your activity. A brace for walking around the block can be a lot different than what Peyton Manning (he wears the DonJoy Defiance ) needs for his knee during the Super Bowl.
Here is a look at the different choices based on the levels of knee sprains. We'll address some other factors in the coming days and weeks.
First Degree Sprains can usually be self addressed by using cold therapy/ice packs, bracing and light exercises to improve the strength of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles. Braces for a First Degree Sprain will provide only mild support and are not usually sufficient to provide protection to joints where ligament injury has occurred or is a risk. These are usually used for mild support, warmth and compression.
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Second Degree Sprains can heal on their own with self care. Although some ligament instability may still exist , it is important to provide the right treatment. To reduce symptoms, use ice, exercise and a compressive knee brace for 2-3 weeks.
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Third Degree Sprains usually require surgery when a rupture is diagnosed. Post-surgical care involves efforts to restore natural movement of the knee. Physical therapy to rehabilitate the knee generally follows surgery. Ice packs are applied to reduce swelling and pain and knee braces are worn to help support the knee, provide compression to reduce swelling and hinged braces are necessary to provide more stabilization.
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