What Kind of Knee Brace Do I Need? - How To Figure Out Which Support You Require

Have you ever asked yourself, "What Kind of Knee Brace Do I Need?"

That is a very good question. Let's help you determine which brace is best for you.

There are many different kinds of knee braces available. There are also a lot of different manufacturers. This is good and bad, of course. The good thing is that you have options, and the bad thing is that you may have so many options that you lose your way in the knee brace "forest". DonJoy is the brand name we have come to trust.

This free article will discuss knee support benefits, and it will also help you to determine, for yourself, which style of knee support might best suit your needs. So, let's get down to business...

1.) First Qualify Your Pain & Current Instability Levels

Basically you will find that knee braces are broken down into categories. Usually, they are for mild, moderate or severe knee problems. Ok, so what is a knee problem? You are the first person (in the majority of cases) to know if you have a knee problem or not. Pain is a sign that something is wrong for most people.

If pain is a sign that something is wrong, then take a moment and rate your pain on a scale of 1-10. Ten would be the most severe on this scale. - Of course, your pain may vary, but it is a very good idea not to sugar coat anything here. Think of those moments that your pain is the most severe and rate the discomfort on the subjective scale that we spoke of. As a result you will see that a 5 is moderate knee pain, etc. - Follow the same outline with your current knee instability. You will find that sometimes your pain and instability do not match, that does not mean you are doing anything wrong in your analysis. Again, think of those times when your knee feels the most severely unstable. After you have thought of this, then record your answer.

A physician's diagnosis of your knee problem will also be helpful information for you to have.

2.) Determining Which Knee Brace is Best For You

If you have a mild knee problem, then you will probably want to look at elastic style knee braces. They can come in two different styles. One is called a "knee sleeve" and one is a "wrap around" style. Usually elastic knee braces have an opening for your knee cap. They can provide soft compression to your leg and will serve as a reminder for you not to make certain movements that will hurt you. Many people will say that a little extra support from these kinds of braces will help reduce your knee pain almost the instant they put them on! Seriously....

Elastic is usually made from drytex or neoprene. Neoprene is more commonly used, but many people will actually tell us that drytex is more breathable when it comes to elastic materials. Also, remember, if you have a serious knee problem, you do not want to just go with an elastic knee support, you will want to read the next section if your knee issues are above a mild level.

Moderate to severe knee problems usually require a knee support with hinges. Hinges are not bad. Nor, do they have to be really big and bulky in order to be effective for you. The hinge is usually on both sides of your knee and there are uprights attached to the hinge mechanism. This will help to stop excessive movements for your knee. Excessive movements can cause pain or increased instability when you already have a moderate or severe knee problem. Typically the "movements" that we are talking about are front to back, or side to side movements that can really send your knee pain soaring!

(*This is health information. Seek your physician for medicl advice.)

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