The knee brace used for arthrosis of the corresponding joint is a fixation device used by patients for the purpose of rehabilitation and pain relief. Wearing it regularly will help to ensure that more blood will flow to the affected knee joint, and with it the nutrients necessary to restore cartilage.
With arthrosis, knee braces are used to achieve the following goals:
Reducing inflammation.
Removal of puffiness, due to the outflow of synovial fluid.
Decreased pain threshold.
Removal of restriction in the movement of a diseased limb.
Normalization of blood circulation.
How to choose a knee brace for osteoarthritis of the knee
Before choosing one or another bandage to support a knee joint suffering from arthrosis, you need to familiarize yourself with their main features:
If it was decided to opt for a product made of wool or cotton fabric, then you should know that their main advantages are comfort when using, pleasant sensations while wearing. However, there are also disadvantages – this is frequent washing and rapid wear.
Knee pads made of neoprotene will serve their owner for a long time, compared to woolen and fabric bandages. But their significant disadvantage lies in the fact that the neoprene does not allow moisture or air to pass through, which means that the leg under the bandage will constantly sweat.
An indispensable tool for the treatment of arthrosis, especially post-traumatic, is a knee pad made of dog hair. Also, similar products have proven themselves well for the treatment of other types of arthrosis. They have a pronounced therapeutic effect and perfectly warm up the diseased joint. The effect is achieved due to the fact that the dog’s coat is highly hygroscopic. It also contains certain surfactants, which, penetrating through human skin, have an anti-inflammatory effect.
The last word in knee pads for people suffering from arthrosis remains with products made of polyester or elastane. It is these bandages that are ready to serve for a long time, and they are the most unpretentious in care. But there is one drawback – this is a relatively high cost.
You should not shift the purchase of the product onto someone else’s shoulders, because it is extremely important to measure the knee pad before making the final choice. This approach will make it possible to more accurately determine the size.
A knee-supporting orthopedic design can be soft, semi-rigid, or rigid.
Choosing an open or closed kneecap, you need to proceed from the nature of the pain. If they are intense and occur when lifting the leg, then it is better to give preference to a product that has spiral stiffeners. If the patient is at the stage of rehabilitation and pain rarely bothers him, then it is better to recommend an open knee brace.
When discomfort occurs in the area below the kneecap, then it is advisable to purchase a product to support the tendons.
Pain caused by post-traumatic arthrosis will help eliminate the articulated kneecap.
There are the following types of knee pads:
“Closed” type. It is better to purchase such a product in the case when pain is not amenable to localization.
Type “open”, with the ability to adjust the tension. The purchase of such a knee brace should be made by people who are at the stage of rehabilitation and who experience mild pain.
Type “open”, with stiffening ribs in the form of spirals. Such a bandage will be an ideal solution for those people who experience pain when climbing stairs.
The kneecap is articulated. A universal product suitable for all types of arthrosis.
A knee pad that supports the tendons. This bandage will be an indispensable “friend” of those patients who suffer from pain under the kneecap.
Tips for using knee brace
When wearing a knee brace, the following tips should be considered:
The product should not be worn for more than 3 hours a day. Moreover, it is worth distributing this time correctly and putting on a knee brace when the leg experiences increased physical exertion.
The bandage must not be allowed to strongly compress the knee, disrupting blood circulation, otherwise, instead of benefit, it brought harm. It will be possible to notice excessive compression visually – edema forms in the knee area.
It is worth choosing the product according to size, if the kneecap dangles, then the patient will not feel the therapeutic and analgesic effect. In order for the knee pad to fit, you need to measure the circumference of the leg in two places – above the knee and below it. The distance to the place of measurement is 15 cm from the cup itself up and down.
Orthopedic knee pads are indispensable helpers in the fight against arthrosis. Wearing them will be an excellent addition to the overall therapeutic regimen followed by a person. It should not be assumed that an ordinary elastic bandage can fully replace a modern knee brace. After all, such products are developed taking into account all the structural features of the knee joint.
At this point in time, patients with knee arthrosis are offered a wide range of a wide variety of bandage models: with metal locks, with a patella lock, soft products, as well as with berets and other devices built inside. The main thing is not to make a choice thoughtlessly and be sure to consult a doctor before buying.