The two joints that are most often braced are the ankle and the knee. When you get an injury, you might want to have information in your head now about whether or not you need a brace, and we are here to help. Braces range from the simple, like a sleeve, to the complex, with hinges and hardware that are adjustable. They provide temporary support and stability meant to decrease pain and give you confidence in that joint.
Here are some key points that you might not know. Knee injuries differ from ankle injuries in that the pain is frequently related to muscle control, so a brace won’t necessarily help. Consider how a brace limits how your muscles would normally engage in activity. Braces allow your muscles to weaken while they are immobilized, so you might wear a brace for strenuous activity, but not for everyday activities in order to keep the surrounding muscles from getting too weak. Another consideration is whether your injury might have done permanent damage that requires surgery. If you are having swelling that won’t decrease, pain that is persistent, you heard a pop at the time of injury, &/or you have lost full range of motion, you should seek an orthopedic surgeon’s assessment.
After your injury, you might try a brace for support and pain relief, but listen to your body and if the pain persists, something doesn’t feel right, or you have questions, call Paragon Orthopedic Center for a consultation. 541-472-0603
To brace or not to brace: What’s best? – Mayo Clinic Health System
