KNEE BRACES
Professional measuring is the key to both comfort and recovery, as a properly fitted brace ensures consistent placement, maximizing it's effectiveness. We provide expert fitting for custom unloader braces for osteoarthritis, specialized stability bracing for ligament injuries, medical knit compression sleeves for general soreness, and support and kneecap instability. Whether you need high-impact protection or everyday relief, we help you find the right device to keep you moving with confidence.
BRACING ASSESSMENT PROCESS
An assessment is more than just getting measured for a brace, its a time to get to know you. Figuring out your activity level, types of activities you enjoy, previous injuries and conditions, and the leg shape you have can give us a great understanding on what brace to put you in based on your needs.
STEP 1
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us more about you; if you have imaging reports or a prescription for a brace it will allow us to pinpoint the exact style of brace for you and we will measure your leg and knee accordingly. If you purchase a brace we will give you a detailed sales receipt which you can submit into insurance, as most policies have a bracing section!
STEP 2
HELP YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT BRACE
Many of us have never worn more than a tensor style brace, and it can be quite overwhelming if you need a more in depth one. We find trying on a brace can get you over the mental hump, especially when you can feel the difference in stability and pain reduction.
STEP 3
FINAL FITTING
Once a brace is chosen its time to get it fitted. Some over the counter sizing is available with your initial assessment allowing you to leave with the brace same day! Other times with more specific options or fully custom bracing we will have you come back for a fitting to ensure proper fit, and go over proper house keeping information.
TYPES OF KNEE BRACES
LIGAMENT
01
There are 4 main ligaments in each knee - the ACL, MCL, LCL, and PCL. These ligaments provide stability to the knee as we move, and if one or more of these get injured it can lead to problems including knee instability "giving out", buckling, and pain. Ligament bracing can be a great option to help support the knee right after the injury occurs, during recovery, and help reduce the chance of re-injury when your back to doing the activities you love - especially if they involve a lot of uncontrolled variables.
ARTHRITIC
02
Arthritis, more specifically osteoarthritis, is a degenerative joint disease that causes the cartilage between the knee joint that acts as a cushion to wear down. This usually wears more on one side of the knee first, either inner, outer or behind the knee cap and when this happens it can lead to pain, inflammation, instability and overall lack of mobility. Bracing like an offloader/ unloader can be super effective at repositioning the knee to take pressure off the more worn side. This can create some immediate pain relief, help with stairs and higher impacts with sports, and improve stability depending on the style.
MENISCAL
03
A meniscus tear is when the big cushion between your knee joint becomes damaged, usually from a rotational or shear force. These tears can come in many shapes and forms and depending on the placement can take a very long time to heal. We have found that using medical knit compression, hinges, smaller offloading/ unloading knee braces - or a combination of all 3 - can allow relief to the knee.
PATELLAFEMORAL
04
Also known as "under the kneecap" can present with pain, instability to the point of dislocations, and crunching/ crackling sounds. This is usually due to the knee cap not tracking in its groove appropriately, and if this occurs consistently can lead to wear on the cartilage. A tracker style knee brace can be a great addition to your treatment plan to help hold the knee cap in the correct position in that groove - leading to less pain especially with a bent knee, reduction in dislocations, and more confidence in your knee day to day.
ACTIVITY SPECIFIC
05
Not all braces are made the same, where some are great for ease and sleekness for daily use, others need to be stronger for high impact. Another reason we like having the assessment to maKe sure the brace works for you, and holds up to what you throw at it! One specificn style would be carbon fiber braces with the option for knee cap protection. These can be great for motocross, rodeo, sliding sports, and more - whether that's protecting an injury or used as prevention.