6 days ago A knee brace is a medical device that stabilizes your knee joint and holds it in place. Healthcare providers use braces to protect and support your knee after an injury or knee surgery. Providers sometimes call knee braces orthoses.

Knee bracing helps reduce pain for the simple reason that it provides extra support and stability.

“Hinged braces give some compression and help with proprioception, but they also lend a little side-to-side stability,” says Dr. Thut. “They can help you feel steadier and help decrease osteoarthritis knee pain.”

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,5 knee braces fit into several categories: (1) prophylactic - braces intended to prevent or reduce the severity of knee injuries in contact sports; (2) functional - braces designed to provide stability for unstable knees; and (3) rehabilitative - braces designed to ...

Bracing is also considered a short-term stop-gap method to stabilize the joint, but not a long-term fix. “In a general sense, a brace might aid with temporary structural support to the knee. Doing this might help reduce your pain. With less pain, you may be more functional,” he says.

4 Types of Knee Braces | Prophylactic, Functional, Rehab & Unloader.

Knee Sleeves often work well for mild knee pain, and they help minimize arthritis. Sleeves are comfortable and can fit under clothing. Wraparound or Dual-Wrap Braces work well for athletes experiencing mild to moderate knee pain, providing more support than sleeves.

One of the best things you can do for yourself if you have chronic knee pain is to rest and relax as much as possible. This means avoiding activities that strain your knees or aggravate them further, such as running or jumping. Instead, focus on low-impact activities like walking, swimming, or biking.

Over-the-counter medications - such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) - may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.

Knee braces are supports to be worn when you have pain in your knee. Some people use them to prevent knee injuries during sports. Braces are made from combinations of metal, foam, plastic, or elastic material and straps. They come in many sizes, colors, and designs.

Depending on the cause of your chronic knee pain, you may be prescribed physical therapy or just physical exercise to perform on your own at home. If you're active, the doctor may prescribe specific exercises that will help retrain how you use your knees to take some pressure off the injured one.

The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee. Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.