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Your joints work hard for you. Protect them.
Knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, and shoulders can all use a little extra padding and support when you're out there running, jumping, shooting, and scoring. Designed for freedom of movement and range of mobility, these products help prevent injury, treat minor sprains, and avoid re-injury of vulnerable areas. Popular with competitive athletes and novices alike, these supports can be just what you need to stay healthy and active without unnecessary pain.
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Brace Yourself for the Bad News
If you are here, chances are you have incurred a moderately serious injury that requires all-day support, warmth, and/or compression. More often than not, if you are in need of a brace, you are looking at long-term rehabilitation. We can't stress enough how important it is for you to follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Braces come in such a wide variety of styles and functions that it is absolutely essential you consult a healthcare provider before choosing a device. Attempting to decipher all those devices by yourself is not only dangerous but costly. Braces range in price; however, in general they are going to cost you more than a roll of tape and an elastic bandage.
How well a brace aids your recovery and rehabilitation depends on the nature of your injury, your own participation in rehabilitation, and the quality of the device.
Store-Bought Is Not Always the Best Option
Store-bought braces -- which don't require fittings -- can provide stability, reduce pain, and perhaps prevent further abnormal movement of your limbs. For minor injuries, you may decide to turn to a store-bought brace. However there have been studies that suggest that wearing a brace offers little to no advantage in recovery. The choice is yours.
Why do we caution against store-bought braces which do not require fittings? Most often people use them alone and do not seek rehabilitation. A brace can't solve the problem of teaching your body to move properly. It can give you a false sense of security and get you back into activity sooner than you should.
Buying a Good Brace
- Really basic braces can often be found at the drug store, but in general it is best to seek the advice of a healthcare provider, who should be able to direct you to a medical supplier.
- A good device that is a bit more expensive can ultimately save you additional rehabilitation and frustration.
- You must be fitted for a device before purchasing one.
- The quality of devices ranges to fit different people's needs. A brace made with titanium may make sense for a professional athlete but not for an office worker.
- Check to see if your insurance will cover the cost of the device and what its dollar limit is.
- The lighter the better -- the last thing your injured limb needs is the strain of having to lift and maneuver a heavy support device.
- Are you buying a brace for a youngster? They now make braces that can be decorated with cartoon characters and other designs to help them appeal to kids.
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Brace Yourself
- The uses of braces vary according to the nature of the injury and method of rehabilitation. Consult your healthcare provider.
- Braces cannot fix the problem, nor are they a form of rehabilitation. Braces cannot train your body to behave correctly -- only rehabilitation can do that.
- Braces are designed to give substantial support to injured limbs as well as restrict movement to prevent further injury.
Serious Injuries Require Medical Attention
- Injuries serious enough to warrant the use of a brace generally require treatment by a healthcare provider and long-term rehabilitation.
- While store-bought braces are available, most are not sufficient to provide the support and therapy your injury needs. It is essential that you consult a health care provider and/or physical therapist when choosing a brace.
How Can A Physical Therapist Help?
- Licensed physical therapists are trained in techniques of exercise and rehabilitation to help you retrain and strengthen your injured limb. They play an important role in helping you regain function after an injury. Consult your doctor for advice on choosing a physical therapist.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. American Medical Association.The American Medical Association: Guide to your family's symptoms. Washington, D.C.: American Pharmaceutical Association 1992.
- 2. Fauci, Anthony S. et al. Eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. New York: MacGraw Hill 1998.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
- 1. Anderson, Leslie."Kids can cast off stigma with decorated limb braces". USA Today; 9/2/1994.
- 2. Modica, Peter."Study says knee braces don't expedite recovery". The Dallas Morning News; 8/3/1998.
- 3. Jacobson, David."Em-brace-able-you". Men's Health; Vol. 13 11/1/1998.
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