Knee pain is not only happening in the elderly but also become younger people. Knee pain starts to happen in 30~40 years old, and the most reasons were sports injury, professional injury and accidental injury. For sports injuries may happen if you do not warm up enough or you may not do the posture correctly. Professional injury may happen to people who need to stand or sit for long hours, such as drivers, cooks, dancers, professional sports players, doctors, nurses, and more.
If you suffer from above reason, wearing knee braces or knee sleeves may help. Please note, if you have serious injury please seek for doctors help.
How a Knee Brace Can Help Reduce Knee Pain
The knees are perhaps the most important part of your lower limbs. Your knees provide stable support for your body. They also allow your legs to bend and straighten. Both stability and flexibility are necessary to stand, walk, run, jump, crouch and turn.
As such, any form of pain in your knees can make everyday activities difficult and greatly reduce the quality of your life. People of all ages and backgrounds can be afflicted with knee pain. However, it tends to be more prevalent in older populations, especially chronic knee pain.
Why I will feel knee pain?
The nerves that provide sensation to your knees come from the lower back. These nerves also provide leg, hip and ankle sensation. Referral pain can pass along these nerves to be felt on the surface.
Knee pain can arise from your knee itself or be referred from conditions of the lower back, ankle or hip. Generally, knee pain can be categorized into two groups: acute (immediate) and long-term (chronic) knee pain.
1. Acute Knee Pain
Acute or immediate knee pain is often caused by muscle strains, ligament strains, and damaged/irritated cartilage. These conditions are often the result of a traumatic injury or progressive stress.
Injuries such as falls, traumas or sports injuries produce forces that tear, overstretch or compress the knee joint or soft tissue. Other causes of acute knee pain include overuse, muscular weakness or imbalance, decreased flexibility, poor posture as well as incorrect footwear.
2. Chronic Knee Pain
Chronic knee pain, which will be the primary focus herein, is essential long-term knee pain. It can often result from inflammation (arthritis), injuries or infections. Arthritis is the main culprit behind most cases of chronic knee pain.
What is Arthritis?
According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children are afflicted with arthritis. Arthritis is a general term for inflammatory diseases or other abnormal processes coursing in the joints.
The joints and ligaments, like the muscles, wear with use and need to be constantly repaired-a process that normally occurs during sleep. The repair of any body parts requires free access to oxygen and other nutrients. When circulation of the blood becomes inadequate, ligaments weaken, joint fluids decrease, and cartilage wears away.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis and affects an estimated 31 million Americans. It is among the top five leading causes of disability in the United States. In some degree, it is almost universally present in the older populations. It can also occur at any time after an injury or excessive wear and tear to a joint, as often happens in sports. Arthritis resulting from injuries is known as traumatic arthritis.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs when a joint’s blood supply is inadequate for its needed function. The joint will begin to break down when the arteries supplying them become narrowed and obstructed. The knee is the most commonly affected by painful or symptomatic osteoarthritis.
According to a study by the CDC, nearly one in two people, and two out of three obese people will develop painful knee arthritis in their lifetime. The most common symptoms of the Osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness, which tend to decrease as the joint is warmed up with activity. The risk of developing most types of arthritis increases with age and is also linked to some genetic factors. Other forms of arthritis that may cause knee pain include rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, and septic arthritis.
However, there are some measures that you can apply to improve the symptoms of this debilitating condition. Since arthritis is a chronic disease that never quite seems to go away, even with good medical treatment, hundreds of non-pharmaceutical remedies have grown up around it.
Knee Brace for Pain Management
One treatment option that can help you if you suffer from knee pain is the use of knee braces. The high-quality knee braces we offer provide a mechanical means to increase joint stability and reduce pain.
Our 7.5” and 9.5” Adjustable Open Patella Knee S-Pro Pads are specially designed to stabilize your knee joint, shift forces to the unaffected compartment of your knee and help restore proper function by facilitating training and exercise. These functions are essential for reducing knee pain. Below are some of the benefits of wearing a knee brace.
1. Relieving Kneecap Pain
A Neoprene brace with a kneecap cutout can help keep the bone in place and relieve pain when softness or weakness of cartilage under your kneecap causes pain. Our knee supports feature an adjustable open-patella design and adds 47 % Neoprene. Our knee braces will ensure you are more comfortable when performing exercises. The design provides compression and warmth, which play a role in relieving any swelling.
2. It is a Great Exercise Accessory
One of the treatment options for knee pain is regular, active exercise to keep the muscles strong. The weakened muscles do not adequately protect the joints. Knee braces are a great accessory when exercising with knee pain. Our knee support provides exceptional knee protection in this regard.
The premium neoprene offers excellent breathability and comfort.
Also, the innovate fiber that incorporates germanium material serves to improve blood circulation, increase joint endurance and ensure improved physical performance. The adjustable straps ensure support for the different angles of your knee during physical activities.
3. Braces Provide Structural Support
Knee braces are commonly recommended for people who have some form of knee injury. A knee brace can offer additional support and aid the recovery process. This function is essential for people who play sports. For instance, many football players wear knee supports to prevent injury.
The extra amount of pressure on the knees during turns and lateral movements can lead to knee pain. This is because these movements can move the ligaments and bones in unnatural ways. Our knee braces are ideal for daily sportswear. They have adjustable elasticity enabling you to comfortably wear them all day.
Disadvantages of Knee Braces
1. Initial Discomfort
Some people experience considerable discomfort when wearing a knee brace. Depending on the design, a knee brace may feel bulky, heavy and hot at first. Fortunately, our top quality knee support ensures breathability and maximum comfort through its 47 % premium Neoprene. Its adjustable elasticity means you can wear it all day without any discomfort.
2. Skin Irritation
Skin irritation and swelling is a major complaint from people who wear knee braces. Sometimes, the skin under the brace can get irritated and red. Some individuals may also exhibit swelling. However, this only happens with poorly fitting knee braces. Our adjustable open-patella design completely eliminates this problem. In addition, you have the option of selecting the 7.5” or 9.5” knee brace in order to ensure a comfortable fit.
Overall, bracing can be an effective treatment option especially if you have knee pain that affects one compartment of your knee. The adjustable knee braces we offer will help relieve stress around your knee and reduce the pain. It is worth noting that bracing is not a cure for arthritis. However, when you use it in conjunction with other treatment options, it can prove to be a very useful adjunct.
Statistical References
1. azonmedical.com/physical-medicine-blog/orthopedic-knee-bracing/
2. https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-statistics-facts.php
3. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
4. https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/misc/osteoarthritis.htm
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5584421/#r1
Written by: peterkim10110