If you run often, you've probably experienced knee pain. Whether an overuse injury or an acute trauma, knee pain can keep you away from your running routine. It takes patience to fully rehabilitate an injured knee, but help from medical professionals and tools like knee braces can get you back into your running shoes.
Iliotibial Band Brace
Runners can experience pain from their iliotibial (IT) band. Pain may be caused by friction on the IT band as it passes over the lateral epicondyle of the knee during running. A tight IT band, which pulls tension on the outside of the knee, can also cause IT band pain. An Iliotibial band brace wraps around the top of the knee, just over the patella, close to the insertion point of the IT band.
Rehabilitative Brace
For post-injury workouts, rehabilitative braces offer maximum support to prevent lateral movement in an unstable knee joint. These braces are made from stiff rods that extend above and below the knee and are joined together by a hinge on both sides of the joint. The rods inhibit sideways movement but allow flexion and extension, making it possible to run.
Patella Brace
Runner's knee is a common overuse injury for runners that causes pain underneath the patella. A patella brace surrounds the entire knee, leaving an opening for the kneecap. The soft, elastic material allows free range of motion in the knee joint while offering support for the patella.
Arthritis Brace
Arthritis braces, also known as unloader braces, help take the impact off arthritic knees. A loss of cartilage in the knee joint makes running painful, and potentially damaging, for the arthritis sufferer. An unloader brace is made from ridged material that extends well above and below the knee and can change the way the joint moves during flexion and extension in order to reduce stress on the knee.
