Soccer is an exceptionally physical game and injuries are frequent. A soccer brace is a protective device that is used to help protect you from injury or re-injury. There are a number of braces for different parts of the body. There also are soccer supports and guards that serve a similar purpose. The only real difference is in the names.
Knee Braces
Serious knee injuries are a fact of life in soccer. Professional players have had careers curtailed and recreational players return to the sidelines after suffering an ACL -- anterior cruciate ligament -- tear that usually requires surgery. Knee braces are the most sophisticated protective device for soccer players, specifically designed to prevent ligament tears or re-injuries. Carbon fiber frames and a special hinges are two innovations that can make ACL injuries less likely and potentially less severe. You can pay as much as $900 for a knee brace as of publication date.
Ankle Brace
Ankle sprains torment soccer players, who pivot on a dime and absorb contact that regularly threatens to turn or twist their feet and ankles. Many soccer players use an ankle brace in practice and in games for support. The braces serve a similar function as high-top tennis shoes for basketball players. Both help prevent rolling your ankles without excessively restricting the flexibility you need to maneuver on the court or on the pitch. One ankle brace, for example, features a design allowing you to lace and adjust the brace without removing your shoe, a strap that mimics the taping job a trainer would do, and an inner lining coated with nylon to prevent the brace from slipping.
Shoulder Support
Although you can't use your hands in soccer -- unless you are the goalkeeper -- shoulder injuries are not uncommon. Shoulder supports are designed to prevent further injuries to your shoulder joint after a strain, separation or dislocation. Modern shoulder supports use a hard-shell foam pad to protect the joint.
Head Guards
A recent brace-like device for soccer players is a head guard that protects players from head-to-head or head-to-knee midair collisions, which are among the most dangerous occurrences in the game. One head guard fits around the forehead and cuts the force of impact by as much as 50 percent, which could mean the difference between suffering or avoiding a concussion. Head guards are approved for use by all the major governing bodies of soccer.
