As a runner, you’ve likely heard the debate about the negative/positive effect of running on the knees. Since the jury is still undecided, we can safely say that running, on its own, will not damage the knees of healthy runners.
Now, for runners who have an underlying congenital or medical condition, or an injury, their knees will “kneed” all the support they can get. Let’s look at the basics of Knee Braces to help you decide if they are right for you.
Here are the different knee braces that I include with links so you can check pricing on Amazon.
Be sure to look at the specific style and if it is relevant for your specific situation.
The 5 Best Knee Braces for Runners
1. UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve Support
2. Neo G Medical Grade VCS Advanced Hinged Open Patella Knee Brace
3. Bauerfeind GenuTrain S Knee Support
4. McDavid 401 Reversible Compression Knee Sleeve
5. McDavid Hinged Knee Brace with Cross Straps
Our Top Knee Brace Choice:
McDavid 401 Reversible Compression Knee Sleeve
Soft and comfortable to wear while running. It’s designed to prevent slipping and rolling down the knees. Excellent air flow.
Why Knee Support?
The human knee is the largest single joint in our bodies. It’s a complex union of many parts that works as a hinge and under normal circumstances should move in only one direction.
Force it to move in an unnatural direction and you will quickly have serious problems.
The knee is susceptible to injury: that’s a fact of life that we can’t run away from. The most common causes of knee injury being arthritis and different kinds of trauma like accidents and sports.
Sadly, the probability of having a running-related knee injury increases with time.
In fact, a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, shows that up to a whopping 50% of running related leg injuries affect the knees directly.
This information is highly valuable and was gathered over a period of 52 years (1972-2012) and though you may want to roll your eyes at all the medical jargon. This information tells us that we really need to take good care of our knees.
General Basics of Knee Support/Braces
Knee braces work by controlling the movements of the knee while in motion without interfering with the wearer’s activities. Though some are designed to immobilize the knee completely, for obvious reasons those are not applicable for athletes.
Try running round the neighborhood in a knee immobilizer and I’m sure your neighbors will not be inviting you over for dinner anytime soon. You’ll only succeed in frightening little children and small animals in the process. Just saying.
Knee support comes in different functions, styles, sizes and shapes.
You can easily get basic ones at your local pharmacy, online and at sporting goods shop. Custom made braces are made to fit.
Knee braces are available in four categories specific to its function: prophylactic, functional, unloader and rehabilitative.
Prophylactic
These are a combination of hinges, adhesive fabric straps and bars to protect the knee during high impact sports like basketball and hockey.
According to National Library of Medicine, they protect the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) but are also useful for supporting other parts of the knee like the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL).
via https://orthostreams.com
Functional
Functional braces are best used in the recovery period after a knee injury. The injured ligament whether the MCL, ACL, PCL, LCL or a combination injury will determine the functional brace used.
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may be advised to use a flexible or rigid brace or even a custom made support.
http://www.breg.com
Unloader
They are designed to “unload” stress from the inner knee joint by forcing the knee to bend away from the joint. Doing this will transfer some of the pressure to the thigh bone.
These braces are custom made to fit from steel, contoured plastic and foam and are recommended for sufferers of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. They’re also good for reducing knee strain or common knee pain and for people awaiting knee surgery.
via https://www.ossur.com
Rehabilitative
These braces are also designed for use in the after-surgery or injury phase and are worn for approximately 2 to 8 weeks.
They effectively control knee movements and protect the injured ligaments while allowing for swelling and easy removal. They extend from the knee to the calf and are adjustable.
Remember what I said earlier about the knee immobilizer? Well, this is the guilty one.
via http://prokneepainrelief.com
Types of Available Knee Braces Specifically for Runners.
Most runners will complain of knee pain or discomfort at some point and a bit of prevention using knee support can usually solve the problem. If not, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.
Knee Sleeves
Knee sleeves are the most commonly used type of knee support among runners and other athletes that don’t have major knee problems.
Technically, they are not knee braces proper, but are classified along with them as they work by compressing the knee joint to increase blood flow, provide warmth, prevent strain and provide some knee stability. A knee sleeve is a relatively inexpensive way to help reduce knee pain.
If you just want to be preventive, this is the support you should get. They are less expensive than other types of knee support and usually made from neoprene, a stretchy insulating material great for warming sore joints and limbs while running.
Some come with hinges and patellar stabilizers.
