Professional athletes, as well as all lovers of active recreation, are happy to use various types of orthopedic braces, which provide reliable protection against various types of injuries. What models can you see on sale? Are there any contraindications for their use? And how to choose the right sports bandage.

Why do you need bandages in sports

The main function of sports bandages is to provide the necessary degree of protection for a particular part of the body... They firmly fix the joints and support the spine, have a slight compression effect, improve blood circulation and increase muscle tone. With these attributes, training is more efficient, moreover, the athlete may not worry about injuries, bruises or sprains.

Sports knee brace

One of the most popular types is considered a sports knee brace, and this is not surprising. The knee joint is under serious stress, because the entire weight of the body falls on it and the ankle. Joints need to not only support this mass, but also show miracles of flexibility, providing the athlete with the appropriate level of mobility. In addition, most sports involve running and jumping, the activities in which the knee joint is most commonly injured.

A sports knee brace is most often an elastic cover that is worn over the leg.

Modern manufacturers of orthopedic products offer different types of knee braces, while individual models have certain advantages:

• the presence of silicone inserts helps redistribute the pressure in the patella area and reduce pain in soft tissues;
• the material is made in the form of a knit with improved anatomical characteristics;
• Breathable and soft fabrics perfectly match the physiology of the body, under the knee the fabric can be softer for easy leg bending;
• during movement, the bandage activates the muscles, improving the functionality of the joint;
• lateral spiral reinforcement helps the orthotic to maintain its correct shape.

Separately, it should be said about the models designed specifically for the knee cap. These sports Velcro bands are attached under the knee joint, and the silicone strips securely hold the semi-rigid pilot on his leg during training.

Often used are elastic sports braces with a special silicone ring that protects the kneecap from bruises and excessive displacement. The ergonomic shape of the orthosis clearly follows the contours of the body, without creating discomfort during sports training.

Other types of bandages for sports

Since all muscle groups are involved in sports, and the load is distributed to all joints, without exception, the orthopedic industry offers other types of products. What parts of the body can be secured with a brace?

Wrists

So, tennis players actively use wrist orthoses, which are available for the left or right hand. For a more rigid fixation, such models are equipped with stiffeners. They have a well thought-out design that allows you to put on the bandage yourself, and a modern design, because athletes should look stylish even with an injury.

Ankle and phalanx of the hand

Sports ankle braces and thumb restraints are preferred by basketball and other ball players. They wear them for minor injuries in order to continue training, as well as for prevention.

Elbow

Weightlifters, as well as athletes whose hands are under heavy loads during preparation for the competition, use elbow braces. With their help, a compression effect is exerted on the elbow joint and its weak fixation is carried out. Such an orthosis protects not only from injury, but also from the development of chronic diseases.

Let's not forget to mention a corset for the groin, protective bandages for the face and mouthguards - invariable attributes of hockey players' protection.

Thigh and lower leg

Often, to recover from sprains, athletes are prescribed wearing a bandage on the thigh or lower leg. Neoprene models compress muscles slightly, improving muscle tone and blood supply.

Shoulder

A brace on the shoulder joint is not suitable for sports activities, since it is difficult to carry out a full workout with it. It immobilizes the shoulders quite thoroughly, therefore it is used more often during the recovery period after injuries.

Back

A sports orthopedic back brace is indispensable if an athlete trains in an enhanced mode. It is used to relieve excessive stress on the spine after training, helps to relax the muscles of the back, and reduce pain in the lower back. The body recovers faster.

All adrenaline lovers need reliable protection. So, knee braces are in demand among snowboarders, and wrist protectors are chosen by lovers of ski walks and kayakers.

Indications and contraindications for use

I train under the strict guidance of doctors, professional athletes do not have to worry about the choice of protection. They just strictly follow the recommendations of the doctors.

But those who go in for sports on their own should think about health in advance. Strongly we do not recommend choosing orthoses on the advice of gym friends or fitness friends... Seek advice from a podiatrist, tell us about the types of training and describe the symptoms, if any have already begun to bother you.

Only a professional doctor can choose the right bandage with the right degree of fixation, which will help make your workouts truly safe and effective.

Among the obvious contraindications, it is worth noting:

• individual intolerance to the components of which the orthosis is made;
• the presence of skin diseases at the place where the bandage is worn;
• chronic diseases (professional athletes hardly have them, but amateurs easily).

How to choose a sports bandage

Any orthosis should be sized to fit. Only in this case will it provide effective support, fix the joint or spine, relieve excessive stress, improve blood circulation and muscle tone. If the bandage is small, then excessive compression of tissues or internal organs will lead to tragic consequences. If it is large, then the result from its use will be "zero".

It should also be remembered that the bandage can provide varying degrees of compression - and this should be taken into account when consulting a specialist.

Before purchasing, please note the following characteristics of the proposed models:

• conformity to size (select based on your own parameters in centimeters);
• environmental safety of fabrics and ergonomics of the overall design;
• availability of certificates of conformity;
• the quality of sewing (evenness of the lines, the absence of protruding threads, etc.).

A high-quality and correctly selected sports bandage will protect you from injuries and also reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases during professional training.

Sports and an active life have health benefits. However, with physical activity, it is difficult to do without injury and damage. For sports, orthopedic braces are used to protect the knees and other joints from possible injuries. Due to the high loads on the knee joints, pain, crunching, inflammation and other unpleasant processes often occur in them. The use of special knee pads will help to avoid this.

When is it used?

A sports brace is used to provide the required degree of protection and firmly fix the joint. The knee brace has light compression properties and there is no need to bandage the knees. improve blood flow and muscle tone. Effective training can be carried out with them. Sports anchors are divided into groups as shown in the table:

The possible threat to the knee, the desired degree of attachment and the type of fixation required are determined by the orthopedic surgeon. He can also advise on a bandage for preventive purposes.

How is it useful?

A knee brace is required for additional joint fixation during physical exertion. It helps prevent injury. The knee brace for sports reduces the stress on the knee joint when running, jumping, while squatting and other sudden movements in training in volleyball, handball, football, etc. The knee pad protects the knee well when performing heavy loads during bodybuilding, weightlifting , powerlifting. Knee braces help improve training efficiency. Additional cushioning and support is created during movements.

The effectiveness of the retainers:

• decrease in pain;
• reduction of muscle tension and fatigue;
• partial relief from the knee;
• reduction of puffiness;
• protection of the knee from injury;
• improving the working capacity of ligaments and muscles;
• increased knee flexibility.

Manufacturers and products

The type of knee fixation depends on the purpose of the brace, the stage and type of the disease. Therefore, different devices are produced. The podiatrist must decide what kind of brace is needed for safe and effective exercise. There are many bandages on the market for sports products, which are classified according to functionality and level of fixation. In the manufacture of clamps, different materials are used - elastic fabrics, plastic, metal elements, hinges, adjusters, Velcro fasteners. Athletes use soft, semi-rigid and rigid braces.

Manufacturers of orthopedic sports products are mainly developing their knee brace technologies. One of the most famous companies is LP Support, USA. Good reputation with Jowners products. They manufacture orthopedic devices under the Torres brand. Products of the brands MedSpecs, Orliman, Pharmacels, Medi, ASO, Cramer, Push-Braces, OPPO have proven themselves.

And, although part of the range is not "purely sporty", it is worth paying attention to. Today we decided to briefly talk about what means of prevention and rehabilitation we offer for the knee joint.

The obvious about the knee joint

The knee joint is one of the most stressed in the life of both an ordinary person and an athlete, since they have a significant amount of movement, which in itself leads to wear and tear. During training, the intensity of movements increases many times, and the ligamentous apparatus does not always cope and can limit hypermobility.

This leads to trauma and damage to the knee joint and - depending on the degree - long or short rehabilitation.

Two directions of use of calipers

In this regard, it is customary to distinguish, as it were, two models of using knee pads: prevention and rehabilitation, including in the postoperative period.

If with prevention everything turns out to be relatively simple and understandable, then in the direction of rehabilitation everything is not so obvious. Here are just a few cases when doctors find the use of calipers appropriate.

• Postoperative recovery
• After injuries
• Feeling "unstable" walking
• Knee valgus
• Reducing pain in arthrosis, arthritis, synovitis
• Intra-articular fractures

Moreover, for almost every case, the choice takes place according to a very individual scenario.

Let's give an example

For example, in case of arthrosis of the knee joint, it is advised to take into account such factors as the localization of pain, the degree of joint damage, pain.

Given this, you will have to choose from about 5-6 possible options for knee pads, both open and closed.

Closed type

Usually elastic, since its task is to softly fix it on all sides in order to facilitate walking. Most often recommended for people with uncertain localization of pain.

Soft open knee brace

Open with adjustment

Use is advisable after minor surgical interventions, since after the edema subsides, such a bandage will easily be adjusted (pulled) along the leg. Also indicated in the initial stages of arthrosis with mild pain.

Articulated

Designed for long-term wear after serious injury and surgery. By and large, it is an analogue of gypsum, which allows you to move without losing muscle tone. It is also indicated for severe pain at any stage of the disease.

Also, in some types of tires, heating fluids can be integrated for heating.

You should also distinguish between several fixing methods:

• Mild - the initial stages of the disease, the rehabilitation period after surgery
• Severe - acute pain syndrome
• Tight - the last stages of arthrosis with deformity

The wide applicability of such devices is usually presented in a very generalized way on the network, they say, everything works. It is not always so. There are a number of poorly proven and controversial experiments on individual cases, when the advisability of using bandages is questioned.

As it was before

In the text, a comparison has already been made that a rigid knee pad is an analogue of plaster. This is almost the case. Before calipers and bandages "came" to the market, plaster casts and splints were used as fixators.

Their main disadvantage was that they practically made it impossible to move independently, which, with prolonged rehabilitation, led to muscle atrophy. The current "generation" of rehabilitation materials still leaves a lot of freedom for a person.

McDavid and LP

The most popular and well-known manufacturers in this niche are brands and. The latter is more in the West, the former is in Russia.

The LP assortment, like the McDavid assortment, includes a wide selection of topical support braces: lower leg, wrist, knee. McDavid is more expensive.

Let's show a little closer how the two most similar models of bandages look like: and.

Both models are among the most popular for knee joint pathologies.

They are reinforced with side plates that allow you to restrict movement by asking them a certain algorithm.

Both models are made of neoprene, which increases the service life of such a device.

They are characterized by an average degree of protection with partial limitation of mobility, they can be used for degenerative lesions of the knee joints to reduce pain or after complete immobilization of the patient. This is, perhaps, the most "medical" in our catalog.

Eventually

Starting from the simplest, supportive ones, we can say that knee supports are universal, or, in other words: they will suit everyone. The simplest ones can be called " compression"Bandages. Their main purpose is to prevent injury, they strengthen the physiological position and stabilize the knee. They are the most" sports "calipers, they are very popular with those who are involved in running.

Functional knee pads are designed to preserve and maintain the function of the damaged joint. They are not universal in terms of use, since they partially restrict movement and are used in medicine as a means of rehabilitation after joint injuries, arthritis, arthrosis and to reduce pain.

Stabilizer calipers help when rigid fixation is needed. It is an alternative to plaster and splints. Often used when transporting a patient.

Complex, or combined - a separate class of transformer devices designed for patients undergoing long-term rehabilitation. In the process, they can perform several functions, replacing a number of devices.

Take care of yourself,
Happy sports season!

Throughout life, the human articular apparatus is subjected to great stress. A joint is a movable connection of bones. Limb movements occur with the help of muscles. Healthy joint function depends on age, lifestyle, diet, chronic illness or past trauma. Even with an active lifestyle, the articular apparatus is not immune from damage of varying severity. This is due to the increased load on the joints and ligaments of the extremities, both with an inactive mode, and with regular training. An untrained person, even in domestic conditions, can easily damage a joint, and a professional athlete is endangered due to constant stress and wear of the joints.

In everyday life and when playing sports, all other things being equal, the increased load falls on the joints of the legs. The lower limbs can support body weight, lifting weights, running and walking. The moment of limb engagement can be traced during sports. During cardio workouts: running, step, aerobics, cycling - all movements involve the lower limbs as much as possible. During strength training, even if the muscles of the arms, chest, back or abs are targeted, the muscles and joints of the lower extremities support the body and participate in the exercise as a weighting agent or stabilizer.

The most common injury to the lower extremities is knee injury. It is this joint that produces an uncountable number of flexions and extensions per day and can withstand heavy loads even without targeted tension. With an inactive lifestyle, a minimal but dramatic effect on the joint can result in injury. Professional athletes, amateurs of running, alpine skiing or cycling know firsthand about dislocations, swelling, inflammation of the meniscus, and deterioration of cartilage tissue. For people of age, any injury to joints is fraught with a long period of rehabilitation. Pregnant women and young mothers who constantly raise babies are also at risk due to the increased load on the lower limbs and joints.

Doctors and trainers advise using a bandage to prevent the consequences of increased stress. This is a special medical device for supporting the articular and ligamentous apparatus and cushioning the load on them.

• The bandage is made of a soft mixed fiber: wool or cotton with elastane, which allows you to achieve maximum anatomical repetition of body curves. At the same time, the fabric allows air to pass through well and does not retain moisture, preventing diaper rash and irritation.
• The bandage does not hinder movements and does not create discomfort even with prolonged use.
• The use of a bandage provides a compressive effect, but does not disturb the blood flow.
• The local warming effect of the bandage improves blood circulation and fights inflammation.
• A variety of forms of bandages allows you to choose a model suitable for specific tasks and purposes: knee pads, bandages and tapes, when using which you can independently adjust the degree of pressure.

If in everyday life they rarely focus on special preparation for a particular physical activity, then in a sports environment this is given a leading role. Without proper warm-up and protective equipment, no training takes place. It is worth taking into account the knowledge and experience of professionals in order to protect yourself from knee injuries. If there is a risk of injury, you should buy knee braces and observe the following rules:

• Assess the initial physical condition and the general degree of preparation for stress.
• Consider the presence of chronic joint diseases, age and weight criteria.
• To support the joints of the knees in good shape, do exercises regularly if possible, and before heavy loads - a special warm-up.
• Add special supplements for joint health as needed.
• Calculate a targeted load on the limbs and, if possible, regulate the unavoidable engagement of the joints, for example, when lifting weights.
• When exercising and while playing sports, always observe the established technique, as well as the rest and recovery regimen. Violation of technique and training regimen greatly increases the risk of injury in the present and wear of the knees in the future.
• Choose a comfortable brace with the required degree of compression and always use it to ensure the safety of the joints.

The human body is individual, and circumstances can develop in such a way that knee injury cannot be avoided. Failure to follow the technique in a new sport, the manifestation of a previously hidden accumulation of joint fluid, or simply an unsuccessful fall can lead to damage. In the acute period, physical activity should be completely excluded so as not to worsen the situation and not to provoke the development of inflammation. It is necessary to contact a trauma surgeon and take an X-ray to identify an accurate diagnosis and receive appointments. It is important to relieve pain and return the victim to a comfortable household life. The bandage will be an irreplaceable assistant in this.

Depending on the severity of the injury, several braces will be needed to support the joint during the rehabilitation period. In the presence of a severe dislocation or fracture, as well as in the postoperative period, a bandage with a high degree of compression will be needed to relieve pain and swelling and immobilize the damaged area. Such bandages are made of dense fabric and may have special flexible metal inserts. At this stage, it is useful to use the bandage in conjunction with special medicinal and anesthetic ointments. The bandage improves blood circulation and has a warming effect, which promotes better drug penetration.

Further, depending on the condition and sensations of the victim, you should gradually return mobility to the joint. For this, an elastic band is used, which keeps the joint in the correct position for healing, and flexion and extension occurs with a greater amplitude. During the rehabilitation period, the bandage will allow you to safely perform therapeutic exercises. With subsequent loads and during sports activities, the use of a fixing bandage and the previously damaged area will be shown.