when to brace?
-post injury, surgery, chronic injury
-stabilize or limit ROM
-injury prevention
-need for long term consistent support
-congenital abnormality
-when self application is preffered
benefits to bracing
-consistent and reproducable support
-cost effective long term
-easy to apply/adjust
when to tape
-propreoceptive feedback
-short term individualized support
-mid instability support
- when bracing is not allowed in the sport
-custom, low profile fit is required
-temporary compression
benefits to taping
-costomizable
-fits easy under equipment or clothing
-useful for on field adjustments
3 main brace categories
rehabilitative
prophaylactic
functional
what does a rehabilitative brace used for (3)
-protects healing tissues from further damage
-provide immobilization at selected angle after injury or surgery
-not used for sport participation
requirements for rehab braces (6)
-able to limit ROM
-comfortable
-cost effective
-fit contour of limb
-able to offer protection as athlete increases stress on limb
-easy to apply and use
straight immobilizer-rehab brace
-made of oam and rods.
-used post E.R
hinged rehab brace
-allows for preset ROM by tightening screw control
-allows for early ROM
-better promotion of healing= movement= blood flow= nutrients
prophalyctic brace
-decrease the incidence of injury in sport without impairing performance
-purpose is prevention
-must allow for full ROM
-blocks hyperextension
do prophylactic braces work?
pretty well no
-not recommened if you have no injury to prevent (Hx)
-can affect your running speed
-not been proven effective in reducing the number or severity of knee injuries and may contribute to injury due to not using approprite muscles
functional braces
-provide stability to knee following injury
-designed to control tibial translation and rotational stress relative to the femur (ACL braces)
2 basic desgins of functional braces
-hinge post strap
-hinge post shell
requirements for functional knee brace
-consider activity (linear vs cutting)
-increased comfort= increased compliance
-fit, application, maintenance
-brace does not take place instead of rehab
-efficency of brace can be enhanced
ideal candidate for a functional brace (6)
-mild to moderate linear, instability
-minimal laxity of secondary constraints
-intact menisci and chondral surface
-participates sports with little amount of pivot (more linear)
- activity modification can be better than bracing in some cases
-braces can only increase stability by one grade
considerations for bracing
-sport demands & requirement of user
-rules of sport (brace allowed, must be covered, no brace allowed)
-allergie to material
-custom vs over the shelf
-climate & use: weather, breathability of material, length of time worn
