The knee is one of the biggest joint of the human body that allows the movement of the leg and is necessary to normal activities such as walking, running, sitting, standing, bending etc. The large muscles of the thigh move the knee. The knee is also a weight bearing joint and rotates slightly under the guidance of specific muscles of the thigh. Due to its multiplicity of functions, the knee is most prone to injuries or gets diseased that cause pain in the knee.
Sudden pain in the knee may be due to overusing or suddenly injuring it. The knee joint bears the full weight of the body and therefore is vulnerable to knee pain due to extra force when running or jumping or in case the person is obese or overweight. Some of the diseases such as Osteoarthritis, Tendonitis, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, Gout and Pseudo gout also result in causing knee pain. Under such circumstances, health experts usually recommend wearing of elastic knee braces to support the painful or injured knees.
These elastic knee braces are quite easy to wear as majority of them are made from a material called neoprene that are expandable and easily are slid onto the leg and can be placed over the knee. The elastic braces do not prevent motion that is why making them quite popular among the masses who wish to remain active in spite of their knee problems. These braces come in different sizes from Small-Medium to Large and Extra Large. They also come in different colors and need to be sized even though they are stretchy. The advantage of wearing elastic knee braces is that they help in holding parts of the knee in place in addition to protecting the knee from injuries or if injured, protects the injured areas of the knee.
In case of knee injury, the patient or the person should have some basic knowledge about his/her injury. Before going to shop for elastic knee braces, the patient should be aware of what condition does the knee require treatment and for what problems that he or she is seeking remedy. Knowing about these specifications would help the person in choosing the type or kind of knee braces that should eventually be bought. In case, the person is a runner, then he or she will require that brace that it is flexible on one hand and supports the knee on the other. The knee brace should also be easily washable.
A knee brace worn due to ligament injury needs to have the feature of immobilizing the area with perfection and therefore should be of different type. It is better to measure the knee as majority of elastic knee braces are fitted by size according to the measurement in inches of appendage. However, before wearing knee braces, it is required to consult a medical professional or orthopedic surgeon or physician who will be able to help the person or patient in assessing the areas that are required to be focused on when selecting a knee brace.
