Knee Support
Knee Supports
Knee Supports have become a popular source of protection and stablisation for your knee, patella and muscle surrounding the knee, especially for those looking to reduce the number of knee injuries they have during exercises, activities and more.
Our Stride Flex Knee Supports come with compression, breathable and elastic fabric - the compression assists in improving blood circulation around the targeted area; reducing swelling, providing warmth and helping aid in healing and preventing injuries.
The Knee Supports come with different functions and possible uses:
1. Stride Flex Knee Supports are used for minimising swelling, accelerating healing from injuries and come with targeted compression. They are mostly used for those looking to recover from injuries, used to help prevent injuries as they come with compression which can help with stablisation, but as an added benefit, the support is created from medical grade material.
They come in:
2. Patella Tendon Knee Support - this type of knee brace is what it says on the tin, the knee support provides pressure to assist in the aid of recovery for those with injuries, such as: ACL, PCL, LCL and MCL strains.
This type of knee brace is commonly used by those with the injuries above, but also with a number of conditions such as: meniscus tears, MCL related pains, sports injury recovery and joint pain relief. This type of support comes in 5 sizes.
3. Sports Knee Brace - This specific type of knee support or brace is designed for more swift pain relief, offering professional grade compression that allows you to prevent injuries whilst undergoing various activities, sports and more. This type of support comes in 5 sizes.
Are Knee Supports good for Arthritis?
Knee Supports and Knee Braces have become a popular method of care amongst those with arthritis - The warmth they provide isn't just comforting; it's therapeutic, easing discomfort effectively. The level of support you need depends on the severity of your condition and your activity level.
For mild arthritis, our 360 compression sleeves Stride Flex Knee Supports offer targeted pain relief, even for those dealing with moderate to severe arthritis, the compression and support they provide can help assist you. It doesn't really stop there, the knee supports we have available aren't just compression, patella supports or those used for supports, but we also have those with cold therapy - our cold packs have become incredibly popular for those struggling with knee injuries, arthritis, post surgery and more.
Some users opt for knee supports with patella support openings for optimal support and protection. Whether you're recovering from an injury, dealing with ligament sprains or tears, or managing arthritis during sports or daily activities, these supports ensure proper patella alignment and efficient air ventilation.
Do Knee Supports actually work?
Knee Supports serve various purposes, including everyday support, sports and fitness, and injury rehabilitation.
- For Everyday Support: Individuals experiencing instability due to conditions like arthritis or aging find comfort and stability in wearing knee supports during their daily activities.
- Injury Rehabilitation: Healthcare and medical professionals often recommend knee braces for individuals undergoing knee surgery or recovering from knee injuries, as they aid in the rehabilitation process.
- Sports and Fitness: Knee braces and supports have gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts and athletes seeking injury prevention and performance enhancement. They provide stabilisation and support, contributing to improved performance during physical activities.
Knee supports and braces, particularly those offering 360-degree compression, have become widely favored for their reliability and durable materials.
How does Knee Support with Compression work?
Various types of knee braces are tailored to different needs and functionalities. They provide vital support by alleviating strain on knee ligaments and muscles during weight-bearing activities, particularly beneficial for individuals with knee injuries, see above the types we have available.
Knee supports act as a middle ground, offering mobility without compromising joint stability. By redistributing weight away from the knee, they mitigate strain and facilitate movement, preventing recurrent injuries.
During weight-bearing tasks, knee braces absorb pressure exerted on the knee, limiting its motion and reducing strain on the joint. This mechanism helps prevent further injuries by providing essential structural support.
Additionally, knee supports and sleeves serve a dual purpose by retaining heat around the knee area. Heat retention improves circulation and speeds up healing, particularly advantageous in colder climates where injuries heal more slowly. Furthermore, it enhances comfort by keeping the knee warm, promoting quicker recovery.
Some compression knee braces feature mechanical compression pads that help maintain the position of the kneecap, enhancing joint stability during activities. By compressing the joint, these braces restrict blood flow and swelling, facilitating greater mobility.
Typically, compression braces are worn temporarily post-surgery to support healing ligaments or during physical activity to maintain joint alignment. They also help minimise swelling and promote circulation to surrounding muscles, optimising overall knee health.
What conditions are knee supports good for?
Healthcare professionals usually recommend knee braces to address a wide array of common knee injuries and musculoskeletal conditions.
These encompass:
- Knee Sprains: Resulting from the stretching or tearing of knee ligaments due to sudden twisting or impact.
- Knee Ligament Injuries: Involving damage to crucial ligaments like the ACL, PCL, MCL, or LCL, often caused by sports-related incidents or trauma.
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS): Known as runner’s knee, PFPS manifests as pain around the patella due to overuse, muscle imbalances, or misalignment.
- Patellar Instability: Characterised by recurrent dislocations or subluxations of the kneecap, leading to instability and discomfort.
- Patellar Tendinitis and Tendon Issues: Inflammation or damage to the patellar tendon due to repetitive strain or overuse.
- Patellar Dislocations: Occurring when the kneecap shifts out of its normal position, causing pain, swelling, and instability.
Beyond injury-specific treatments, knee braces & knee supports are instrumental in managing various muscle and joint-related health conditions, including:
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Affecting peripheral nerves and resulting in weakness, numbness, and knee/leg discomfort.
- Knee Arthritis: Marked by knee joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
- Joint Hypermobility Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Conditions characterised by joint laxity and instability, heightening the risk of injuries and discomfort.
How tight should a knee support be?
The type of knee brace chosen plays a significant role in determining comfort levels during sleep. Lightweight and low-profile braces (similar to the ones above) tend to be more conducive to sleeping compared to bulkier or rigid alternatives. Some knee braces are specifically designed for overnight wear, incorporating breathable materials and ergonomic designs aimed at maximising comfort.
For some individuals, wearing a knee brace to bed can be relatively comfortable, particularly if the brace fits well and offers adequate cushioning. Nevertheless, adjusting to sleeping with a brace may take time, and initially, you may find it challenging to achieve restful sleep.
So, the short answer is yes, it’s more of a personal preference, you can sleep with your knee support still on, but it’s really up to. There are some people that find it tough or a bit difficult having a decent sleep with a knee support on, as it can limit your movement - however others sleep without any problems.
Knee Supports for Runners
Knee Supports have become incredibly popular for those with runners knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, and typically people who suffer from this buy either a knee support, patella knee support or a knee brace.
The best thing you can do before going into the market and looking for specific support that may or may not work for you is to understand what this type of injury is and how to recover from it.
Runners Knee is typically known to be down to overtraining, this occurs with poor alignment or your strength in your legs, however other reasons could be much simpler, such as: incorrect footwear or even problems with your feet.
Runner's knee causes the kneecap to move around and feel unusually displaced during movement or during running. During this movement or running, those struggling with runners knee will incur symptoms, such as:
- Kneecaps that are tender to the touch
- A strange rubbing, grinding or clicking sound around the kneecap when you straighten or bend your knee
- Pain around or in your kneecap that occurs when you’re active, however sometimes people may experience pain whilst sitting down for a while with the knees bent.
Best Knee Supports For Runners
Our Stride Flex Knee Supports have been a popular choice for those with injuries, specific conditions and those wanting to stablise their leg without breaking the bank!
Stride Flex Knee Support
This type of Knee Support is fantastic and popular amongst runners, and this could be due to its added features such as: 360 compression, comfortable design and it delivers medical grade support. This type of support is suitable for helping reduce inflammation, help speed up healing processes and assist with better blood circulation.
The Stride Flex is crafted from soft, breathable materials helping wick away any sweat for a much dryer and cooler experience around the knee.
- Colours: Green, Blue & Black
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Patella Knee Support
The Patella knee support has become popular amongst those that are struggling with knee pain, patella tendonitis, sports related injuries, arthritis and meniscus tears. This type of support serves as a stabliser and shock absorber, significantly minimising muscle fatigue and minimises risk of injury.
The patella support is crafted from durable, premium and breathable materials, ensuring a quick drying process and employs a 3d knitted technology, ensuring a 360 tight compression around the knee.
- Colours: Blue & Black Only
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Sports Knee Support
The Med-Fit Sports Knee Support is primarily used by those performing various sports, such as: Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Hiking, Tennis, Rugby and many more. It helps promote circulation, reduce inflammation and reduce risk of injury, whilst allowing for full leg motion.
This type of support offers medical grade support, but does not hugely limit you in relation to movements.
- Colours: Blue & Black Only
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
What causes Runner's Knee
Pain associated with a runner's knee can be caused by irritation of the lining of the knee, worn or possibly torn cartilage, or even strained tendons. Other things can contribute to runner’s knee, such as:
- Arthritis
- Flat Feet
- Weak or Potentially tight thigh muscles
- Fractured Kneecap
- Partial or complete dislocation of the kneecap
- Poor foot support
- Underlying Injury
- Tight hamstrings
- Excessive Training or Overuse of muscles
What should you consider when looking at Knee Supports for Running?
Material
Material is an incredibly important factor, and there are some quality materials on the market. One of which is our Polyvinyl Chloride - a durable, tough and non slip material helps retain heat and can in turn help improve the healing process / improve blood circulation.
The material is incredibly supportive, provides 360 compression and is very comfortable, but the non-slip feature the knee supports provide is that whilst running or even performing a workout, you won’t find yourself pulling it up every few seconds.
Most Knee Supports nowadays are latex and allergy free, so it’s very unlikely you will struggle with any allergic reactions, especially with the breathable material keeping your knee dry.
Types of Knee Supports
If you’ve read above, you probably already know what type of Knee Support will work for you, however if not, keep reading. Supports come in all sizes and colours, but the levels of support they give you, and what that support may be will differ.
Traditionally, people are pushed towards using tape, whilst this can be helpful for those still very active in sport and is the cheapest option, it won’t give you the highest or even the medium level of support you may need.
If you’re requiring a decent level of support, normally customers go after braces and knee sleeves, however others may go a level beyond and purchase a patella knee sleeve to aid recovery further and restrict the knee movements a little more.
To give you an idea using our popular supports, it looks something like this:
- Stride Flex Knee Supports: This particular Knee Support proves immensely popular among runners, likely owing to its array of enhanced features including 360-degree compression, ergonomic design, and provision of medical-grade support. It is adept at mitigating inflammation, expediting healing, and promoting improved blood circulation.
- Sports Knee Support: Med-Fit Sports Knee Support garners favor primarily among athletes engaged in a range of sports disciplines including cycling, football, golf, hockey, hiking, tennis, rugby, and beyond. It facilitates enhanced circulation, diminishes inflammation, and lowers the likelihood of injury, all while enabling unrestricted leg movement. Despite providing medical-grade support, it doesn't significantly impede movement.
- Patella Knee Support: The Patella knee support has gained traction among individuals grappling with knee pain, patellar tendonitis, sports-related injuries, arthritis, and meniscus tears. Functioning as both a stabiliser and shock absorber, this support substantially reduces muscle fatigue and mitigates the risk of injury.
Are Knee Supports good for running?
Enhancing both your running performance and safeguarding your knee health calls for the integration of a support into your routine, regardless of prior knee injuries. The reasoning is simple: when you run, your knees absorb a significant amount of impact, which, if left unchecked, can lead to cumulative damage over time.
Neglecting to address this issue proactively may result in severe knee complications, ultimately hindering your ability to continue running. As you age, these unresolved issues may manifest as challenges in performing even basic movements during your senior years.
Therefore, it is wise to acknowledge that most runners can benefit from using a knee brace.
