The App Health Exakt can be used as a program to support your recovery after a non-surgical or surgical treatment for a meniscal tear, similar to other programs. During conservative treatment, knee braces can be used to provide support. A good brace will allow rest for your meniscus, relieving pressure and protecting your knee.
What is the difference between a knee brace and a knee sleeve?
What is the best type of brace for a torn meniscus?
Most knee braces have features that benefit a range of conditions, from meniscal tears to patella subluxations and ACL tear (anterior cruciate ligament) to knee osteoarthritis (OA), not just one knee condition.
Therefore, in order to allow your meniscus to “rest” when necessary, it is important to restrict movement and apply moderate compression. When selecting a knee brace, it is crucial to opt for one that can provide adequate support.
In your process of healing, the location of your injury and any other structures that have been affected should be taken into consideration when selecting a brace. Additionally, the specific type of meniscus tear you have should also factor into your decision.
The best knee brace for a torn meniscus depends on your unique circumstances. In the next section, we will discuss the pros and cons of different types of knee braces available and why there are different kinds of braces for meniscus tears. It’s worth noting that not everyone needs a brace to tear a meniscus.
How long do you wear a knee brace for a torn meniscus?
Not everyone who sustains a meniscus injury will require the use of a brace, but certain individuals may find it necessary.
The type of injury you have will determine the advice you receive from a physical therapist or doctor. Sometimes, it is necessary to use a knee brace and crutches during the early stages of your recovery. If needed, you may have to wear a knee brace for up to six weeks or longer.
Should you sleep with your knee brace on?
While lying in bed, you have the option to utilize pillows to enhance your comfort. Before going to sleep, it is advisable to put on your knee brace in order to safeguard the joint from additional harm and maintain stability throughout the night.
Is it OK to wear a knee brace all day?
Yes, unless you have been otherwise instructed, make sure to follow the given instructions to ensure it fits well or make it in a worse condition.
Choosing a knee brace – pros and cons of the most common types
Rigid Knee Braces
Function
A rigid knee brace offers the highest level of support for your knee. It has a hard, inflexible structure that keeps your knee stable and allows you to control the amount of bend in your knee. It mainly prevents lateral movements that can harm your meniscus.
If you have injured your ACL and require a higher level of support than what soft braces can provide, these braces are a good choice for you.
Sportspeople often use more compact outer protection when they want to start getting back into intense physical activity or contact sports at the end of their rehab programs because it provides strong support for them.
Fit
The knee brace should be well fitted and rigid to support your leg. It should not be too loose, but should provide enough room for movement. After wearing it for a while, make sure to check for indentations or red marks on your skin to ensure that the brace is not cutting off blood circulation.
The shell ought to be rigid enough to provide you with support and safeguard, yet not so rigid that it hinders movement.
Hinged Knee Braces
Function
A pivoting knee brace offers a significant amount of assistance in managing instability on the anterior and lateral sides of your knee.
If your meniscus is torn, the best support offer may brace this. It is also the choice brace for ligament injuries like your posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and medial collateral ligament (MCL), as well as your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Wearing a compression brace can help promote healing within the knee, reduce pain, and decrease swelling. The severity of your injury will determine whether you need a rigid or soft brace. Braces, which can be either hinged or soft, usually provide some form of compression.
The limits of knee movement, including straightening and bending, as well as side-to-side movement, to prevent injury to your knee, are typically determined by a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable about the type and severity of your meniscus injury.
You are able to straighten and bend your knee even a little, allowing you to carry out functional activities like walking while preventing further strain on your meniscus.
Fit
The mechanism hinge of the knee braces should be placed into it without any force, and the straps should feel secure and comfortable. The knee braces should fit well around your knee, neither too loose nor too tight.
The Offloader Knee Brace
Function
The knee brace, which is a knee unloader or offloader, helps relieve pain and aids in the recovery of your meniscus tear by transferring or unloading pressure from one side of your knee joint. The brace is made from steel struts and foam, with a molded plastic construction.
It’s the best option for degenerative meniscus tears caused by OA because pain is usually on one side of the knee joint.
It can also be used during rehabilitation and following meniscal surgery, where weight bearing on one side of the meniscus needs to be avoided. However, it is not recommended if your ACL is torn.
How does it function? (See picture below) When you stand on your leg, does it work by exerting pressure on three points of your thigh bone, which compels your knee to bend away from the painful area of your joint?
Fit
You shouldn’t restrict or limit your movement. You should be able to fully and easily bend your knee with the brace on. The knee unloader brace should fit all around your leg at the level of your knee.
The location of a meniscal injury determines whether it occurs on the outer or inner parts of the knee joint, which affects the need for unloading to support and adjust the knee. This can be achieved by using hinges for unloading.
The Soft Knee Brace (without hinge)
Function
A gentle knee brace provides slight to moderate assistance, depending on the variety you select.
If you have a minor tear in your meniscus and don’t need a lot of support, soft knee braces can be a good option to help support your knee after rehab.
Fit
Soft knee braces should not be too loose or too tight, as the straps can be adjusted to achieve the desired level of support and compression.
Knee Compression Sleeves
Function
While compression sleeves don’t offer much protection or support for your meniscus in terms of reducing swelling and pain in your knee, they can provide compression to help reduce them.
It may also improve the position of your knee joint, helping you reduce the risk of injuries and improve your balance while running.
In our other articles, you can also find examples of exercises that can help you balance your swollen and painful knees and improve them.
Fit
If it is excessively loose, you will not receive any advantages. Conversely, if it is excessively tight, it can impede blood circulation and lead to additional problems, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or skin irritation. Therefore, it is important for a knee compression sleeve to provide the appropriate level of compression.
Signs that your knee support or sleeve is excessively snug include:
Will a knee brace replace rehab?
Despite the fact that you are wearing your brace, it is necessary for you to engage in regular exercise. These activities or therapies cannot substitute the exercise or rehabilitation required for complete recovery, although knee braces can be utilized during the recovery process. Absolutely not.
We’ve previously discussed what a comprehensive exercise program for runners with tears in the meniscus should look like. You are also welcome to use the Rehab Tear Meniscus plan provided in the Health Exakt App. The app is available for download on Google Play and the App Store. It uses your feedback to adjust the progression and intensity of exercise to ensure it is at the right level for you.