Knee Brace | BetterBraces.com Blog

Jogging Injuries – They’re More Common Than You Think!

Posted on March 22, 2013 by admin

Holly B. is an active professional in her late twenties who spends her free time playing recreational flag football and league basketball. She shares her experience with us as she explores the world of sports.

Recently, I’ve had several friends pick up marathon running as a hobby. They are all fairly active in other sports as well. But strangely enough, it’s the jogging that’s starting to give them issues with injuries. Many joggers experience injuries in the first 4-6 months of running. Risk of injuries increase as the distance and speed are increased as well.

Here’s some of the jogging injuries they’re starting to experience now:

Runner’s Knee – Also known as patellofemoral pain, runner’s knee is caused from repetitive bending of the knee. That’s why it’s common in runners, but it can also occur in other physical activities and sports as well. The pain occurs behind the kneecap and can make it aggravating to continue running. Check out some knee braces that help prevent runner’s knee.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB or ITBS) – ITBS is another common injury in runners, which one of my friends is experiencing now. The iliotibial band connects from the hip all the way down to the shin. When it gets inflamed is when runners and other athletes start to experience pain in the knee. It can sometimes be prevented with better shoes and running techniques, as well as wearing knee braces for Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

Ankle Instability – Another one of my friends is experiencing ankle pain and instability since picking up jogging. Because of the repetitive nature of the activity, and also the recurring force against a hard surface, jogging can cause old ankle injuries to come back full force. Athletes need to train carefully in order to make sure prior injuries don’t come back to haunt them from jogging. Check out some braces for ankle instability.

If you’re a jogger and you’re experiencing injuries, check with your doctor to determine the appropriate treatment for your situation. Don’t get fooled by the simple nature of jogging – make sure you protect yourself by wearing the appropriate gear and take the time to properly ramp up your training regiment!

Favorite Knee Brace for Football Players

Posted on March 8, 2013 by admin

DonJoy Armor with Fourcepoint Hinge

Football is a strenuous activity that places a heavy amount of strain on the players’ knees. When participating in this sport, it’s important for participants to use adequate protection to prevent injuries such as ACL tears and knee sprains.

One of the best things you can do is to wear a football knee brace. Our staff favorite is the DonJoy Armor Knee Brace with FourcePoint Hinge. It offers maximum protection without inhibiting movement on the field. DJO Global Product Specialist and Certified Athletic Trainer Leana says:

“I always suggest the DonJoy Armor with the FourcePoint hinge to the football players I look after. The FourcePoint hinge technology provides less strain on their knee ligaments and decreases their chance of injury; therefore, allowing them to play to their highest potential. It’s the strongest brace you can get without a prescription and it’s available in ACL, PCL and CI versions.”

So if you play football, check out the DonJoy Armor FourcePoint today! You can also browse our other football knee braces.

Which Knee Braces Help Arthritis in the Knee

Posted on November 5, 2012 by admin

We recently stumbled upon this question on Yahoo! Answers:

What type of knee brace is good for someone who has arthritis in the knee?

My right knee has arthritis. The pain comes and goes. I love jogging and tennis but it just kills me. I hate to give those up but will if it gets too bad. But is there any good knee braces on the market that might alleviate the pain and prevent more damage?

While knee braces can’t cure arthritis, they can definitely help alleviate pain in the knee. Many arthritis knee braces help by shifting pressure away from the unhealthy areas of the knee to the healthier areas. Plus, by reducing pain, arthritis knee braces encourage movement and activity, helping to strengthen muscles around the knee.

There are many types of arthritis and the symptoms may vary from patient to patient. Speak with your doctor to see if arthritis knee braces are an appropriate part of treatment for your arthritis and activity level. You may want to check out some of these leading arthritis knee braces:

DonJoy OAdjuster Osteoarthritis Knee Brace – one of the leading arthritis knee braces
DonJoy OA Everyday – one of the leading arthritis knee braces
DonJoy OA Lite Osteoarthritis Knee Brace – great for mild arthritis knee pain
DonJoy OA Assist Osteoarthritis Knee Brace – ideal for daily arthritis care
DonJoy OA FullForce Arthritis Knee Brace – a light arthritis knee brace that helps active patients go more miles with less pain

Featured Product: DonJoy OA FullForce Arthritis Knee Brace

Posted on October 30, 2012 by admin

Ready for the latest and greatest in osteoarthritis pain relief? Then you need to check out the DonJoy OA FullForce Arthritis Knee Brace!

Arthritis knee braces have been known to help relieve knee pain from conditions like osteoarthritis by shifting pressure away from the arthritic parts of the knee to the healthier areas of the knee. They also stabilize the joint so that patients have more confidence as they return to regular activity. This encourages movement and strengthens the muscles, building a healthy cycle of muscle growth and pain relief.

While arthritis knee braces may not be the right solution for everyone, they have been known to help active individuals who are motivated to strengthen their muscles. And none do it better than the DonJoy OA FullForce Arthritis Knee Brace. It’s one of the lightest knee braces on the market, allowing active patients to go more miles with less pain. It also has special hinges and technology to reduce strain on the ligaments and cartilage in the knee.

Speak with your doctor to see if arthritis knee braces are a suitable treatment for your condition, then shop now for the DonJoy OA FullForce Arthritis Knee Brace!

Customer DonJoy OA FullForce Review: “Have had this brace for three weeks. I have been in pain for eight months with arthritis and patella instability. after wearing this brace for three weeks I am absolutely amazed at the improvement in my knee. I can wear it all day. It is so comfortable. Thanks DonJoy. This is an amazing product!”

Check out our full selection of arthritis knee braces.

Runner’s Knee: It Really Does Affect Runners

Posted on October 22, 2012 by admin

My friend Sandy has always been an athlete. She played high school basketball and she is also the quarterback on my flag football team and in the same recreational basketball league as me. Sandy has been relatively injury-free… maybe a couple minor ankle sprains or shoulder tendonitis over the years, until recently. The activity that has really started taking a toll on her body is running.

Sandy recently started getting in to marathons and regularly scheduled jogs around the neighborhood. She started feeling pain in her left knee. It got bad enough that she decided to see her doctor, who diagnosed it as Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), also known as Runner’s Knee.

Luckily, there are knee braces for runner’s knee which may help reduce the symptoms. PFPS knee braces help by applying pressure to the knee and also by “lifting” the kneecap in to proper position during athletic activities, such as running.

Sandy’s still resting and healing, but when she starts activity again she’ll be wearing a knee brace for runner’s knee to help alleviate her patellofemoral pain.