What is the best knee brace for a meniscus tear?
The best knee brace for a meniscus tear depends on a number of factors including the severity of the injury and the function of the knee brace. To start, let's go into more detail about meniscus tears so we have a better understanding of a how knee brace can be used to prevent or recover from the injury.
What is a meniscus?
In between the bones that meet to form the knee joint are two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as a cushion and "shock absorber" for the joint. These pieces of cartilage are the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus. One of the most common knee injuries is a rip or tear in the meniscus. The best knee brace for a torn meniscus is one that can address the initial swelling caused by the injury, as well as provide much-needed support during rehabilitation.
How do you tear a meniscus?
Athletes frequently injure these shock absorbers due to the bending, twisting, and sudden movements required by sports, but a meniscus can be torn by anybody during a fall or an incorrect motion throughout the day.
What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus can be extremely painful, especially when you try to twist or rotate your knee. People will often feel a popping sensation when a meniscus is injured. You might not be able to fully straighten your knee, and it might feel like your knee is stuck in place when you try to move it.
What is the best knee brace for a torn meniscus?
The severity of the injury will help determine the most appropriate knee brace. For moderate to severe tears, we recommend a range-of-motion knee brace to utilize the special hinges to control range of motion of the knee joint while the meniscus is healing. For injury prevention or mild tear, we recommend a simple hinged knee brace or knee sleeve with gel for compression and lightweight stability. All of BioSkin’s knee braces provide medical-grade compression to enhance recovery and decrease pain and swelling. See the related products below for our recommendations!*
*BioSkin encourages people to speak with their physical therapist or doctor to ultimately determine what’s best for them.
