Knee Braces?

[Dutycat]

I know this is an obscure question for the middle of the season that may only interest me. I will be happy with one or two responses.

Carson Palmer, Kam Chancellor, virtually every offensive lineman, and many other players on every NFL team wear knee braces...yet I rarely see them in basketball. Tim Duncan is the last NBA basketball player I remember routinely playing with a knee brace. Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose wear them during recovery, but get rid of them at the earliest chance. Booker wore one early last year in the EKU game then stopped. I remember Robbie Hummel wore one his senior year. There are so many knee injuries in basketball, yet few knee braces. I'm sure there are other examples, but clearly there is a big difference between football and basketball.

Is it just a different culture? Is it considered weak/wimpy? Is it considered too restricting for effective play? Is it considered dangerous to other players? The movement in basketball can't be that different than a WR or DB? Surely it is worth protecting a tweaked or recovering knee. Maybe I am not paying attention?!?

Thanks for indulging me and for any insight / thinking.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Maybe they are too heavy? Not a problem in football.

 

[Cantwaitfor8]

How many WR's or DB's do you see wear a brace? Few and far between... As a PT, I generally prefer a patient be able to return to activity (sports) without the aid of a brace IF possible (barring a ligament and/or specific injury which requires a brace/support) as this would or could indicate the injured joint has returned to pre-injury performance. Prophylactic use of a brace could be too restrictive, thus my question when you consider other sports where cutting, jumping, and sudden direction changes are common a brace may hinder athletic ability. However, a QB typically on the plant leg and linemen who are constantly exposed to outside forces acting on the knee (and potential ligament damage) are specific cases where damage could occur. Also, in basketball more and more often you see a more dynamic and less restrictive support used likely to encourage less restricted range of motion.

 

[Dutycat]

How many WR's or DB's do you see wear a brace? Few and far between... As a PT, I generally prefer a patient be able to return to activity (sports) without the aid of a brace IF possible (barring a ligament and/or specific injury which requires a brace/support) as this would or could indicate the injured joint has returned to pre-injury performance. Prophylactic use of a brace could be too restrictive, thus my question when you consider other sports where cutting, jumping, and sudden direction changes are common a brace may hinder athletic ability. However, a QB typically on the plant leg and linemen who are constantly exposed to outside forces acting on the knee (and potential ligament damage) are specific cases where damage could occur. Also, in basketball more and more often you see a more dynamic and less restrictive support used likely to encourage less restricted range of motion.

Thanks friend. I was hoping a PT would answer.

 

[StubbornPenny]

ancillary to the point, but Steve Kerr said he really needed to wear two knee braces when playing, but generally only wore one. When asked why he said something to the effect, "because when guys see a guy with two knee braces on, they're going to drive at me every time."

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

ancillary to the point, but Steve Kerr said he really needed to wear two knee braces when playing, but generally only wore one. When asked why he said something to the effect, "because when guys see a guy with two knee braces on, they're going to drive at me every time."

I doubt those guys really needed to find a reason to drive on Steve Kerr.

 

[Cantwaitfor8]

Couldn't have said it better myself. You is a smart.

We may have had the same edumicators .

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

I'm not going to act like I know the effects of a knee brace on mobility or flexibility of any sort, but it's definitely not nearly as comfortable wearing a knee brace while playing, and if a player's knee pain is lesser than the annoyance of the knee brace, I can completely understand not wearing a knee brace. I always wear one, but I also am not playing for a living so I'd rather live with the annoyance than the pain.

 

[kybassfan]

How many WR's or DB's do you see wear a brace? Few and far between... As a PT, I generally prefer a patient be able to return to activity (sports) without the aid of a brace IF possible (barring a ligament and/or specific injury which requires a brace/support) as this would or could indicate the injured joint has returned to pre-injury performance. Prophylactic use of a brace could be too restrictive, thus my question when you consider other sports where cutting, jumping, and sudden direction changes are common a brace may hinder athletic ability. However, a QB typically on the plant leg and linemen who are constantly exposed to outside forces acting on the knee (and potential ligament damage) are specific cases where damage could occur. Also, in basketball more and more often you see a more dynamic and less restrictive support used likely to encourage less restricted range of motion.

That's a great response. I just wanted to add that the general consensus on this has changed over the years. Knee braces used to be more common in the 60's and 70's. My recollection (which isn't that great) is that there was little data to support that they prevented re-injury. Further, I recall some indication that as a preventative measure, they were found to be counter productive since they did not encourage the joint to build strength in the related muscle groups. I agree with the assertions that the effective use of the brace is dependent on type of activity/position played. I think the decision process to use a brace and the type of brace used has greatly improved. Long ago, it seemed as though that standard protocol was "throw a brace at it to see if it helps". Now much more goes into that decision, resulting in better care.

 

[CharlieT71059]

players think it makes them look weak