How a Football Knee Brace Can Prevent Knee Injuries

Football can take a serious toll on knees. Jumping for a catch, shifting to run with defenders or sliding in for a tackle can all take their toll on the knees and leave players injured. With proper training and rest, a football knee brace can help to prevent injuries and provide stability when needed. When choosing a knee brace for your child, consider the type of brace, fit and comfort, durability, and brand reputation.

A knee injury is the most common type of knee injury among athletes, particularly in contact sports such as football. Knee injuries range from sprains to tears and can be devastating for a player’s career. There are many ways to prevent these injuries, from limiting participation to strengthening exercises and rehabilitation. However, a knee brace is one of the most effective tools for prevention.

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that knee braces are effective at reducing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) strains when they are correctly aligned. The research found that misaligned knee braces may actually increase ACL strains. The findings suggest that the alignment of a knee brace is just as important as the actual structure of the knee brace itself. This is an important finding, especially considering the high prevalence of ACL injuries in women and men in contact sports like football.

In another study, researchers looked at the effect of prophylactic knee bracing on ACL injuries in collegiate football players. They analyzed 1396 cadets who participated in the 1986 and 1987 fall intramural tackle football season at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. These players were grouped by their PKB status (bracers vs nonbracers) based on visualization of bilateral, dual-hinged metal knee braces as part of their gameday uniforms in publicly available imaging databases and/or game videos. The rate of major knee injuries, defined as those requiring missing games, was assessed for each year of the study period and compared between groups.

The results of this study showed that knee bracing significantly reduced the rate of ACL injuries, especially in the group of cadets who were wearing the knee brace. However, the researchers did not find a significant reduction in MCL injuries. Further investigations are necessary to understand why MCL injuries in this group of cadets did not respond to knee bracing. The authors conclude that prophylactic knee bracing is an effective strategy for reducing ACL injuries and may also reduce MCL injuries. However, they stress that additional investigations are required to better understand the reasons behind this discrepancy and identify the best methods for implementing PKB in the practice setting. They recommend that future studies focus on evaluating specific brace types, sizes, and placement as well as examining different patterns of brace use in order to optimize their efficacy. This will ensure that the knee braces used by collegiate and professional football players are providing the maximum benefit. Knee injuries are very serious for any football player, so it’s important to protect them with a knee brace that provides stability and support, so they can play to the best of their abilities.