Are you considering getting knee support for running? If so, you are probably already aware that knee braces and sleeves can help protect you from re-injuring your knees or aid in treating a current injury. As a runner, you need to protect your knee at all costs. Research shows that nearly half of running injuries involve the knees in over 75% of surveyed runners.
However, there is a lot of bad information about knee support for running floating around. There are plenty of knee braces on the market, but choosing the right one for your needs, if you even need one, is a difficult task. In this article, we will cover what you should know about knee support for running to help you find the right solution for you.
Is it necessary to have knee support while running?
Running is an exhilarating sport and enjoyable activity that many people partake in. However, it doesn’t always go so smoothly – especially on your knees. The knees receive a majority of the impact, making them the most frequently injured part of the body in runners. These vary from mild injuries, like a strained knee, to severe, like runners’ knee.
So, in summary, wearing knee support when running for extra support is highly recommended or even necessary, whether you have an existing injury or not. Especially if you are putting in high mileage for training or otherwise. A quality knee brace will ease the impact and pressure on your knee joints, allowing you to keep running pain and injury free.
Benefits of Knee Support for Runners
Runners and athletes have used knee support for as long as it’s existed. As a result, there has been a significant drop in cases of knee injuries and the recovery time for those with knee injuries.
Here are some of the benefits of using knee support for running that are worth considering:
I. Helps with Knee Alignment
Runners that use knee support keep their knee joints appropriately aligned. This helps keep knees in line with the hip so you don’t unnecessarily stress the various parts of your legs. Unaligned knees and hips can cause wear and tear over time and inevitably, injury.
II. Restores Running Confidence
By taking precautions, you can feel more confident hitting the road. With proper knee support, you do not need to fear getting into an accident and hurting your knees as much as you would otherwise. This is important, especially for those who have had previous knee issues or are susceptible.
III. Improves Running Form
If you are recovering from a knee injury and get back into running, you may notice that your running form has deteriorated since you last ran. Using knee support while recovering will not only improve your running form but also prevent you from further injuries when you no longer need the support or the level of support.
IV. Minimizes Impact On Your Joints
Knee braces take part of the stress off of your joints when you are standing, walking, or running. In doing so, it allows you to train or run more efficiently, particularly if you’re recovering from a knee injury. Once you have healed from an injury, try wearing your knee brace only when you are being physically active, or pain flares up.
V. Reduces Pain
One of the most significant benefits of knee braces is their pain reduction capabilities. Chronic conditions are another big issue for runners that makes running almost impossible. A knee brace can reduce pain and soreness by unloading some of the pressure on the impacted knee areas.
What Are the Best Types of Knee Support for Runners?
Knee support for running comes in various shapes, forms, and sizes, from simple compression sleeves to the most complex unloader knee braces. Each type is specifically designed for a particular need. For instance, an immobilizer is unsuitable for running; it immobilizes the knee joint while one is recovering from a serious injury or surgery.
Let’s dive into what knee support could work best for you based on your unique situation.
Unloader KNee Braces
Unloader braces provide pain relief, support, and stability by transferring pressure from the knee joint to the thigh bone. It unloads the tension and stress on your knees when you run, allowing you to recover from an injury, prevent an injury from occurring, or correct your form.
Unloader knee braces, like the Ascender, are the best type of knee brace for running due to the fact that they offer a high degree of support that can not be matched by many other types of knee braces on the market.
Compression Knee Braces
Compression knee braces are better for more minor knee injuries like a strain. You slide the braces over your knee to distribute pressure evenly around the knee. It does this by transferring pressure from the joints in the knee to the stronger muscles and bones around it.
The good thing about these braces is that they protect against an isolated injury worsening. The downside is that the rest of the joints are not supported. These braces don’t prevent the more serious negative impacts of running; it simply adds a layer of support.
Hinged Knee Braces
Hinged braces are best for treating moderate knee injuries. They have metal hinges on the sides, hence the name, which allows you to move easier while still supporting your knee. They are designed to keep your knee from moving sideways without hindering your everyday movement.
Like compression braces, hinged braces can treat injured knees and help restore their functionality. However, it is one of the hardest knee braces to wear. They are not enjoyable for running and will force you to walk and move in a certain way.
Wrap-Around Knee Braces
For this type of brace, instead of sliding them over the knee like compression braces, you wrap them around it tightly on the specific part of the knee. They have built-in structures with stretchy compression materials and are formed like hinged braces, only without the hinges.
Wrap-around braces are best for minor injuries that can be self-treated. You tightly wrap the knees, creating enough rigidness. You then loosen as your knee pain lessens and the knee itself heals.
Do You Need Knee Support for Running?
In the world of running, every step carries a potential risk of injury; that’s why knee support should be a non-negotiable for recreational and professional runners. Using knee support for running may feel bulky and inefficient initially, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it.
At Icarus Medical, we offer a new class of knee support technology for runners and fitness fanatics, the Ascender unloader knee brace. If you would like to learn more about the Ascender and see if it is a good fit for you, contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.
