Basketball players, just as any athletes involved in a sport that involves a lot of running and jumping, often suffer from knee injuries, caused by excessive impact on the knees. Common injuries include, but are not limited to: knee sprains, ligament tears, cartilage defects and many others. A knee brace is often essential for injury treatment or prevention. But which is the best knee brace for basketball? Unfortunately, there is not a single answer to this question, because of the various types of knee injuries involved. There are, however, types of knee braces appropriate for each injury and within those types, we can distinguish, which ones are the best at what they do. There are two generic types of knee braces used in basketball: stability braces and patella braces. The first type, provides lateral and medial support, as well as for some types) rotational and anter- posterior. Media-lateral braces are used after an injury, to prevent the knee from going into a valgus position, and injuring the ligament on the inside of the knee. The multi-directional stability braces, are of different construction- they have support bars over the thigh and the calf, providing hard support, and are usually worn after an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.
Patella braces are used to help with injuries coming from overuse, such as torn meniscus, chondromalacia (damage to cartilage underneath the kneecap), and are usually of the sleeve type, rather than the hard support type.
As clearly seen above the best knee brace for basketball is one fitted for the specific injury, it is supposed to help with. There are numerous factors, which can determine the choice of an appropriate brace, and each must be carefully considered. Always consult a sports physician, before deciding on a brace, because the wrong kind of a brace may not only not help, but make the situation worse. A qualified physician will be able to help you choose the best knee brace for basketball and will consider your injury, your body type, game position and all other important factors.
Material and quality of the brace are other crucial factors to consider. Knee is a vulnerable spot, and an injury may end a career or lead to many months of rehabilitation. In such a situation, one should only decide to use the best of the available aids, to make sure the desired results are achieved. Reputable manufacturers are numerous, and though it is difficult to point out, which brace is the best knee support for basketball; these should be the first point of call when looking for a quality brace, which will offer not only support and protection, but also provide mobility, agility and comfort. It is also important to remember, not to overuse the braces, and not to use them constantly as a prevention method. The longer the joints, muscles and ligaments do not have to perform their work, the weaker they become- it is important only to use knee braces when they are actually needed.
