Joint supports play a role in both injury recovery and injury prevention and hence why there are different types. I’ll explain the difference and when and why you might need a joint support. Rehabilitation supports or braces limit movement of a joint to allow for optimum healing of muscle or ligament for injury recovery. Functional supports or braces allow for full movement while providing support for muscles and ligaments at high risk of injury for injury prevention. Throughout the recovery process, it is common to start off with a more supportive rehabilitation style brace while you work through your rehab by strengthening the muscles and ligaments around the injured area. Then weaning onto a less restrictive and more functional option for return to activity, which you can continue wearing for long-term injury prevention. Functional braces can also work to unload or reduce pressure on key areas that may be painful...

The knee joint is one of the most complex areas of the body, as it is responsible for co-ordinating joints and muscles as well as helping the body to perform a range of different movements. However, injuries to the knee joint are very common as the joint is subject to the strain of supporting the entire weight of the body during these movements. Knee injuries are common across all sports, from injuries due to the repetitive motions of running through to sprains and strains resulting from the twists and turns in sports such as football, tennis and skiing. The knee can also be subject to sudden impacts and many other injuries affecting the ligaments and cartilage which make up the joint. The Benefits of a Knee Support A good quality knee support will provide support for the knee joint as well as other benefits such as compression, heat retention and...