$Unique_ID{BRK00090}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Knee Braces and Injury Prevention}
$Subject{kneebrace football injury Musculoskeletal System Connective Tissue
Knee knees Brace Braces accidents ankle foot anterior cruciate ligament ACL
kneebraces accident ankles feet}
$Volume{M-17, O-17}
$Log{
Anatomy of the Knee*0006601.scf
Anatomy of the Knee Ligaments*0015501.scf
Anatomy of the Ankle and Knee*0016901.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Knee Braces and Football Injury Prevention


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QUESTION:  I like to play an occasional game of weekend football, but don't
want to take the chance of hurting my knees.  Are knee braces any good to
prevent injury?

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ANSWER:  The kind of prophylactic knee braces worn by athletes to prevent
injuries--not the kind that are used to protect injured knees or support weak
knees--may not only be ineffective, they may even be harmful.
     A recent study showed four to five times more of certain types of
injuries among athletes who wore knee braces than among those who did not.  It
appears that the stress is transmitted by the braced knee to injure the ankle
and foot.  The braces also do not appear to be effective in preventing tears
of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the most common type of knee injury
among football players.
     However, some experts believe that the braces do protect the knee from a
blow to the outside.  And although there is disagreement about bracing normal
healthy knees, most sports physicians agree that it is important to brace an
injured or unstable knee.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.