Football is a sport in which two teams attempt to carry a type of oval ball to the opposing team's goal line or pass it into the goal. Both hands and feet are used in this activity. The use of knee braces for sports is more importance to avoid injury or damage.
With the following information, you will be able to understand the benefits of this garment, what features it has to buy the one that best suits your needs, and even what types are available and how to choose the right size.
What is the best knee brace for football injuries?
- Sizes: S-M-L-XL-2XL-3XL
- Colors: Black
- Material: Breathable
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with silicone pad
- Various sizes
- Silicone pad and quality fasteners
- No material specified
- Only one per order
The support is constructed in neoprene material that does not accumulate transpiration and consists of two upper and lower straps that fit any type of knee. The silicone pad prevents patellar displacement and its central straps provide the right stability and compression to ensure that the femur is aligned with the knee during sports. Please note that some users may find the side buckles uncomfortable, causing pain and lack of blood circulation.
- Sizes: One size
- Colors: Black
- Material: Elastic
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with straps and Velcro
- Adjustable straps with Velcro
- Good compression
- Breathable
- Quality finishes
- One size only
- Delicate wash
- Only one per order
It is designed to combat the symptoms of muscle sprains and strains thanks to its adjustable straps with Velcro closure and the ability to retain body heat to improve blood circulation. This knee brace comes in one size fits all for men and women, making it easy to fit anyone. Consider that this compressive knee brace, in some users, can easily fall out of place.
- Sizes: One size
- Colors: Black
- Material: Light and Breathable
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open
- Adjustable design
- Good compression
- Quality finishes
- Velcro straps
- One size only
- No material specified
- Only one per order
The heat generated by this protector relieves pain caused by muscle tears, bursitis and tendinitis. Its material is breathable, so you can use it during the summer and, thanks to the quality with which it is made, it is possible to prolong its use without irritating the skin. You should keep in mind that if you perform sudden activities when you wear it, it is likely that this compressive clothing will start to slide down and lose effectiveness.
- Sizes: S-M-L-XL-XXL
- Colors: Black
- Material: Lycra and Neoprene
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with bilateral support
- Bilateral support for better stability
- Fully adjustable design
- Too bulky
- Only one per order
The four-way stretch lycra mesh, together with the soft seams, offers in the front of the knee the ideal support to not generate discomfort. Thanks to its padded system and Velcro straps, it adapts very easily to the user's anatomy to stabilize and compress the knee. Consider that in some cases the elastic bands do not prevent it from sliding down the leg.
- Sizes: S-M-L-XL-XXL
- Colors: Black
- Material: Neoprene and Nylon
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with locking system
- Motion locking system
- Good compression
- Breathable
- Fully adjustable design
- Too bulky
- Delicate wash
- Only one per order
It is made of neoprene with aluminum alloy for men and women. Its structure has a locking dial to control the hinges and obtain the right resistance to prevent the joint from generating an opening in the movements different from the desired one. Straps with buckles prevent slippage during use. Keep in mind that this knee brace may limit joint movement more than necessary.
- Sizes: S-M-L-XL
- Colors: Black
- Material: Neoprene
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with hinged hinges
- Optimal adjustment
- 4 Support points
- Too bulky
It has hinged and a lever system to prevent re-injury and allow the knee to rest during any activity. The central control regulates the opening to improve the stability of the remaining 4 points, thus achieving greater compression, without losing user comfort. In some cases the pain does not disappear and the pressure generates discomfort in blood circulation.
- Sizes: One size
- Colors: Black
- Material: Breathable
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with hinges
- Motion blocking
- Good compression
- Fit design
- Suitable for everyone
- No material specified
- One size
- Only one per order
The one-size-fits-all unisex design allows it to fit ergonomically to the knee, so you only have to adjust its central stabilizer so that the adjoining supports keep the joint with the convenient opening. The buckled closure straps come out of side hinges to generate better compression, but in people with osteoarthritis, it may not be useful for the patellar tendon.
Shock Doctor - Knee Support for Stability, ACL/PCL Injuries, Patella Support and Meniscus Injuries
- Sizes: S-M-L-XL-XXL
- Colors: Black
- Material: Neoprene
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Open with straps and Velcro
- Different points of support
- Adjustable straps
- Various sizes
- Breathable
- Too bulky
- Delicate wash
- Only one per order
Use this compressive knee brace to improve stability and keep the kneecap anchored in its natural position. It is covered with neoprene and its two straps with side buckles generate just the right resistance to prevent displacement and improve compression. The padding aids comfort and prevents meniscus injuries. Keep in mind that the fabric may cause discomfort for some users because it accumulates behind the knee.
Video: Knee joint anatomy
Types of knee braces you should know about
What are the most common knee injuries in football?
While there are many soft tissue overuse injuries, the most common injuries are usually caused by collisions with other players or the ground, i.e. traumatic injuries such as broken bones, etc.
These are the most common football injuries to the knees:
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellar tendonitis is one of the most common overuse injuries of the knee, usually caused by repetitive movements that irritate the area. In this case, patellar tendonitis is an injury to the patellar tendon that connects the kneecap to the tibia. In this way and considering the explanation, we understand that the pain comes from the front of the knee, under the kneecap.
Dislocation of the kneecap
The kneecap is a bone at the front of the knee that is covered by cartilage, tendon and the patellar ligament. A dislocation of this bone occurs when it shifts or "slips" and immediately loses its stability. You cannot bend your knee and the pain is very severe.
In football, the occurrence of these injuries is quite normal, since it is a sport that involves a lot of contact with throws, hits and sudden movements that cause more or less dislocation of the kneecap. The first measure to treat this dislocation is to immobilize the joint with a knee brace and physiotherapy treatment, indicating the correct use of the garment and the duration of use.
Meniscus tear
A torn meniscus not only causes pain, but also swelling and stiffness, and blocks the movement of the knee, making it impossible to straighten, which makes it much more difficult to play any sport.
Such a tear can be caused by a direct blow to the back of the kneecap, sharp turns, falls or accidents. All of these descriptions apply to football, as it is a very rough sport and prone to all of these injuries that can develop into a meniscus tear.
ACL injuries
This is a sprain or tear of this ligament, which is one of the most important ligaments in the knee. As in Football, these injuries often occur during sudden changes in direction, sudden stops and/or jumps and landings on the feet. A pop or crack in the joint at the time of the accident is enough to determine if there is trauma.
MCL injuries
This ligament, unlike the cruciate ligament, is located on the outside of the joint, meaning it connects the upper part of the tibia to the lower part of the femur and provides resistance that prevents the knee from turning inward.
This sprain is also called a medial collateral ligament sprain because it is mainly due to stretching of the ligament with small tears and is caused by an external force pulling the knee inward, such as a blow. This injury is very common in football players, since the impacts with the body cause a total or partial stretching of the ligament, due to excessive stretching of the ligament.
Buying guide: Tips on how to buy the best knee brace for football
There are several factors to consider when choosing the right knee brace, as making the wrong decision can lead to a poor fit of the brace and contraindications. A football player must be dressed according to the rules of the sport, and this includes knee braces. The following features will help you make the right purchase.
According to their function
- Knee braces to relieve pain: the above sport is usually a game that involves falls and even blows; for this reason, prevention with knee braces is the best option. In case of a fall in the middle of a workout, rest is necessary, and this garment helps to apply pressure on the pain until the person feels relief. It should be noted that the part is not to make the athlete look fashionable or to match the uniform to the part, what is important is that it gives the support that the joint needs to offer the player this feature.
- Knee supports: the garment serves as a protective shield to prevent injury in the event of sudden movements of the athlete. There is no need to wait for an incident before using the garments because they are designed not to interfere while playing. This includes the garment providing support through its various compression points.
- Knee braces that promote blood circulation: The issue of blood circulation is very important, the garment compresses, exerts a force on the area all the time without being uncomfortable. This has a positive effect on the joint, which is the main benefit of the knee brace: relief, pain relief, fast recovery, etc.
- Open knee braces: Their main feature is that they expose part of the kneecap area, allowing more air to reach the kneecap and they can be worn for a longer period of time. It is used for many therapeutic purposes, but may not be recommended for playing football because of the stress placed on the joint.
- Closed knee braces: They cover the entire knee and therefore exert more pressure. In terms of wear, they are not as long as the open brace. Although they are considered more suitable for covering larger areas than the open brace, in reality both have their advantages and are suitable for all needs.
- Long knee sleeves: when they are long, the so-called lever arm is better and fits more stably. They protect more areas than short ones. Ideally, they need to fit well to perform their compression function, as they are not useful if they are too big and slip. Since they have more fabric, it is important that they fit well and are comfortable in all areas (from start to finish).
Material
The neoprene, elastane and latex are some of the materials used to make knee sleeves. This makes them breathable and elastic. Neoprene, for example, is a material that is widely used nowadays for all kinds of compression garments, including knee sleeves. This is due to all the properties it possesses: strength, elasticity, waterproofness and it adapts to the body very well.
It's not just the fabrics that are important for the garment to work properly. If you need more compression or stability, you should opt for knee braces that have more elements, such as Velcro, lateral support, gel packs, hinges, etc. All these options and many more are offered by these compression pieces so that you can prevent and improve your health.
Type of support
When it comes to exercises or training, it is okay to just use the garment with the appropriate material, but when you are moving more and have body contact, as is the case with football, it is best to make sure that the knee support always stays in the same place.
So here are some options that might be useful to give the knee brace more compression and support:
- Neoprene knee braces: Also known as polychloroprene, is a strong yet flexible material. It has a high retention capacity, meaning it doesn't move easily, which is important for football players.
- Velcro knee sleeves: this method has been around the world for many years, but is very popular nowadays. It is a material that allows you to open and close something easily. For the game of football, this method is very convenient, because the player can put on the garment quickly and adaptable, with the certainty that it will not slip on the skin.
- Knee braces with straps: These are not present on all models, but some knee straps have them for added pressure and support. In this sport, the area needs to be covered and protected as bumps and falls are common and the straps provide resistance to the legs to prevent further injury.
Size
Size is an important factor when buying, because it depends on the size whether the garment will work or not. It should be noted that there are one size fits all or universal sizes, but these models do not guarantee that they will perform the same function as the size that fits your knee. To make a more accurate selection, you should measure around the knee with a tape measure.
Design
Of course, everyone has different tastes, and knee braces also take this into account by offering a variety of designs and colors. As for the colors, there are a number of options and combinations, among which black, white and beige stand out in combination with green, red, blue and others. Generally, they have figures or lines between them to create a unique and pleasing model to the eye, which is very important because if you use them every day, you must like what you see.
Price
To play football, you need the best products to ensure the health of the knee, which is constantly stressed in this sport. In the market you can buy any type of compression garment and think that you are saving money by making a much cheaper purchase, but the opposite is true.
These cheap products ruin the potential of knee braces as they do not provide adequate compression, are often uncomfortable due to their construction and non-breathable materials, and do not protect the joint. Therefore, if you want to have this type of products as accessories, you can buy them at these prices.
Are compression knee sleeves for football really effective?
Sports knee sleeves for football work and have several benefits that even help to develop the activity, more agile, without fear of injury and with the security that every player needs.
The compression exerted by the garment goes far beyond external protection, due to its materials. It also performs compression therapy that improves blood circulation, deflation, pain relief, rapid recovery and much more.
In addition, knee braces create adequate stability that allows the joint to rest or do as little work as possible, so you can always have healthy knees and play football in optimal conditions. They have become an indispensable garment in the lives of athletes, since they can continue their training sessions and competitions at any time without being hindered by pain or injury.