What’s the Best Knee Brace for a Runner's Knee?

May 08, 2024
Posted by Bernadette L
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Whether you’re a professional athlete or a simple fitness enthusiast, you may experience severe pain in your knee. That’s patellofemoral pain syndrome, or runner’s knee. ^[1]

People often overlook this knee syndrome, as it is common among individuals of all ages. It is mainly due to excessive damage to the cartilage below the knee.

This kind of pain is particularly severe when walking down stairs, squatting, or standing for a long time. In severe cases, it may even lead to arthritis.

Before a runner’s knee turns into a surgical operation, you can take initial preventive steps to reduce the symptoms of this syndrome. One of the most effective steps is using the best knee brace for a runner’s knee.

Therefore, this article covers knee syndrome, how to handle it, and how a knee brace for running can prevent and improve it.

Do Knee Braces Help with Runner's Knee?

A runner’s knee can result from various causes, including vigorous exercise and incorrect exercise methods. For example, long-term repeated bending of the knee joint, high-intensity exercise, direct injuries, changes in walking style due to foot diseases, and muscle strength imbalances can all cause abnormal knee problems.

Whatever the reason, using a knee brace for running can help stabilize the knee joint. Besides, here are some key benefits of using the best knee brace for a runner’s knee:

1. Stabilize the Knee Joint

To reduce pain, a knee brace provides extra stability and protection to your legs and knee joint. This way, it supports knee joints or weaker regions caused by stretched ligaments and muscles.

The best thing is that you can use these compression braces to bear the extra strain and regain your natural range of motion.

2. Restrict Excessive Exercise

With the best knee brace for a runner’s knee, you can limit excessive extension or bending of the knee joint to prevent injury.

During running, the knees need to move within a certain range, but excessive exercise can lead to soft tissue damage.

The knee braces help to keep the knee joint in a safe range of motion, reducing damage caused by excessive exercise.

3. Relieve Pain

Running with a knee sleeve can alleviate pain, so you can continue performing your sports without putting additional strain on your knee muscles.

It also helps improve knee alignment and distribute weight more evenly across joints to avoid further discomfort or pain.

4. Control Swelling

The compression effect of the best knee brace for a runner’s knee helps to control swelling of the knee joint. After running, knee pads can promote blood flow and reduce swelling.

Meanwhile, knee pads can also prevent swelling during exercise, especially for runners who are prone to it.

This can alternatively promote efficient recovery and enhanced comfort during activities like jumping, running, or biking.

What's the Best Knee Brace for a Runner's Knee?

At this point, you’ve clearly acknowledged the importance of knee braces for running and how they help heal injuries quickly.

However, when it comes to selecting the best knee brace for a runner’s knee, you might get confused as there are different types of knee sleeves available on the market.

For your convenience, here are the three common types, so you can choose the one that fits your needs and requirements:

1. Hinge Knee Braces

Specifically designed for support and stability, the hinge knee brace for a runner’s knee is a multifunctional device built to reduce knee pain. Unlike simple sleeve-style braces, this type of brace uses hinges or pivots at the knee joint to assist the natural movement of your knee joint.

These braces are commonly used for ligament injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament tears, and for post-surgical rehabilitation.

The hinges in these braces can help limit excessive knee joint movement, reducing the risk of further injury and providing a sense of security during physical activity.

2. Compression Knee Braces

Another addition to the best knee brace for a runner’s knee is the compression knee brace. It is typically made of stretchy materials or elastic fabric and is worn snugly around the knee.

Its top functions include reducing swelling, improving blood circulation, and supporting the muscles or ligaments surrounding the knee joint.

Athletes often use them during physical activities to help prevent injuries or alleviate pain associated with arthritis or tendonitis. Using this runner's knee brace, you can provide additional support to your kneecap and gain greater flexibility.

3. Adjustable Knee Braces

Compared to other types, the adjustable knee brace is an excellent addition to the best knee brace for a runner’s knee. These allow adjustments to accommodate different levels of compression and fit.

These braces for a runner’s knee typically consist of straps, hinges, and adjustable closures that can be customized to your specific needs. The most noteworthy thing about this knee support for a runner’s knee is that the straps are highly adjustable.

These straps can be tightened and loosened to provide the desired compression level and support around the knee joint. Plus, these braces are designed to fit a wide range of knee sizes and shapes, so anyone can use them and get rid of heel pain.

Fivali Adjustable Compression Knee Sleeves - Guide

Tips for Preventing and Improving Runner’s Knee

Patellofemoral pain syndrome, or runner’s knee, can be improved using the best knee sleeves for running. However, relying solely on compression sleeves is not a wise idea.

Healthcare experts recommend following some other health strategies to prevent this syndrome. Let’s discuss these preventive measures one by one below:

1. Correct Running Posture

Pay attention to your running technique. Strive for a midfoot strike, maintain an upright posture, and avoid overstriding or excessive inward knee movement.

2. Warm-up

Always warm up before running or engaging in any physical activity. This helps to increase blood flow to the muscles and prepare for the activity.

3. Moderate Exercise

Avoid sudden increases in running intensity or distance. It is recommended to adjust the intensity and duration of exercise based on one's physical condition and athletic ability.

4. Recovery and Rest

Allow rest between workouts to give your muscles time to recover. Pay attention to your body signs and take breaks as needed to prevent overuse injuries.

5. Ice Compress after Running

If you feel knee pain or swelling after running, an ice compress can be used to reduce muscle inflammation and swelling and prevent the runners' knees from swelling.

How to Improve a Runner's Knee?

Apart from the general preventive measures, you can follow other techniques to improve knee syndrome.

For instance, using the best knee brace for a runner’s knee can help alleviate pain and protect from further injuries. Besides, enlisted below are some effective tips to improve a runner’s knee and reduce pain:

Avoid sudden increases in training intensity. Gradually increase your distance or speed to avoid overloading the knee joint.
Applying an ice compress to your knee for a few minutes may be helpful.
Gently massage the affected area to get a better alignment of the knee muscles.
Use the best knee brace for a runner’s knee to get additional protection and stability around the knee joint.
Incorporate stretching and mobility exercises for the lower body, especially targeting the quadriceps.
Maintain a balanced diet and ensure proper sleep to support muscle function and recovery.

Fivali Knee Braces for Preventing and Improving Runner’s Knee

Now, you’ve understood the importance of knee sleeves to reduce pain and prevent injuries. But before purchasing the best knee brace for a runner’s knee, it is necessary to choose a reputable brand. Fivali comes to your assistance.

We provide innovative and comfortable knee braces for athletes and individuals of all ages. You can get any type of brace, from simple hinged to compression knee braces.

According to different applications and support levels, knee braces are usually made of materials such as neoprene, elastic, metal, or plastic. They can provide support and stability for the knee joint. Meanwhile, it also helps to alleviate pain, reduce the risk of injury, and promote healing.

Whether it's football, basketball, running, wrestling, weightlifting, or cycling, Fivali knee braces can stabilize the knee joints to reduce stress during exercise and protect your knees.

Conclusion

Conclusively, runner’s knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a common disease that affects many individuals, particularly those engaged in sports activities. While it can be frustrating, using the best knee brace for a runner’s knee can help alleviate symptoms.

If you are also struggling with runner’s knees and seeking the best knee support for runners, you can try this new solution on the Fivali website!