A Custom Knee Brace - Do You Really Need One?

A custom made knee brace may seem to be more effective since it involves numerous trips to see a brace specialist (called an orthotist). An orthotist makes a custom mold of the knee (including the upper and lower leg) and takes numerous measurements. However, several brace manufacturers have shown in knee brace studies that it is not necessary 99% of the time.

Due to the advent of computer generated biomechanical studies of the knee and its range of motion, engineers have been able to design knee braces that can provide meaningful support without the need to visit an orthotist in a medical setting. These "off-the-shelf" style knee braces effective, and they can save you several hundreds of dollars. - Let's put it this way, if you are wearing a shirt right now that fits you well, is it bad that it was not custom made? Chances are that you are comfortable with the shirt and a custom made shirt seems a little over the top. Right?

To support what we are saying, let's point to a couple important studies. First, a study that was completed at the University of Michigan revealed that custom made knee braces do not prevent more motion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knee than an off-the-shelf knee brace. Moreover, after on sixty minute period of use, the custom made brace "came loose" more often than the "non custom" knee brace. Secondly, another interesting study at the University of Vermont (UVM) looked at four distinct knee brace manufactures and their effect on strain of the ACL during surgery. The results confirmed that "there were no apparent advantages of the more expensive custom-made brace compared with the off-the-shelf designs." - In other words, just cause you can spend more money on a knee brace does not make it better.

Obviously, there are always exceptions to these conclusions. You always have to consider those cases where someone has a deformity, and an off the shelf knee brace just can't fit their leg. Moreover some of the exceptions may be, but are not limited to, anyone with a traumatic injury to their leg that causes deformity of the anatomy. If a person has ulcerations, it is possible that a custom made knee brace will provide a unique fit over that of an off the shelf brace. When in doubt about your situation, always consult your personal physician.