Many experts suggest that there are between 250,000 and 300,000 ACL injuries each year in America alone. That doesn't include other injuries such as a torn meniscus, MCL injuries or cartilage damage. When you consider how many professional athletes get knee injuries, you would think athletes would be more open to protecting themselves. However, studies show that athletes almost never wear knee protection until after an injury occurs. Some athletes believe that knee sleeves can prevent injury and that is partially true because they do increase blood flow while offering some support, but knee sleeves truly cannot offer the protection that an actual knee brace can.
According to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, knee injuries increased more than 400% from 1999 to 2011 with no indication of slowing down. Those results were analyzed, published and presented at the 2011 Meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Boston. The study also found that knee injuries were increasing at a rate of about 14 per year. Those are staggering numbers when considering how many sports there are and how many opportunities athletes, and especially young athletes, have to injure themselves. With the modern advancement in year-round sports, it is believed that players over-exert themselves in one sport causing the body to break down faster.
The question to ask if you're an athlete or parent of young athletes, is what are the risks involved in the sport and how likely will a knee injury impact performance. It has been seen both ways in regards to knee injuries. Adrian Peterson came back from a difficult ACL tear and nearly broke the NFL single season rushing record en route to an MVP year. However, Derrick Rose has a knee injury that has reduced him to the worst performance of his career since winning the 2011 NBA MVP award. Both athletes have had access to top trainers and medical staff, but both did not respond the same. It was very clear during Peterson's breakout year that he wore a knee brace under his uniform all season. Whereas Rose did not when he finally returned to the court.
Many of the negative complaints against knee braces is that they restrict movement and can sometimes cause more harm than good. These are valid arguments, but it leads to a deeper question of whether the athlete is using the correct type of knee brace for the sport they're playing. In the NBA right now, knee sleeves are all too common and it is showing in NCAA and even high school also. Knee sleeves may not offer a great deal of protection, but it is slightly better than no protection at all. This can be one solution to players complaining of lack of movement. The other is to find a specialist and try on several different styles of knee brace. Look for solid support on the side and at least 2 Velcro straps to keep the brace locked in place. The brace should fit snug on your knee but still allow full range of motion. Hundreds of options are available so take the time to research and find the perfect fit.
America doesn't need an increasing injury rate and knee injuries are one of the most common. Knee braces can usually prevent, and in most cases eliminate, knee injuries during sports. Find the best brace to fit your needs and you'll be happy you did the next time you land awkwardly on your leg and bend the wrong way.
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