Knee Arthritis|Knock Knees|Virtual Knee Surgery

As time passes, most of our bones, joints and muscle tissues will put through wear and tear that could make these organs less efficient in its function and also much more vulnerable to damage. Consequently, it's vitally important to cater to these effects when an elderly person is being treated or as a preventive measures.

Of all the joints in the body, the knee joint is most likely one of many joints that takes brunt of the stressors and will be the primary site for complaints of pain among the elderly age group. The pain could arise from a variety of components also it could be the bones, cartilages, muscles or tendons. The pain that is felt can be a localized chronic ache otherwise an agonizing acute Knee Pain which sometimes radiate up or down in the affected leg.

A person, particularly the elderly, is most probably to endure these painful conditions that would certainly affect the persons activities of everyday living. Therefore, how are we going to avoid such incidence? Following are few suggestions of Knee Pain Treatment or preventive measures.

1. Put on correctly fitting shoes or sandals when walking or doing exercises.

2. Avoid running or exercising on uneven surfaces and make use of properly laid down tracks or flat surfaces in performing such exercises.

3. Put on knee guards when exercising or walking to give it support in maintaining stability while the movements are taking place.

4. Do sufficient warm up prior to indulging on strenuous exercise or physical activities then warming down exercises would also be helpful.

5. Give sufficient rest following prolonged standing, walking or following working out in order to allow the knees to recover from acute stressors.

6. Hot fermentation of the knee joint as well as cold compressions is a great type of Knee Pain Treatment since it reduce and revitalize the knees for the another day.

7. Staying away from prolonged immobility is also a significant step in preventing knee joint pain in addition to limited movements.

8. Getting healthy nutritional foods which consists of sufficient calcium, nutritional supplements would benefit in stopping prolonged joint pain and would help a fast recovery process subsequent minor injuries.

9. Avoid heavy lifting in abnormal postures as disproportionate weight distribution can bring about knee injuries and strains thereby causing pain.

Consequently, adequate precautions in addition to healthy habits will lead to protection of the joint and therefore the avoidance of nagging knee joint pain.

In 2008, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), published its first evidence-based recommendations for arthritis treatments of the hip and knee. The goal was to determine which arthritis remedies would be most useful for individual patients.

They determined that the first arthritis remedies to relieve patients' hip and knee pain should be those that they can do for themselves. It was also found that receiving monthly phone calls from lay people promoting self-care improved patients' joint pain and physical function for as much as a year.

Compensating for a painful knee can, over time, result in pain in your hip or ankle. Shoes with high heels or uneven wear can throw your posture off and put unnecessary stress on your knee joints. Switching to comfortable shoes may not be enough, however. You might need an orthotic device placed in your shoe. Shoe inserts come ready made or a physical therapist can design one especially for you.

Physical therapists can observe how you sit, stand and walk and teach you how to move with less pain. They will tailor exercises to your particular condition and help you relieve hip and knee pain, maintain motion and prevent joint stiffening.

Physical therapists can also provide assistive devices to make daily tasks easier. Canes and crutches can reduce pain in the hip and knee joints. Wheeled walkers may be preferable if both hips and/or knees are affected. With arthritis affecting the knee, special footwear and insoles can improve walking and reduce pain while a knee brace can also improve your stability and reduce the risk of falling.

Consider getting a trainer. Aerobic, muscle-strengthening exercises can promote muscle strength, improve range of motion, increase mobility and ease pain. In a recent study by Japanese researchers, exercise, whether on land or in water, decreases pain levels, increases the body's production of inflammation-fighting hormones and decreases stress and anxiety, which can make joint pain worse.

If you are overweight, losing just 10 pounds will take 30 to 60 pounds of pressure off your knee.

Exercise in water. If you don't have access to a warm-water pool, you can do warm-water exercises on a smaller scale in your own tub, Jacuzzi or whirlpool bath. Warm water is a good place to stretch and strengthen your muscles, even for those who have difficulty exercising on dry land. Acting as resistance to help build muscle strength, the buoyancy of water makes exercise seem easier and more comfortable.

Relieve pain with heat and cold.

Heat may be dry or moist. Moist heat sources include warm baths. Soaking in a warm tub can be a good way to apply heat to all parts of the body at once, especially if you have arthritis in several joints. A hot bath or dip in a Jacuzzi can also bring immediate pain relief. Consult your doctor if you are older than 70 or have respiratory or cardiac problems. Heat inducing creams are a temporary but effective way to relieve pain but, to prevent burning, do not use them with a heating pad.

Dry heat sources include heat lamps, heating pads, microwaveable pads or wearable heat wraps that apply continuous heat to the body and can even be slept in. In a recent study researchers found that continuous heat administered by a wearable heat pack eased pain and stiffness all day and better than either of two commonly used drugs, ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

Or apply cold. When joint pain is severe, applying something cold can numb the affected nerves and distract your mind from your pain. The coldness restricts the blood vessels and prevents fluids from leaking into the surrounding tissues. But using it for too long can cause stiffness.

Cold may be applied with a commercially available cold pack, or you can make your own cold pack by wrapping a towel around a bag of frozen vegetables or filling a sealable plastic bag with ice. For best results, and to avoid causing damage to your skin, always put a towel between your skin and the cold pack. Apply cold packs for no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Alternating hot and cold methods may also provide relief.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS, has been shown to help with short-term pain control in some patients with knee or hip arthritis. TENS is a technique using a weak electric current applied to the skin through electrodes. It is believed to stop pain messages from reaching the brain.

You might want to try acupuncture. In a recent trial, acupuncture significantly reduced pain and improved function for patients with arthritis of the knee who had moderate to severe pain even though they took medications for it. While patients had a 40 percent reduction in pain, they did not begin to benefit until week 14 of the 26-week study.

Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at particular points on the body. The needles may be connected to a low-level electrical current for a more powerful effect. If you decide to try acupuncture, make sure your acupuncturist uses sterile, disposable needles and that they are licensed by your state and certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Nurture your emotional health with guided imagery. To take your focus off your stress and pain, select a place in your home where you won't be disturbed. Play serene background music. Search your memory for the most beautiful, the most peaceful pain-free place you have ever been. Or imagine it in as much detail as possible, the sights, the sounds, the feelings. Take as much time as you need; Reach a state of calm and peace before you open your eyes. For extremely effective guided imagery, use self hypnosis techniques.

Osteoarthritis is an extremely common condition in the knee-joint which is sometimes called 'wear and tear.' It is a degenerative condition of the articular cartilage which is made worse by repetitive impact or previous injuries in the knee. It also tends to have a genetic component, meaning it runs in families. As the disease progresses, the cartilage itself becomes thinner and in some cases may wear away altogether.

A knee brace or support can be worn by people with arthritis in the knee-joint to help relieve the pressure on the joint surfaces and to ease pain and discomfort. There are many different types of knee brace and support available which may be suitable for arthritic knees. These can also vary considerably in price.

At the top end is the hinged 'offloader' (sometimes called 'unloader') type of brace, of which there are several designs and manufacturers. These are thought to be very effective in easing the symptoms of severe cases of unicompartmental osteoarthritis, where the arthritis affects only one side of the joint. These braces work by taking the load off the affected side and put more on the unaffected side. This may also help to delay the need for knee replacement surgery.

Whilst a offloader brace may be very effective, many people prefer to start with a lower level (and lower budget!) support to try this for arthritis pain relief before investing in a offloader brace.

Neoprene is thought to be the best material in a knee brace for arthritis pain relief. Neoprene is known for its compressive and heat retaining properties which help to increase blood flow to the area which in turn brings the nutrients required for healing. Wearing a neoprene support has also been shown to aid proprioception - the sense of positioning, co-ordination and balance at the joint. This is beneficial in preventing movements at the knee which could cause pain or injury.

Additional support can be given to the joint in the form of metal parts and extra straps. A stabilised support has lightweight metal stays embedded into the sides of the brace. These will help to give a sense of stability to the knee and will resist lateral and twisting movements which tend to aggravate the condition and risk other injuries.

At a higher level, a hinged neoprene brace has a solid hinge on each side of the knee. These give even more resistance against these types of movements, essentially preventing them altogether. The drawback of this kind of brace is of course the size and bulk of them, although this is usually still less than a offloader brace.

Comfort is of course the most important factor to consider when purchasing a knee brace for arthritis. They should always fit snugly around the knee-joint without being too tight around the thigh or calf. Wrap-around supports are available for those who prefer to be able to adjust the support, or where the knee swells up with activity.

A High Tibial Osteotomy is a descriptive term used to describe an operation used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. An osteotomy is the act of cutting a bone. 'High Tibial' details the location of this cut, the upper portion of the tibia or shin bone that forms the bottom half of the knee joint.

A high tibial osteotomy is used to treat unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. This means that the arthritic wear is confined to one half of the knee - either the inside, or outside of the joint. When arthritis wears down one side of the articular cartilage covering the ends of the bones, angulation occurs. This results in a disproportionate amount of body weight being taken through the worn side. This in turn leads to an increased rate of wear and an acceleration of symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling.

A high tibial osteotomy looks to realign the knee to evenly share weight between both the inside and outside of the knee. This is achieved by cutting the bone then either taking a wedge of bone out, or adding a wedge of bone in.

This type of surgery has a long recovery period as the cut essentially fractures the main weight bearing bone of the lower leg. Even after surgically fixing the bone in its new position, it is unable to take any weight for a significant period of time. This has a major implication for work, lifestyle and everyday activities.

This operation is not suitable for everyone but can be a valuable tool for those too young for a total knee replacement.

Unlike the common symptoms of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis where it occurs in the knee, hip, feet, hands and fingers - these two types of the disease can also flare up in the chest.

Both women and men can develop chest arthritis but for women it can be particularly uncomfortable.

When it spreads to the breast bone, simple functions like breathing, coughing, sneezing and laughing cause the lungs to press against this bone which creates pressure against the inflamed region.

Some women describe the feeling as similar to being given a bear hug, while lying down on ones side may provoke the same lung restricting pain.

However, if this restrictive feeling is just starting to affect you and you haven't been diagnosed as of yet, you could well be experiencing Costochondritis.

This is not incurable and may go away after a few weeks or months, but the symptoms are very similar, but this time it's just a temporary inflammation of the cartilage of the breast and ribs that are causing the chest pain.

If unfortunately this isn't the case and the cartilage attached to the breast bone continues to flare up then there are a combination of treatments that may work for you:

Treating Arthritis in the Chest:

1. Minocycline

This is in fact used to treat severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis, but sometimes when breathing can become so restricted that it becomes life threatening, then Minocycline may be prescribed to treat osteoarthritis in the chest.

Some patients may go on using this indefinitely, so bear in mind it is an NSAID and there will be risks involved if used long-term, but for short term-term it may provide the relief you need.

2. Cortisone injection

A steroid injection into the swollen cartilage to reduce the inflammation may provide the relief you need if it's flared up.

You may only need this once or not, impossible to tell with this disease.

3. Tylenol Extra Strength

Supposedly, this is one of the few NSAID's that work well for chest arthritis.

Celebrex was also once touted as an effective NSAID, but this has now been taken off the shelf due to the inherent health risks patients experienced, so be careful using any NSAID long-term.

4. FDA homeopathic pain relievers

If the pain isn't too unbearable then FDA homeopathic natural supplements are as good if not better than most NSAIDs, plus they're completely safe and are used long-term.

The common ingredients now most people are familiar with are Glucosamine Complex, Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM.

They work on three fronts.

They alleviate the swelling, reduce the pain and help re-build bone density.

Earlier this year I decided to take "The Plunge." I asked her last December 2008 to marry me. She said, "Yes!" Then in September of this year (2009) we both said, "I do!"

Everything before the wedding was a blur, then the wedding, even fuzzier & faster, then the honeymoon. She decided to pick the location for our honeymoon.

It was a combination of honeymoon and present to herself she promised she would take after finishing her PhD in physiology earlier this year.

Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "Where do you want to go on the honeymoon?"

My Wife: "Nepal"

Me: "What's there?" (Not having brushed up on my geography I found Nepal to be a small kidney shaped country wedged between India and Tibet/China)

My Wife: "The Himalayas - We are going to go trekking."

Me: "Isn't that like hiking?"

My Wife: "Yes, however, it lasts for a few days."

Me: "How many days?"

My Wife: "Well this particular trek lasts between 18-20 days. It is called the Annapurna Circuit which is 150 miles/220 KM around the Annapurna Mountain range in the Himalayas which among other things goes over the highest pass in the world (Throlong Pass 5,416 meters/ 16,000 feet)"

I was pretty flippant in my response...

Me: "Sure honey, that sounds fine to me."

What I didn't take into consideration is my wife is German and lived in Switzerland for a number of years and worked for the Alpine Mountain Rescue Team in the Swiss Alps for a period of time. Basically this means there are certain things that she just knows about mountains that she wouldn't even know to tell me to get ready for on a trip like this. Of course there were questions that I didn't even know to ask as well. However, I am usually up for an adventure so off we went to Nepal...

This would truly be a test to see if I knew what I was talking about regarding chronic knee pain as well as see how my knee would hold up in the rugged terrain of the largest and tallest mountain range in the world!

I thought back a few years...Yes, in 2001 I rode my bicycle across the United States by myself in 1,700 mile trip. But that was pretty controlled; my knees just had to pedal in circles. This new challenge would require my legs to balance on uneven unstable ground, hike for 5-7 hours per day, up and down mountain sides for days at a time while dealing with heat, cold and how my body would respond to the effects of altitude.

I really wasn't sure how my knees would hold up...I was soon to find out...

The first day only consisted of hiking for a couple of hours. It went well and I didn't think much of it. So the 2nd & 3rd days I decided I was going to show everyone, including myself how well I could do. I went up the side of the particular mountain we were on like I was on the stair stepper at the gym. I tried to keep this pace up for 2 days while the rest of my group trudged away at the trail. I would be the first to the rest area, waiting for the rest of my group to get there. Then I couldn't wait to get back on the trail first.

I kept this up for 2 days! By the end of the second day my legs, including my knees felt horrible! I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. Everything that I teach my clients and write in my books about my "D-BEST model" weren't working.

I was Drinking plenty of water
I was Breathing properly
I was Eating plenty of fresh, natural foods prepared from the local gardens daily
I was Stretching properly in the evenings and when we took breaks throughout the day and...
I was Training my tendons and ligaments with all of the hiking

I was stumped and confused as to what to do...

Then my wife made the comment, "The mountain isn't in a hurry."

...and things started clicking into place for me.

I began to pay attention to our trekking guide. Her pace, the way she walked, her attitude. I realized I was doing it all wrong!

My pace was too fast! The way I was walking was "too straight up the hill" and my attitude was "too aggressive and hurried."

I needed to slow my body and my mind down while at the same time use "body's structure" to hike. The old story of the "Tortoise & The Hare" came to mind. "Slow & Steady Wins The Race."

So I got up on the morning of the fourth day and decided to keep a slow pace and just focus on proper breathing the entire day. And you know what? I wasn't as tired at the end of the fourth day and as an extra added bonus my legs didn't hurt so bad either. As a matter of fact they even improved while walking all the rugged terrain the Himalayas of Nepal had to offer over the next 16 days of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Who would have thought with everything else being equal that "consistent exercise" would actually make my knee pain go away not to mention my honeymoon more enjoyable!

Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which the physician replaces the weight-bearing parts of the knee joint. Surgical doctors perform this on patients suffering from joint pains, osteoarthritis. Even psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients could undergo this procedure. In such patients, there is incredible inflammation or severe pain in the knee joint. This makes daily movement very difficult also, over duration of time.

This mostly happens with age due to wear and tear of the knee joint. Apart from osteoporosis, knee pain could also be due to cartilage defects, ligament tears or meniscus tears. To replace the damaged or diseased joint surface, one uses plastic and metal components shaped to facilitate the motion of knee. There can be total or partial knee replacement. In gender specific knee replacement for women, implants specially designed to cater for women are used. The woman's knee is different in shape compared to a man's.

The gender specific knee replacement has improved the overall function of knee implants in women. With the woman's special knee implants, women patients have been relieved from pain largely. Moreover, they feel the functionality the natural knee after the surgery. The results are much better than the non-gender knees or the common traditional knees used on women ages ago. The design used by women only is the woman's special knee and in 2006, they introduced it in the US.

The anatomy of a male body is different from a female's body. The application of this has been recently in the designing of orthopedic implants. The basis of the gender specific knee is from a fact. That is the femur or the thighbone in case of women is narrow from the side. In case of men, the kneecap rests on a comparatively more oblique line. In addition, the front of the thighbone at the lower end is not as prominent as in case of men. Hence, knee replacement for women with women special knee has proved to be more comfortable and beneficial.

The surgical procedure of knee replacement is same in both the genders. However, with the gender specific knee, the hospital stay gets shorter. Therefore, there are several advantages of the gender specific knee replacement. It is widely used at present and the results are very positive and encouraging. The knee implant surgery for women, performed through the minimal invasive surgery is real because of the various tests that proof it. It is a successful procedure.

The incision on the knee is only 4-5 inches long. Apart from this, there is high flexion in case of woman knee prosthesis. There is a significant reduction in the post-operative pain and due to this, your stay in the hospital could shorten. The knee replacement for women is a major break-through for replacement knee surgeries in women. With advancement in technology, the new prosthesis specially designed for women has given relief to scores of women worldwide. This innovation has proved to be extremely beneficial for women.

After you have a knee replaced many people get concerned about what they can and cannot do physically. The orthopedic surgeon also in most cases will try and scare you to death concerning the replacement and re-injuring the knee if you are not careful.

No doubt there will be limitations after your knee is replaced after all, it was a major surgery and, your knee is no longer the original. After having my knee replaced in 1999 and being told that I had to settle for swimming and biking only I set out to discover what else could be done to get my legs stronger again.

Having worked out in the gym for years prior to the surgery, I knew with some temperance that I could go back to several exercises for the legs, and the one that I feel builds the most strength and gets some mass and size back in your leg at any age is the leg press.

The leg press while being seated protects your low back providing you use it properly and does all the balance work for your upper body so that you can concentrate on the movement and, the development of the quadriceps. The important piece of advice I can give you is that you want to use a weight that is light enough that you can get a full range of motion from so, weight is not as important as is technique.

With the leg press also, you can either work both legs together or, work them unilaterally. The leg press itself is a safe alternative to the squat not only for your back but will not put as much stress on the knee prosthesis itself.

Be sure you are medically cleared by your orthopedic surgeon prior to starting or continuing your exercise program. Also be prepared for your surgeon to advise against most exercises in the gym. Most are very conservative and, unless they workout themselves or have had a knee replaced they will advise you against weight training.

You have to be the judge yourself. Use light weight and go for higher repetitions instead of heavy weight and low repetitions. I use anywhere from 15-25 repetitions and stay with a weight from 185-235 pounds. Settling for a world of limitations should not be for you.

Are you confused by all the jargon and medical terms relating to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament? Perhaps you have been diagnosed with a torn ACL and now need to start researching what is involved in an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Or maybe you have already decided to have ACL surgery and now need to understand some of the words used by your orthopaedic surgeon about the ACL injury, ACL Reconstruction Surgery and the ACL recovery process.

Here you will find definitions and easy to understand explanations of some key terms used in the area of Anterior Cruciate Ligaments which will be helpful to you before and after ACL surgery.

ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament): Ligaments are thick pieces of tissue that connect one bone to another. Their function is to provide stability to a joint. Inside your knee there are two important ligaments called cruciate ligaments. They are called this because they cross-over in a cruciform fashion (ie. shaped like a cross). The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is important in controlling rotation between the tibia (shin bone) and femur (thigh bone) such as in movements during pivoting sports. The ACL is one of the major stabilising ligaments within the knee. It connects the thigh bone to the leg bone and prevents instability occurring between the two. More specifically, it provides rotatory stability to the knee to allow movements such as pivoting or sudden change in direction to occur without the knee giving way.

Patella: Three major bones contribute to the knee joint. At the front of the knee is a bone called the patella (also known as the kneecap). The other two bones are the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The patella moves on the femur in a groove called the "trochlear groove". This joint carries a lot of force with bending activities such as climbing stairs and standing up from a seated position. This part of the knee joint is called the patellofemoral joint.

ACL Tear: Also referred to as an ACL Rupture, the most common method of injury is from non-contact activity that typically occurs whilst attempting a pivoting or cutting (change of direction) movement, eg. whilst playing sport. The injury can also occur from contact activity (e.g. being tackled from the side) when your knee buckles inwards whilst the rest of the leg is held in a fixed position.

Arthroscopy: Knee arthroscopy is an operation that uses a specially designed telescope called an arthroscope. This is inserted into your knee through a small incision ( referred to as "key hole" surgery). The arthroscope uses a digital camera through which the inside of your knee can be thoroughly inspected. If needed, any necessary procedures (e.g. removing torn cartilage, ligament reconstructions) can be carried out at the same time through separate small incisions.

Allograft: this refers to the new ACL which is sourced from donor tendons. Allograft is most commonly used in lower demand patients, or patients who are undergoing revision ACL surgery (when an ACL reconstruction fails). For many patients, the strength of the reconstructed ACL using an allograft is sufficient for their demands. Therefore this may be a good option for patients not planning to participate in high-demand sports (e.g. soccer, basketball).

Autograft: this refers to the new ACL which is sourced from the persons own tendon. Numerous studies show that an allograft is not as strong as a patient's own tissue.

ACL Reconstruction: This is a surgical procedure using either the hamstring tendons or the patellar ligament. In the case of the hamstring tendons, two of your hamstring tendons (gracilis and semitendinosis) will be removed from the back of your thigh through an incision on the front of your knee. This is done with a special instrument called a tendon stripper. In some cases (eg. a revision operation), the knee cap ligament (the middle third of the patellar ligament) or the hamstring tendons from your opposite leg may need to be used. A tunnel will be drilled in the top of your leg bone (tibia) and the bottom of your thigh bone (femur). The tendons will be passed through these tunnels and anchored in place with screws and buttons to hold them in place and provide stability to your knee. An ACL reconstruction is sometimes referred to, incorrectly, as an ACL repair. A torn anterior cruciate ligament cannot be "repaired", and must instead be reconstructed with a tissue graft replacement.

CPM machine: A Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine is commonly used by orthopaedic surgeons to assist in patient recovery following injury or surgery to the knee joint. After surgery, many patients will experience pain and, as a result, not move the joint adequately enough to regain their full range of motion. The tissue around the joint will become stiff due to this lack of motion and scarring can begin to develop. When a Continuous Passive Motion Machine is applied after surgery, the knee joint can be moved through a defined range of motion for extended periods of time. By increasing the range of motion, recovery time will be reduced significantly, as well as promote healing of the joint surfaces and soft tissues, reduce the development of adhesions and scar tissue, and decrease stiffness of the joint.

Cryo Cuff: The Cryo Cuff is an ice therapy device pack. It provides compression to minimise bleeding and swelling, and cold to minimise pain following knee injury. It can be used with a variety of pumps and coolers to enhance its effectiveness.

While this is a helpful start in understanding some of the commonly used terms relating to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Surgery, it is absolutely essential to broaden your understanding and be well informed in this area as you prepare for ACL surgery and the recovery process that follows. Your medical specialists will give you all the necessary medical information, however the most helpful practical lessons will come from the experiences of others who have had an ACL reconstruction already and successfully completed their ACL rehabilitation program.

Do you have problems with your knees currently? - Does it get worse when you bend your knee, or go into a full squat?

Introduction: Isn't it interesting how we can take our knees for granted until something unfortunately goes wrong? Maybe something has not gone wrong for you yet, and you are being proactive by reading up on health issues... but we doubt it. We are sorry that you have knee problems currently and we would like nothing better than for a way to help you. - This free information was designed to discuss the beneficial use of knee braces and how to find an effective one for you when you bend your knees or do full squats! - This information can make a difference for you.

1.) Our Knees

No matter what you ever do, your body will always bear weight onto our legs. You can do things to help absorb shock, but we can never forget the fact that we ask a lot of our knees, with or without squatting. - Your knees have a very meaningful role in supporting your body effectively. When something is painful or there is some sort of knee injury, then it can make life a lot harder.

2.) Best Knee Braces For Squats

In order to find you the best knee brace we have to ask you 2 very important questions first. The first: How bad is your knee pain on a scale -10? Think about your knee pain when it gets to be its worst, and record your answer. Next, how bad is your knee instability on a scale 1-10? Remember to write down your answer. Please consider the times when your knee instability (if you have it) gets to be its worst. - Got your answers?

Knee Braces for Mild Knee Problems

Maybe you subjectively came to the conclusion that your knee problem is more mild. In this case, you will want to consider getting an elastic style knee brace. These elastic knee braces can slide on your leg like a sleeve, or they can be a wrap around style. In the end, they can provide you with a little extra support that can actually go a long way for you! - They are light weight as well. Do not assume though that they are the best for moderate to severe knee problems.

Knee Braces For Moderate to Severe Problems

If you have come to the conclusion that your knee problem is moderate to severe then you are in a whole different area of knee braces. These knee braces typically have hinges and uprights. Do not be bothered though, these hinges and uprights help to augment your stability and they should not be a problem for you. The purpose of a hinged knee brace is to help support side to side movements, or front to back movements that can give you pain. Not all of them are made equally, so read up on them when you get to a brace website. (*Also, this information is health oriented, but it is not medical advice. Speak to your doctor about medical advice.)