Arthrosis of the joints is a very unpleasant disease, which often affects people aged, but young people are not immune from it. To help those suffering from pain, knee pads are prescribed for arthrosis of the knee joint: how to choose them, how to determine your size, how to wear it - we’ll talk about this today. You should carefully consider this choice so that the benefit of such a means of assistance is maximum.
Risk group
The disease develops in those who regularly expose their legs to excessive loads. These are, as a rule, people belonging to the older age category (they are at risk due to the loss of elasticity of muscles and ligaments with age). No less often, the disease occurs in athletes and people working in constant motion (the load on the knees exceeds the norm), and often people who are overweight and have a sedentary lifestyle, such as sedentary work, are faced with arthrosis. Active pensioners involved in running or walking, are also prone to manifestations of arthrosis, but the joints should be protected a little with a knee pad, and such prevention will be much more significant, the only hope is that over time the pain will stop on its own.
Knee pads for arthrosis of the knee: how to choose the right type
The neglected form of arthrosis in the area of the affection of the ligaments gives tangible pain. But its danger lies in the fact that untreated arthrosis can lead to the destruction of the ligament and surgical intervention. Symptoms may not be unnoticed, because when the load on the damaged joint, the pain intensifies. And anesthesia through external exposure (ointments, compresses), internal (taking medications) can provide good therapeutic help. But the effect will be noticeably better, and sometimes simply necessary, if you resort to the use of knee pads.
There are different knee pads for arthrosis of the knee joint: how to choose and not make a mistake? First of all, it is worth consulting with an orthopedist, it is advisable that he watches you constantly. Secondly, it’s better to imagine how one species differs from another. Such a medical certificate does not hurt. Thirdly, it is important to understand that reckoning in the price difference, replacing the knee pad with another remedy, is not recommended at all. After all, medical knee pads with arthrosis on the principle of action differ from an elastic bandage, and health is worth it to protect. And finally, information about how the different materials of which the knee pad is made will behave in a sock will not be superfluous.
Types of Knee Pads
Depending on the reasons that affected the intensity of pain in the knee, on localization, therapeutic knee pads for arthrosis are of different types. The degree of fixation depends on how serious the form of the disease is. And choosing tight knee pads for better joint support is not always the best solution. If the leg is pinched due to the fact that the knee pad is small or too tight, the blood circulation may be impaired and the knee will get tissue edema.
• Closed types of knee pads are prescribed by an orthopedic surgeon, they resort to this decision if the diagnosis is not established and the genesis of pain is unclear. Such bandages help to overcome pain due to the large area of knee support.
• Open bandages are prescribed if the pain is not very strong and episodic, for example, when descending stairs or just under the patella. Here you can resort to the help of open knee pads with spiral stiffening ribs, they will help to overcome small loads.
• The articulated types of knee pads are quite versatile. Post-traumatic arthrosis can be treated better with the use of such agents. Pain of various origins disappears faster if such knee pads securely fix the joint.
Warming knee pads
Warm kneecaps with arthrosis have a separate effect. They are of the following types:
• With a halogen lamp (or infrared) that warms the joint and anesthetizes the movement of the knee.
• Magnetic knee pads, which have the ability to remove overload from muscles and ligaments, thereby providing the best uniform heat and being a support for the knee joint, which both facilitates movement and restores the working capacity of the affected joint.
• Mineral knee pads, in the core of which tourmaline is located, known for its unique property of influencing tissues with deep heat, at the cellular level they affect blood circulation and cell repair. This effect is used when cartilage is damaged to increase the volume of intraarticular fluid. Its unique feature is that after the heat from the sun has accumulated in the mineral (and for this it needs to be left in the sun for several hours), its adaptation will be given up to two weeks.
• Woolen knee pads. We will talk about them in more detail.
Natural wool knee braces
It is known that wool knee pads with arthrosis of the knee joint give an excellent warming effect: how to choose from a variety of options? Knee pads come from canine, camel, sheep wool and their combinations. In cold weather, such a knee pad protects the knee from hypothermia.
It is believed that dog hair has the ability to warm the affected area of the joint in the best way. Having maximum hygroscopicity, this type of material, which includes natural dog hair, is optimally relaxing and has an excellent warming effect. In the period of acute pain, such a bandage will be the best option - it will help restore blood circulation and relieve swelling in the affected area, and during the rehabilitation period will continue to gently affect the knee.
Camel hair in the knee pad has a similar effect. Sheep perfectly copes with the task of warming up. But not always wool knee pads orthopedic for arthrosis, the reviews are positive. This is mainly due to the care of them. Woolen bandages knock down during machine wash. Therefore, it is quite simple to hand wash and dry well when unfolded and not on the battery, so that the wool inside the knee pad does not stray.
Materials of which the knee pads are made
Which knee pads are better for arthrosis depends on the situation, but you need to know a little about what materials are better and more comfortable to wear and direct care. From time to time the bandage will have to be washed.
If you are an adherent of natural fabrics, cotton and wool knee pads will suit you, but you should also know about the disadvantages that you will encounter: it is quick to wear and shrink when washed in water above 40 degrees.
For better wear resistance, materials with synthetic additives are suitable. These are polyester, neoprene, nylon, lycra, spandex and elastane. But, for example, neoprene will not allow the skin to breathe, the warming process will be accompanied by the release of sweat, which will remain under the knee pad. The way out of this situation is to put on cotton underwear under the appliance or at least make a gasket between the skin and the kneecap from the fabric.
Elastane as part of the knee pad material is very comfortable to wear and care. The addition of polyester also makes it durable, lycra and nylon can be used for a long time, but such knee pads with arthrosis (photo illustrates how they look) will not give a warming effect.
Selection of knee pad by size
A bandage loosely worn over the knee will not bring the desired effect. It should be fixed so that the fixation is palpable and tight, but not excessive, so as not to provoke edema and impaired blood circulation. The sizes of the knee pads are focused on the following volumes:
Size S is designed for girth of the knee, equal to 30-36 cm; size M - for girth of the knee from 36 to 40 cm; Size L is suitable for 40-45 cm and XL is suitable for 45-49 cm.
Recommendations for using knee pads
Do not wear a knee pad constantly. It is enough to wear it for several hours a day, during active walking or exertion. The duration of the use of the knee pad for pain should be monitored by an orthopedist: if the pain does not stop or subside, most likely, you will need a different type of bandage or additional exposure in the form of medications. You need to wash such things in cool water without the use of chlorine-based products and manually, dry them with a towel.