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From sleeves and cuffs to bands, these braces can help you get back on track
Running is a joy. So much so that when you are forced to stop or scale back due to injury, it can feel daunting. For many people, the time between injury and getting back to fitness is the worst part. However, it’s also one of the most important.
Depending on the issue, a knee support could offer you a helping hand during this period, or it could help reduce the impact of some of your training. But it’s really important to get the right one. So, how do you do that?
“The choice of knee support might seem daunting,” Cameron Johnston, the founder of specialist recovery brand Riixo, told us. “Different braces work in different ways to manage different knee conditions, and selecting the right garment will make all the difference to your recovery time.”
There are four main categories of knee support, from “functional” ones, which are most often used during rehabilitation, to “prophylactic” supports, which are used during high-risk, high-intensity exercise to protect you from possible injury. There are also supports that sit at the base of the kneecap and help to reduce the strain for conditions such as “runner’s knee”. And there are “unloader” supports, which are used for chronic conditions such as arthritis and help to shift your weight distribution.
“Unless suffering with a chronic condition, it isn’t advisable to wear a knee brace for prolonged periods,” Cameron adds. “Long-term use builds reliance on the brace and the body can become weaker. It may also alter running mechanics such that issues emerge with the other knee or elsewhere.”
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If you have one, it is a good idea to work with your physiotherapist or another professional to identify what is best for you. Otherwise, it’s worth doing your research. No matter what the issue, it’s important to remember that these supports are often only part of the answer – and they are most effective when they are used in conjunction with a programme of rehabilitation.
After hip and knee injuries sustained trying to come back to training too quickly after an ultramarathon last year, our tester needs a little extra support every now and then. They tested the below products over a six-week period, with supports being used as part of their daily life and – where appropriate – during multiple training sessions, from Tuesday treadmill to long Sunday runs and gym workouts. We marked each product in four areas: comfort, design, cost and – of course – how effective it was. The best are below.
Buying the right knee support is not like buying the right pair of shorts. It’s worth doing your research – and talking to the experts – to make sure that you’re getting what you need. For us, it was a close tussle for the top spot between Limitless Flex’s knee support and Riixo’s innovative knee cuff, but ultimately the former won out for its great value.
However, there are plenty of other options on the market that we would still recommend, from Decathlon’s supportive knee strap, which sat just under the knee, to Gymshark’s knee sleeve, which was perfect for cross-training. It just comes down to finding the right one for you and your recovery.
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