Bracing

Braces are often used when you’ve sustained an injury, before or after surgery, or have deterioration in your joints or ligaments due to repeated use, age or a chronic condition.

Following an accurate diagnosis of your injury or condition, your doctor, physiotherapist or other healthcare professional may suggest a brace to help with rehabilitation. Braces provide stability when ligaments, muscles and/or bones are still healing. This lets you (slowly) resume certain activities, gradually building up your strength and function while protecting you from re-injury.

A brace is often used in combination with other types of therapy, such as physiotherapy, massage and more. The healthcare professional you’re working with will not only select and fit you for the right brace, but they’ll also provide instructions on when and how long you should wear the brace so you can get all the benefits.

Bracing is a treatment that can increase joint stability, improve alignment and reduce excessive movements (such as bending, twist or side-to-side and front-to-back actions) that can aggravate the injury, cause pain and prevent proper healing. Braces help off-load pressure, absorbing some of the force encountered from a return to activity. They allow you to get back to your active lifestyle quickly and safely, whether that means your favourite sport or simple day-to-day activities like walking.

There are three main types of braces, categorized by their purpose: prophylactic, rehabilitative and functional braces.

Prophylactic braces are used to prevent injuries from occurring. If you have a high-risk of re-injury, this type of brace can reduce your chances of getting hurt.

Rehabilitative braces are used after you’ve sustained an injury or undergone surgery to provide support, immobilization and compression (to reduce swelling). They restrict movement to protect the injured area while you start a return to activity. This type of external support is temporary, used to allow for proper healing.

Functional braces are used after an injury to offset weakened or degenerated structures, protecting you from further injury during recovery. This brace allows you to return to sports or activities that place stress on the injured joint or ligament, giving you increased stability and body awareness as you move.

Bracing is a safe and effective treatment method for a wide range of injuries and conditions, including:

• Back pain
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Acute sprains and strains
• Knee injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Osteoarthritis
• Tennis elbow
• Shoulder dislocation
• Other shoulder injuries (i.e. SLAP tears)
• ACL injuries
• Scoliosis
• Osteoporosis
• Poor posture
• Other sports injuries
• Post-operative rehabilitation
• Tendonitis
• Patella dislocations and subluxations
• Chondromalacia (runner’s knee)

The cost of a brace can vary, depending on the type and level of customization. Some braces, like the neoprene sleeve, are patient-ready and can be relatively inexpensive. Others, like a knee immobilizer, have to be custom-designed to meet your measurements, which makes it more expensive.

Many health insurance providers cover bracing equipment ordered through your physiotherapist or other healthcare professional. It’s always a good idea to inquire with your provider before getting fitted.