Do You Really Need a Hard Knee Brace after ACL Surgery?

A new study found no benefit to using a hard knee brace instead of a neoprene sleeve when returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. The traditional belief was that a stiff knee brace was needed to protect the knee and increase stability and function when the athlete starts playing sports again after the surgery. Recently, this belief has been challenged, and studies like this one are finding that patients do well with a soft neoprene sleeve for support.

Neoprene knee brace sleeves come in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes and are designed to provide gentle support by compressing the knee joint and improving neuromuscular control. A traditional hinged knee brace or functional knee brace is designed to provide rigid support and limit unwanted motion.

The study was presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.