What is the Best Knee Brace for a Hockey Player?

The game of hockey is a macho one, and lets face it, if you stopped every time you got a bruise or experienced some pain, then you probably wouldn’t string together more than two shifts in a row. But what happens when the pain is impeding your game? Slowing you down? or even keeping you off the ice?

So, is it worth wearing a knee brace? Do they help? What is the best knee brace to use during your game or training?

Read on to find out.

 

 

First, you need to know:

Where is your knee pain?

In order to determine what type of knee brace & what level of support your knee requires you need to know what kind of injury you have

Is my knee making unusual popping or cracking noises?

Not all knee cracking, popping or unusual noises indicate damage. Sometimes its nothing more than tiny pockets of gas trapped in the knee. However, if the sound occurred at the time of a hit, twist or fall, it could indicate more serious problems such as damaged cartilage, tendons or ligaments.

Does my knee lockup?

Knee lockup or getting stuck is generally caused by something wedged in the joint – much like a door wedge stops a door swinging closed. Quite often to ‘unlock’ the knee it requires a bit of wriggling around. Typically, this indicates damaged meniscus (cartilage) within the knee. This could be bought about by general wear and tear and overuse, or from a sudden twisting or force through the knee.

Does my knee “give way”?

Knee buckling or giving way and a feeling of having no strength in it is most commonly caused by a ligament injury resulting in lack of stability to the knee. This happens when the knee bends the wrong way (ouchies!) or from a sudden twisting force or impact against the knee. When it occurs you may hear a snapping sound and experience severe pain and swelling. Cartilage tears can also cause the knee to give way, but this is less common.

Is there any swelling?

Swelling will accompany most knee injuries. Sudden swelling can indicate cartilage tear or a ligament injury.

Are you at a point post surgery and mid-rehab, wanting to get back out on the ice?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then a knee brace would certainly aid in supporting and reducing discomfort.

 

 

Types of Knee Brace

There are different kinds of knee brace that provide various levels of support and protection to the joint. From the most basic sleeves which cover muscle strains, swelling and limited support, to the highly advanced hinged models that have superior support aimed at cartilage damage and serious ligament injuries. Read on to find the best knee brace for your needs.

Sleeve Braces

Best for minor injuries like strains or bruises, can provide limited support by compressing the tissues surrounding the joint and retaining body heat increasing circulation. My recommendation for best sleeve brace is the ProTec Athletics Gel Force. Click here to see my review.

Stabiliser Braces

Like the Sleeve Braces, Stabiliser Braces are also great for minor injuries, but typically provide that extra bit of support through features like Patella (knee cap) stabilising, adjustable straps for better fit, and simple side bracing. There are some fantastic stabiliser braces, but my personal choice is the McDavid Pro Stabiliser. Click here to read my review.

Hinged Braces

Advanced braces provide very high to top levels of support and stability. Designed for ligament damage, but also perfect for cartilage problems, instability in the knee and post surgery recovery. They will have lateral side bracing, hinges designed specifically for everyday activity and high action sports such as hockey or skiing. The best knee brace in this category is from ShockDoctor, the Ultra Knee Support. Click here to read my review.

Check out our detailed Knee Brace table below:

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If you have any questions, thoughts or feedback, please contact me!