The most intense stress, especially with regular and professional sports, is experienced by the knee. Accordingly, and it is injured more often than other components of the musculoskeletal system. For correct and rapid rehabilitation after injuries and operations in complex therapy, an orthosis for the knee joint is used. This device is a bandage, developed taking into account the features of the biomechanics of the human body. It helps to immobilize or fix the knee in the desired position, to limit or minimize the load on it.
Articulated knee joint orthosis
The bandages considered are the most complex constructions in this group of medical accessories. They are made of plastic, fabric and metal, individual parts are connected with each other by special hinges and tires. Such locks allow preserving the necessary anatomical position of the leg, limiting its mobility, flexion and extension. Their main feature is the possibility of constant wearing, even during night rest.
Orthoses for the knee joint with hinges perform the following functions:
- compensation for temporarily inactive segments;
- fixation;
- position correction;
- unloading of the joint.
The presented version of the bandage is indispensable in the period of postoperative rehabilitation, especially if surgical intervention was performed on lateral or cruciform ligaments, menisci . The hinge in the orthosis provides precise control of knee mobility due to the regulation of its extension and bending from 0 to 120 degrees.
It is important to note that such fixatives can not be selected for themselves. Ideally suitable device should recommend a doctor based on radiological studies and depending on the purpose of treatment.
Semi-rigid orthosis for fixing the knee joint
Elastic bandages with metal or plastic inserts are designed to achieve 2 goals:
- Prevention. Strong loads on the knee joint, for example, during active sports training, can lead to its damage. Semi-rigid fixatives help prevent various injuries, including stretching and ligament rupture.
- Treatment. If damage was not avoided, the orthosis can immediately reduce the load on the joint. It also reduces the severity of the pain syndrome, eliminates swelling, improves blood circulation and lymph flow in the injured zone.
As a rule, semi-rigid bandages are made of compression knitwear. Their wearing guarantees knee fixation in the correct position, the necessary restriction of its mobility and the possibility of regulating pressure on the muscle tissue.
How to wear a rigid orthosis on the knee joint?
The described version of the medical device is designed to immobilize the foot after receiving dangerous injuries or serious surgical interventions. A rigid orthosis allows to securely fix the knee joint in the forward position, excluding the risk of its bending under any circumstances. At the same time, such a tire is not a gypsum, so it does not limit the overall mobility of the patient and does not prevent him from walking.
Another important advantage of rigid orthosis is the relief of pain syndrome. Due to the fact that the accessory is developed on the basis of knowledge of the biomechanics of the human body, it provides support for normal blood circulation and lymph flow in the knee joint region. It also removes excess fluid and reduces pressure on the nerve endings.