How Bracing Can Make All the Difference with Joint Injuries

How Bracing Can Make All the Difference with Joint Injuries

If you have ever broken a bone, you likely had a cast that provided protection and stability while your body took 6-10 weeks to heal the fracture. Soft tissue injuries can also result in extreme pain and functional vulnerability, and bracing injuries like these can also provide the support needed for fast and successful recovery. At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, we recognize the complexity of soft tissue injuries. Our double-board certified physicians include support like bracing in their comprehensive pain-relief care plans to get you on the road to rapid recovery and pain relief. So, what is bracing, and how does it help common injuries and conditions? 

Types of Braces

Braces are medical devices that MAPS physicians sometimes recommend providing additional support to the musculoskeletal system. Depending on the patient’s needs, braces can be used to align the joints, improve mechanics, support and stabilize joints to prevent injury, or provide protection after injury or surgery. They can be as simple as neoprene sleeves that work to improve swelling through compression or as complex as a device with hinges and straps designed to limit rotation and range of motion.  

How Does Bracing Help?

MAPS Centers for Pain Control is dedicated to providing efficient solutions for fast pain relief. Using bracing for injuries can be an essential part of a comprehensive treatment plan by supporting healing in the recovery or rehabilitation phase of care. Which common injuries can benefit most from the support and stability provided by braces?

Knee Pain

One of the most common conditions supported by bracing is knee pain. The knee is a large and complex joint, and its position in the lower body supports most of our weight when walking, standing or kneeling. Whether to stabilize after a ligament injury, control the kneecap’s motion, or redistribute weight from damaged areas, bracing injuries like these can support recovery.

Back Pain

At its core, the spine is a collection of joints supported by an array of soft tissues. Any conditions or injuries can compromise the integrity of the back, leading to debilitating back pain, one of the most common medical complaints in the world. Bracing around hips can help stabilize the sacrum, improve common sciatica symptoms, and support conditions like piriformis disorder or SI joint dysfunction. Bracing for injuries in the low back includes providing support around the core for increased stability and physical therapy to build strength and improve balance.

Joint Pain

In any area of the body designed for mobility, we can experience injuries that may benefit from the stabilization and support that bracing can provide. For example, shoulder joints are the most mobile in the body, and healing damage to the many muscles, tendons, and ligaments around them can require immobility for recovery. Ankle joints are also susceptible to sprains and strains, and bracing for injuries can limit the range of motion to allow stretched tissues to recuperate. Tendonitis around joints like the elbow can result in conditions like “Tennis Elbow,” “Golfer’s Elbow,” and other joint pain conditions, bracing can help redirect pressure away from the injured tendons.

Brace Yourself for a Superior Experience

MAPS Centers for Pain Control comprises double-board certified physicians and are Chicago’s leaders in minimally invasive sports medicine treatments, offering advanced options, including alternative medicine for your care. So whether you’re a seasoned athlete or need support for more common conditions, our experience and dedication to your wellness make us the premier partner for effective, responsible pain relief. We welcome your questions and look forward to hearing from you. Call us today to get started!