KNEE JOINT ANATOMY, CLINICAL

EXAMINATION, SPECIAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST

AND REHABILITATION WITH ASPECTS OF
ORTHOTICS &PROSTHETICS

Dr. Abdul Rashad

Senior Lecturer
DPT, MPhil(OPT), MPPTA
UNITED COLLEGE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
KNEE JOINT COMPONENT
PROCEDURE STEPS

 Step 01
• Wash your hands and introduce yourself to the patient. Clarify the
patient’s identity. Explain what you would like to examine and gain
their consent.

• Step 02
• Ensure the joint in which you wish to examine is appropriately
exposed, Patient should be exposed from the waist up. You should
therefore offer a chaperone.
 PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
• History
• Inspection (Look)
• Palpation (Feel)
• Range of Motion (Move) LOOK
• Neurologic Examination
• Special Tests FEEL

MOVE

EVALUATION ORDER
PATIENT HISTORY
INSPECTION
 Swelling/effusion, erythema, ecchymosis
 Knee angle
◦ Genu varum (bowed legs)
◦ Genu valgum (can predispose to patellofemoral syndrome)
INSPECTION
 Patellofemoral syndrome
(PFPS)
◦ The “J” sign
◦ The patient supine or seated
and the knee extended from
a flexed position. Lateral
deviation of the patella can
be observed during the
terminal phase of extension
PALPATION
 Palpate the patient in the sitting position
 Start with the joint line
PALPATION
 Joint line tenderness:
◦ Meniscal injury
◦ Osteoarthritis
◦ Fracture
PALPATION
 Next, find the inferior pole of the patella and palpate the
patella tendon down to its insertion at the tibial
tuberosity
PALPATION
Area of tenderness and Likely causes
probable swelling

Inferior pole of patella Sinding-Larsen-

Johansson syndrome

Patellar tendon Patellar tendinopathy

Patellar rupture

Patellar insertion at tibial Osgood-Schlatter-

tuberosity Disease
PALPATION
 When you are at the tibial tuberosity palpate with your
finger 1-2 cm medially
 If the patient is tender there, consider Pes anserine
bursitis
PALPATION
 Have the patient lay supine
 Start with palpating:
◦ Medial and lateral femoral and tibial (epi)condyles & the fibular
head:
 Medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain
 Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sprain
 Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome
 Tibial plateau fracture
 Fibular head fracture
PALPATION
 Effusion: ‘Milking’
◦ Effusion is assessed by "milking" fluid distally from the suprapatellar
pouch
◦ Place one hand on the supra-patellar pouch. Gently push down towards
the patella, forcing any fluid to accumulate in the central part of the joint
◦ Palpate the area adjacent to the patellar tendon for fluid accumulation

If equivocal, compare with

the other knee
PALPATION
◦ Effusion: Ballottement
◦ A ballotable patella may be
palpated after similar effusion
milking
 Place one hand on the supra-
patellar pouch. Gently push
down towards the patella, forcing
any fluid to accumulate in the
central part of the joint
 Gently push down on the patella
with your thumb
 If there is a sizable effusion, the
patella will feel as if it is floating
and ‘bounce’ back up when
pushed down
PALPATION
 After a trauma there is effusion (hemarthrosis) only if structures in
the joint are involved:
◦ Anterior cruciate or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL, PCL) injury
◦ Meniscus injury
◦ Patellar dislocation
◦ Intra-articular fracture (e.g. tibial plateau fracture)
 Causes of non-traumatic effusion:
◦ Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudo gout, Reiter’s syndrome
◦ Infections e.g. gonorrhea
◦ Tumors
PALPATION
 Next, clinical tests for patellar mobility and position, and provocative
tests for pain should be performed:
 patellar glide
 patellar tilt
 patellar grind tests
 Positive results on these tests are consistent with the diagnosis of
PFPS
 The patellar apprehension test is used to assess for lateral instability
and is positive when pain or discomfort occurs with lateral translation of
the patella
PALPATION
 Patellar glide
◦ Assesses patellar mobility
◦ Displacement of more than
three quadrants suggests
patellar hypermobility caused by
poor medial restraints
predisposing for PFPS
◦ Also, palpate the medial &
lateral undersurface of the
patella
PALPATION
 Patellar tilt
◦ Positive test = lateral aspect of
patella is fixed and cannot be
raised to at least horizontal
position
◦ Indicates tight lateral structures
(e.g.: IT-band) predisposing for
PFPS
PALPATION
 Patellar grind test
◦ The patient is in the supine
position with the knee
extended
◦ The examiner displaces the
patella inferiorly into the
trochlear groove
◦ The patient is then asked to
contract the quadriceps while
the examiner continues to
palpate the patella and
provides gentle resistance to
superior movement of the
patella
◦ The test is indicative of PFPS
if pain is produced
PALPATION
 Apprehension test
 Patient is apprehensive if the
examiner tries to move the
patella laterally
 Positive after patellar
(sub)luxation and in severe
PFPS
RANGE OF MOTION (ROM)
 Test for active & passive ROM while the patient is
supine
◦ Flexion 140°
◦ Extension 0° /-10°
 Always compare to the other, “healthy” knee!
SPECIAL TEST OF KNEE JOINT
LIGAMENTOUS STABILITY
 Anterior Drawer Test
 Lachman Test
 Posterior Drawer Test
 Posterior Tibial Sag
 Pivot Shift Test
 Valgus Stress Test
 Varus Stress Test
MENISCAL
 McMurray’s Tset
 Thessaly Test
 Apley’s Compression/Grinding Test
 Apprehension Sign
 Noble Compression Test
 Patellar Grind Test
VALGUS STRESS TEST MCL
 Apply valgus stress with the
knee at 0° and bent at 30°
◦ 0° tests for MCL as well as the
cruciate ligaments
◦ 30° only tests the MCL
 Pain speaks for mild sprain
 Pain & laxity speak for moderate
sprain
 No fix endpoint speaks for
complete MCL rupture
VARUS STRESS TEST LCL

 Apply varus stress with the knee

at 0° and bent at 30°
◦ 0° tests for LCL as well as the
cruciate ligaments
◦ 30° only tests the LCL
 Pain speaks for mild sprain
 Pain & laxity speak for moderate
sprain
 No fix endpoint speaks for
complete LCL rupture
ANTERIOR DRAWER TEST
 Anterior drawer test
◦ Patient supine with knee
flexed 90°
◦ Stabilize patient’s foot by
sitting on it
◦ Cup your hands around
patient’s knee & draw the
tibia towards you.
◦ Test will positive if
◦ There is increased amount of
anterior tibial translation
compared with the opposite leg,
and/or
◦ There is no firm end-point
LACHMAN TEST
 Lachman test
◦ Patient supine with knee
flexed 30°
◦ Pull on the tibia towards
you
 Lachman test will positive if
◦ There is increased amount of
anterior tibial translation
compared with the opposite
leg, and/or
◦ There is no firm end-point
SPECIAL TESTS: ACL
Sensitivity Specificity

Lachman test 85%[1] 94%[1]

Anterior Drawer 68%[2] 79%[2]

test
Pivot Shift test 24%[1] 98%[1]

[1] Benjaminse A, Gokeler A, van der Schans CP. Clinical diagnosis of an

anterior cruciate ligament rupture: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys
Ther. 2006 May;36(5):267-88.

[2] Kim SJ, Kim HK. Reliability of the anterior drawer test, the pivot shift
test, and the Lachman test. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1995 Aug;(317):237-42.
POSTERIOR DRAWER TEST
 Posterior drawer
test
◦ Stay in the same
position as for
the anterior
drawer test
◦ Push the tibia
posteriorly
◦ If it moves
backwards the
PCL is probably
damaged
SAG SIGN
 Another way of testing the PCL
is the sag sign
GODFREY'S DROP BACK TEST
 The patient is supine, with
the thighs and knees
flexed 90°, legs
horizontal, and heels held
by the examiner in such a
way as to have the legs
parallel to the table. The
test is positive if the upper
end of the tibia on the
affected side is seen to
drop backwards
SPECIAL TESTS: MENISCUS
 Mc Murray
◦ Hold the knee with one hand,
place your fingers along the
joint line and flex it to 90°
◦ Hold the foot by the sole with
the other hand
SPECIAL TESTS: MENISCUS

 Mc Murray (cont)
◦ Provide a valgus stress
◦ Rotate the leg externally
◦ Extend the knee
 If pain or a ‘click’ is felt =
‘positive McMurray’ for a
medial meniscus tear
SPECIAL TESTS: MENISCUS
 Mc Murray (cont)
◦ Provide a varus stress
◦ Rotate the leg internally
◦ Extend the knee
 If pain or a ‘click’ is felt =
‘positive McMurray’ for a
lateral meniscus tear
SPECIAL TESTS: MENISCUS
 Apley grind test
◦ The patient lays prone and
flexes his/her knee 90°
◦ Place your hand on the
patient’s heel and push down
(to compress the menisci
between femur & tibia) while
rotating internally &
externally
◦ Depending on the area of
pain medial or lateral
meniscus tear
THESSALY TEST

 The test is performed at 5° and

20° of flexion. The examiner
supports the patient by holding his
or her outstretched hands while the
patient stands flatfooted on the floor.
The patient then rotates his or her
knee and body, internally and
externally, three times, keeping the
knee in slight flexion (5°). The same
procedure is then carried out with
the knee flexed at 20°. The test is
always performed first on the
normal knee so that the patient may
be trained, especially with regard to
how to keep the knee in 5° and then
in 20° of flexion.
CHILDRESS’ TEST
 The Childress test is performed
by asking the patient to perform
a “duck walk” by moving forward
while maintaining full knee
flexion. Similar to the Thessaly
test, this test is also positive for
meniscal injury when the
maneuver reproduces medial or
lateral joint-line pain. The
Childress maneuver applies
considerable compressive forces
to the menisci and should not be
performed in patients with a
known positive McMurray test.
REFERRED PAIN
 ‘Knee pain’ can be referred from the lumbar spine (e.g.
herniated disk) or from a hip or ankle pathology, so don’t forget
to
◦ Do a gross hip and ankle exam
◦ Test the motor strength, sensibility and deep tendon reflexes
of the lower extremities
 And always examine both knees!
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES

 Phase I:
◦ Control pain, swelling and assist tissue healing
 P.R.I.C.E.
◦ For some knee injuries may require immobilizer or rehabilitation
brace
 Modalities
◦ Maintain core and cardiorespiratory function
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES

 Phase II: ROM

◦ Early ROM can minimize harmful changes in ligaments
due to immobilization
 AROM: Heel slides, active hamstring stretch, squats, quad
sets
 PROM: Prone/supine leg extensions with or w/o
assistance. Static quad, hip, groin, glut, ITB, seated calf
and hamstring stretching
 AAROM: Wall Slides, heel slides with contralateral limb
assistance
 PNF
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES
 Phase III: Strengthening.
◦ Overload principle, but not too early or too aggressive
 can harm healing tissue
 Gently progressive: isometric to isotonic to isokinetic to
plyometric to functional activity
 Closed chain exercises proven to be more effective for
knee rehabilitation
◦ Can implement early on in most knee rehabs
◦ OKC can increase anterior tibial shear
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES

• Isometrics: Quad Sets, Glut Sets, Hamstring Sets.

Co-contraction
• Isotonic: SLR-hip flex, ext. abduction and adduction.
Squats; DL & SL, lunges; single, multiplane, step
ups forward and lateral. Deadlifts; double leg and
single leg. Clams
• Proprioception: Progressive balance exercises
 Can add unstable surfaces, perturbations, ball toss
and/or rotation to exercises as they progress
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES
 Phase IV: Functional progressions return to
sport activity
◦ Running progression: straight ahead at ½ speed to ¾
speed to full sprint to change of direction lateral
movement @ ½ speed to ¾ speed to full speed.
◦ Sport specific movements and activity
REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES
 Phase V: Maintenance and monitoring of return
to sport

 All phases should include core and

cardiorespiratory exercises
 Athlete should be comfortable and confident in
their progression
 Use pain and swelling as guide for progression.
RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF
SPECIFIC INJURIES

 Medial Collateral Ligament Sprain

◦ Cause of Injury
 Result of severe blow or outward twist – valgus force
◦ Signs of Injury - Grade I
 Little fiber tearing or stretching
 Stable valgus test
 Little or no joint effusion
 Some joint stiffness and point tenderness on lateral
aspect
 Relatively normal ROM
◦ Signs of Injury (Grade II)
 Complete tear of deep capsular ligament and partial
tear of superficial layer of MCL
 No gross instability; slight laxity
 Slight swelling
 Moderate to severe joint tightness w/ decreased ROM
 Pain along medial aspect of knee
◦ Signs of Injury (Grade III)
 Complete tear of supporting ligaments
 Complete loss of medial stability, meniscus disruption
 Minimum to moderate swelling
 Immediate pain followed by ache
 Loss of motion due to effusion and hamstring guarding
 Positive valgus stress test
 Care
◦ RICE for at least 24 hours
◦ Crutches if necessary
◦ Knee immobilizer may be
applied
◦ Move from isometrics and
STLR exercises to bicycle
riding and isokinetic
◦ Return to play when all
areas have returned to
normal
 Continued bracing may be
required
◦ Care
 Conservative non-operative approach for isolated
grade 2 and 3 injuries
 Limited immobilization (w/ a brace); progressive
weight bearing for 2 weeks
 Follow with 2-3 week period of protection with
functional hinge brace
 When normal range, strength, power, flexibility,
endurance and coordination are regained athlete can
return
◦ Some additional bracing and taping may be required
SPECIFIC INJURY CONSIDERATIONS
 MCL
◦ Most commonly injured ligament
◦ Usually treated conservatively w/o surgery
◦ Grade 1 & 2 weight bearing as soon as tolerated.
 Grade 2 may require use of protective functional knee
brace for 2 weeks
◦ Grade 3 protective rehabilitation brace for 4 to 6
weeks
 Locked in 0 to 90 degrees of movement
 MCL
◦ Grade 1
 Can begin early ROM and isometric exercise 1-2 days
after injury
 May return to activity fairly quickly
◦ Grade 2
 May require 4-5 days of rest to allow inflammation to
subside before starting rehab ex.
 4-6 week recovery period

◦ Exercise bike and closed chain exercises can begin for

grade 1 & 2 sprains as early as it is tolerated
 MCL
◦ Grade 3 sprains
 May take up to 3 months to return
 Brace for 4-6 weeks, non-weight bearing for 3 weeks.
◦ Can remove brace for treatment and rehab
◦ Rehab limited to isometrics and straight leg exercises
◦ After the brace is discontinued can progress rehab similar to
Grade 1 & 2 sprains
 Functional and
Prophylactic Knee
Braces
◦ Used to prevent and
reduce severity of knee
injuries
◦ Provide degree of support
to unstable knee
◦ Can be custom molded
and designed to control
rotational forces and tibial
translation
LATERAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT
SPRAIN

◦ Cause of Injury
 Result of a varus force,
generally w/ the tibia
internally rotated
 Direct blow is rare
◦ Signs of Injury
 Pain and tenderness
over LCL
 Swelling and effusion
around the LCL
 Joint laxity w/ varus
testing
◦ Care
 Following management
of MCL injuries
depending on severity
ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT
SPRAIN

◦ Cause of Injury
 MOI – athlete decelerates with foot planted and turns in the
direction of the planted foot forcing tibia into internal rotation
 May be linked to inability to decelerate valgus and rotational
stresses - landing strategies
 Male versus female
 Research is quite extensive in regards to impact of femoral
notch, ACL size and laxity, mal-alignments (Q-angle) faulty
biomechanics
 Extrinsic factors may include, conditioning, skill acquisition,
playing style, equipment, preparation time
 Also involves damage to other structures including meniscus,
capsule, MCL
 ACL Prevention Programs
◦ Focus on strength, neuromuscular control, balance
◦ Series of different programs which address balance
board training, landing strategies, plyometric training,
and single leg performance
◦ Can be implemented in rehabilitation and preventative
training programs
 Shoe Type
◦ Change in football footwear has drastically reduced the
incidence of knee injuries
◦ Shoes w/ more shorter cleats does not allow foot to
become fixed while still allowing for control w/ running
and cutting
◦ Signs of Injury
 Experience pop w/ severe pain and disability
 Rapid swelling at the joint line
 Positive anterior drawer and Lachman’s
 Other ACL tests may also be positive
◦ Care
 RICE; use of crutches
 Arthroscopy may be necessary to determine extent of
injury
 Could lead to major instability in incidence of high
performance
 W/out surgery joint degeneration may result
 Age and activity may factor into surgical option
 Surgery may involve joint reconstruction w/ grafts
(tendon), transplantation of external structures
◦ Will require brief hospital stay and 3-5 weeks of a brace
◦ Also requires 4-6 months of rehab
 Surgical considerations
◦ Young, highly athletic
◦ Unwilling to change active lifestyle
◦ Rotational instability or feeling of “giving out” with normal
activities
◦ Injury to other ligaments and/or menisci
◦ Recurrent joint swelling
◦ Failure of conservative treatment (intensive rehab program)
◦ Surgery necessary to prevent early onset of degenerative
changes within knee
 4 to 12 month return to activity depending on various
ACL protocols
◦ Choice of grafts to use for ACL reconstruction may influence
time frame
 Also depends on surgeon, physical therapist and ATC
POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT
SPRAIN

◦ Cause of Injury
 Most at risk during 90 degrees of flexion
 Fall on bent knee is most common mechanism
 Can also be damaged as a result of a rotational
force
◦ Signs of Injury
 Feel a pop in the back of the knee
 Tenderness and relatively little swelling in the
popliteal fossa
 Laxity w/ posterior sag test
◦ Care
 RICE
 Non-operative rehab of grade I and II injuries should
focus on quad strength
 Surgical versus non-operative
◦ Surgery will require 6 weeks of immobilization in extension
w/ full weight bearing on crutches
◦ ROM after 6 weeks and PRE at 4 months
MENISCUS INJURIES

◦ Cause of Injury
 Medial meniscus is more commonly injured due to
ligamentous attachments and decreased mobility
◦ Also more prone to disruption through torsional and valgus
forces
 Most common MOI is rotary force w/ knee flexed or
extended while weight bearing
◦ Signs of Injury
 Diagnosis is difficult
 Effusion developing over 48-72 hour period
 Joint line pain and loss of motion
 Intermittent locking and giving way
 Pain w/ squatting
◦ Care
 Immediate care = PRICE
 If the knee is not locked, but indications of a tear are
present further diagnostic testing may be required
◦ Treatment/rehabilitation should follow that of MCL injury
 If locking occurs, anesthesia may be necessary to
unlock the joint w/ possible arthroscopic surgery
follow-up
 W/ surgery all efforts are made to preserve the
meniscus -- with full healing being dependent on
location
 Torn meniscus may be repaired using sutures
 nonoperative
◦ “wait and see” approach
◦ May return to play when symptoms subside and
progressive rehab plan is complete
 Partial menisectomy
◦ Removal of torn tissue
◦ Full return in 2 to 4 weeks
 Meniscal repair
◦ Sutures used to repair torn meniscus
◦ Brace locked in extension for 2 weeks
◦ Brace locked in 0 to 90 degrees for an additional 2
to 4 weeks
◦ Generally return to activity after 3 months
 Meniscal transplant
◦ Replacement of meniscus with allografts (cadaver
meniscus) or synthetic tissue
 Efficacy is inconsistent
 Return to activity 9 to 12 months
Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome
(Runner’s Knee)

◦ Cause of Injury
 Repetitive/overuse conditions attributed to mal-alignment and
structural asymmetries
 Result of repeated knee flexion & extension
◦ Signs of Injury
 Irritation at band’s insertion
 Tenderness, warmth, swelling, and redness over lateral femoral
condyle
 Pain with activity
◦ Care
 Correction of mal-alignments
 Ice before and after activity, proper warm-up and stretching;
NSAID’s
 Avoidance of aggravating activities
PATELLAR FRACTURE

◦ Cause of Injury
 Direct or indirect trauma (severe pull of tendon)
 Forcible contraction, falling, jumping or running
◦ Signs of Injury
 Hemorrhaging and joint effusion w/ generalized swelling
 Indirect fractures may cause capsular tearing, separation of
bone fragments and possible quadriceps tendon tearing
 Little bone separation w/ direct injury
◦ Management
 X-ray necessary for confirmation of findings
 RICE and splinting if fracture suspected
 Refer and immobilize for 2-3 months
ACUTE PATELLA SUBLUXATION OR
DISLOCATION

◦ Cause of Injury
 Deceleration w/ simultaneous cutting in opposite direction
(valgus force at knee)
 Quad pulls the patella out of alignment
 Some athletes may be predisposed to injury
 Repetitive subluxation will impose stress to medial restraints
 More commonly seen in female athletes
◦ Signs of Injury
 W/ subluxation, pain and swelling, restricted ROM, palpable
tenderness over adductor tubercle
 Dislocations result in total loss of function
 First time dislocation = assume fracture
◦ Care
 Immobilize and refer to physician for reduction
 Ice around the joint
 Following reduction, immobilization for at least 4
weeks w/ use of crutches
 After immobilization period, horseshoe pad w/ elastic
wrap should be used to support patella
 Muscle rehab focusing on muscle around the knee,
thigh and hip are key (STLR’s are optimal for the
knee)
CHONDROMALACIA PATELLA

◦ Cause
 Softening and deterioration of the articular cartilage
 Possible abnormal patellar tracking due to genu valgum,
external tibial torsion, foot pronation, femoral anteversion,
patella alta, shallow femoral groove, increased Q angle, laxity
of quad tendon
◦ Signs of Injury
 Pain w/ walking, running, stairs and squatting
 Possible recurrent swelling, grating sensation w/ flexion and
extension
◦ Care
 Conservative measures
◦ RICE, NSAID’s, isometrics for strengthening
◦ Avoid aggravating activities
 Surgical possibilities
PATELLAR TENDINITIS (JUMPER’S OR
KICKER’S KNEE)

◦ Cause of Injury
 Jumping or kicking - placing tremendous stress and strain on
patellar or quadriceps tendon
 Sudden or repetitive extension may lead to inflammatory
process
◦ Signs of Injury
 Pain and tenderness at inferior pole of patella and on posterior
aspect of patella with activity
◦ Care
 Avoid aggravating activities
 Ice, rest, NSAID’s
 Exercise
 Patellar tendon bracing
 Transverse friction massage
PATELLAFEMORAL & EXTENSOR
MECHANISM INJURIES

◦ Nonspecific pain to anterior knee

◦ Pain increases up and down stairs or squatting to
standing
◦ Pain after sitting for long periods of time
◦ Knee might feel like it is “giving away”, but instability
not typically associated with this injury
 Observations that may influence your rehab
plan
◦ Static alignment: alignment in a standing position
◦ Dynamic Alignment: alignment while patient is
moving
◦ Increased Q-angle
◦ Excessive femoral rotation
◦ IT band tightness
◦ Quad weakness or tightness
◦ Excessive pronation
◦ Tight hamstrings and/or calf muscles
◦ Patella alignment and structure
REHABILITATION
WITH ASPECTS
OF ORTHOTICS
KNEE BRACES
INTRODUCTION
 Active individuals need to protect their joints to
stay mobile and injury-free.
 Studies report that around 2.5 million people
check into an emergency room with knee injuries
each year in the U.S.
 The majority of these injuries happen during
participation in sports like basketball and
football.
 Knee joint is at a high risk for injury, especially in
individuals who participate in sports and other
vigorous activities.
CAUSES OF KNEE INJURIES

Causes of knee injuries include:

 Bursitis
 Tendonitis
 Ligament tears
 Worn-out cartilages
 Arthritis
 Muscle sprains
 Muscle strains
 A host of other problems.
CAUSES OF KNEE INJURIES
• Postural misalignment such as knock-knees or bow-legs
may also predispose a person to future knee injuries.

• Many people, from athletes to people with arthritis and

other knee problems, turn to knee braces for support or
pain relief.
TYPES OF KNEE BRACES/ORTHOSES

Knee braces fall into four general categories:

1. Prophylactic
2. Functional
3. Rehabilitative
4. Unloader/Offloader knee braces

We are going to learn about the difference between

each category, and in what circumstances we would
need a brace falling under that category.
1.PROPHYLACTIC

• Prophylactic knee braces are designed to prevent

and reduce the severity of ligamentous injuries
to the knee.
• It is most commonly designed and used by
athletes who play contact sports such as football.
• This brace helps to protect the MCL (medial
collateral ligament) against valgus knee stresses.
• It also protects the knee joints from being
injured again.
1.PROPHYLACTIC
2.FUNCTIONAL KNEE BRACES

• A functional knee brace is used to provide support to

knees that are already injured, either from playing a
sport or a fall.

• Also great for reducing rotation following an ACL

injury or tear

• Give additional support after ACL repair surgery.

• Used to support mild to moderate PCL or MCL

instability.
2. FUNCTIONAL KNEE BRACES
3.REHABILITATIVE KNEE BRACES

• Rehabilitative knee braces help in limiting

potentially harmful knee movements while a
person is rehabilitating after a recent knee
surgery or an injury.
• It works to protect a reconstructed or repaired
ligament and allow early motion of the knee
joint.
• It is a great tool to protect the knee joints and
ligaments to prevent future or recurring injury.
3.REHABILITATIVE KNEE BRACES
4.UNLOADER/OFFLOADER KNEE
BRACES
• Unloader/Offloader knee braces are designed to
provide relief to people who have arthritis in their
knees
• Specifically individuals who suffer from medial
compartment knee osteoarthritis.
• These knee braces are designed to unload stress from
the affected joint by placing pressure on the thigh
bone. This forces the knee to bend away from the
painful area.
• OA knee brace, can also be helpful for people who are
waiting to have knee replacement surgery and want
to take stress off their knees beforehand.
4.UNLOADER/OFFLOADER KNEE
BRACES
CONCLUSION

• Knee braces support the knee joints to prevent

further injury, while also reducing pain and
swelling.
• Knee supports are great for surgery recovery and
rehabilitation of the knee joints as well.
• A good brace will transfer the load off your lower
limb to your upper thigh, which helps to relieve
pain in the knee.
REFERENCES
 Various articles from American Family Physician
(www.aafp.org)
 Hoppenfeld Physical Examination of the Spine &
Extremities
 Netter’s Sports Medicine