[One Day, One Thousand Characters] Toxic if Used for Long Hours or Periods... Everything About Knee Braces

Knees are something even active seniors need to be careful about. While it is important to climb stairs or mountains well, what is more important is descending. The impact on the joints is greater, and there is a risk of injuring the knees. Elderly people, in particular, often suffer from diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis due to aging, and falls frequently occur due to weakened lower limb strength. Many people wear knee braces to cope with or prevent arthritis or knee pain. However, improper use of knee braces or long-term dependence on them can actually be harmful to knee health.

One of the main causes of knee pain is arthritis. Between joints, there are cartilage, ligaments, and tendons that absorb physical shocks that may occur during body movements and help the joints move smoothly. Arthritis is a disease in which this cartilage is destroyed and inflammation occurs in the joints. When arthritis occurs, swelling and pain appear, and mobility decreases. Wearing a knee brace at this time supports the muscles around the knee and helps the joint move stably, thereby improving mobility. Especially during movements that put a heavy burden on the knees, such as going down stairs or walking downhill, wearing a knee brace helps reduce pain. Knee braces are worn even when there is no pain. Just as a back brace is worn during weight training, knee braces are worn to prevent knee injuries during intense lower body strength exercises or sports involving many jumps.

Types of Knee Braces

Knee braces are worn to reduce the load on the knees. They should be used considering the areas where pain and inflammation occur and the parts of the knee that receive impact. If the proper position is not found, unnecessary load may be added to the knee, or the knee force may be used in the wrong direction, worsening the pain. Before wearing a knee brace, it is best to consult a specialist to accurately understand the appropriate wearing position according to your knee condition. If the pain worsens after wearing the knee brace, do not hesitate to visit a hospital to find the cause.

Wearing a knee brace makes walking easier and temporarily reduces pain, so many people wear knee braces for long hours or extended periods. However, knee braces are only auxiliary devices used to manage arthritis and do not have a therapeutic effect. Above all, to reduce knee pain, it is necessary to strengthen the surrounding muscles and ligaments, but relying on knee braces reduces the use of muscles and ligaments, causing them to weaken gradually. Long-term use of knee braces to reduce pain can lead to a vicious cycle where arthritis worsens.

Knee braces are best used briefly when the knees are heavily used, such as when walking long distances or going down stairs. To reduce knee pain, it is important not to rely on knee braces but to strengthen the muscles around the knees in the long term to reduce the burden on the knees. Even then, excessive strength training should be avoided. Swimming, walking, and cycling are good exercises that build strength without putting excessive load on the knees. If overweight or obese, maintaining an appropriate weight through weight loss is necessary. The higher the weight, the greater the burden on the knees, and more impact is inevitably added when moving the knees. Additionally, avoid postures harmful to the knees such as sitting cross-legged, squatting, sitting on the floor, and descending stairs, and maintain healthy lifestyle habits such as quitting smoking and drinking to protect knee health.

Knee braces are supports that compress, fix, or support the knee elastically. Compression types are braces that compress or hold the knee elastically, in the form of straps or sleeves. Support types have hinges inserted to support or fix the knee. Compression braces available on the market are sold both as medical devices and as general consumer products. Compression braces are sold for various body parts such as knees, waist, and wrists, and some products have additional functions such as heating or air injection. Medical compression braces registered as medical devices only have standards for appearance and size, so quality control standards are insufficient, and compression bands sold as general consumer products have no separate standards, making it difficult to verify the actual product quality and safety.

Knee braces can have a negative impact on the joints if used for extended periods.
[Photo by Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine]

Last year, the Korea Consumer Federation tested 20 products on the market, and only three products registered as medical devices (one waist compression brace and two knee compression braces) passed all test items. All 20 products tested met the household textile product standards for arylamine and allergenic dye content. However, some products exceeded the standards for pH (hydrogen ion concentration) and formaldehyde. pH indicates acidity or alkalinity during textile dyeing and processing, and inappropriate pH can cause skin irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. Formaldehyde can cause visual impairment, skin disorders, and digestive and respiratory problems. The tested knee compression braces ranged in price from a minimum of 9,060 KRW to a maximum of 39,900 KRW, and waist compression braces ranged from 9,900 KRW to 69,300 KRW, showing a large price difference between products. There was no price difference between medical device-registered products and general consumer products. Products with knee massage functions can cost tens of thousands of won.