ACL Braces
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The ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL are the 4 main ligaments of the knee. The ACL and PCL attach the tibia to the femur in the centre of the knee joint. They cross over each other as they are oppositely angled in the knee and, therefore, have opposing functions.
The PCL’s function is to prevent the tibia’s backward (posterior) movement relative to the femur.
Injury to any ligament will cause its function to be impaired. Therefore, braces can be helpful in the acute phase after injury to support the action of the ligament, stabilise the joint and allow the ligament to heal well, as excessive stretching of the ligament is avoided.
Different braces are needed depending on the level of injury and joint instability. The greater the instability with a PCL injury, the greater support will be needed to hold the tibia forward.
This compression sleeve is ideal for those injuries with significant swelling but low instability.
Compression and elevation are the best ways to reduce swelling, and compression is also an effective way of improving proprioception at a joint.
The Neenca hinged brace offers more stability than a compression sleeve while still offering some compression, which can benefit swelling.
The hinged structure provides better stability for the knee and is a good option for injuries with instability. This brace can also be used for sports.
Bauerfeind is a high-quality brand of PCL braces and supports. This is a durable, hinged and compression option.
This brace can be used for higher-grade PCL tears that need more support for the joint’s stability but still allow sufficient flexibility of the joint to participate in sports.
Buy Bauerfeind PCL Brace on Amazon
DonJoy is another leading brand for braces. This brace offers the most stability of all the recommended braces due to the length of the hinged arms on either side of the joint and the double strap design for a secure fit.
This brace does not offer compression but can be used over a separate sleeve if swelling is an issue.
Buy Donjoy PCL Brace on Amazon
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments weekly.