When to use knee supports?

There are different reasons for using knee supports and there are also many different types - so it is not always easy to find the right model. This also means that knee supports can look very different and be made of a variety of materials. Most knee supports are used to provide stability, a sense of compression and warmth to the knee joint.

Some types of knee supports can be worn at any time because they are comfortable, supple and pliable. The material is often thinner, more elastic and breathable. They can be slept in or used as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of injury.

Other knee supports are ideal for certain specific situations: they may be designed to provide necessary stability to the knees while under stress, for example during exercise. They often cover more surface area, are made of sturdier materials or contain stabilising design elements. Such supports, or braces, may be used only when needed.

The right knee support or brace for injury

If you need a knee brace or knee support while recovering from an injury, you should choose one that will help your knee heal in the best possible way. Of course, the best one for your situation will depend mainly on the nature of your injury and how you will use the it.

Some injuries require rest, others require everyday exercise or an adapted training programme. Consult a doctor or physiotherapist about what you need to do. Knowing what you are dealing with and how best to treat your condition will also help you choose the right knee support.

Different types of knee supports, with Welltex®

Back on Track has a wide range of knee supports with different properties to meet many different needs. There are therefore knee supports in both thin and thicker, sturdier and stronger materials, both with and without extra supporting elements.

What they all have in common is the integration of Welltex® therapeutic textile technology. However, the minerals of Welltex® technology have been successfully incorporated into several different types of functional textile materials, resulting in knee supports with varying degrees of support, elasticity and stability. We therefore have knee supports that suit most people, and that can also be worn on most occasions. Find the right knee support at Back on Track!

Knee support for all occasions

Knee supports from Back on Track can be used before, during and after exercise or other physically demanding activity. They can also be used while resting - even while sleeping - and are considered to be particularly beneficial for recovery from training soreness, overexertion, stiffness and other muscle and joint problems. Many people use them because they provide a sense of compression and pressure on the soft tissues around the knee joint. 

Others use them for preventive purposes to reduce the risk of injury. As Welltex® knee supports can also favour recovery, they are often used during a period of rehabilitation. Use it in the way that feels best for you.

Welltex® for knee osteoarthritis

Many people use knee supports because they experience relief from symptoms caused by osteoarthritis or other inflammatory conditions of the knee joint. This effect is due to the high mineral content of the supports - the basis of Back on Track's well-known textile technology.

Infrared energy (FIR) can help increase blood circulation, which in turn can help reduce swelling and inflammation. This often makes the joint feel more mobile and less stiff.

A unique therapeutic effect

Welltex® knee pads contain a unique mineral composition whose function is to absorb the part of the body heat that is emitted in the form of infrared energy (FIR). This energy will exert a beneficial effect when re-radiated into the tissues. This can lead to increased blood flow in the area. When blood circulation is stimulated, it leads to a more efficient exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products.

Knee support that helps and relieves

Back on Track knee support is made of an ‘active’ material that can favour the body's own healing processes, through the reflection of infrared energy (FIR). The effect of such a support is often perceived to alleviate various problems caused by either injuries or degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis.

When your knee hurts and you still need to move - even perform exercise - you need a knee brace that provides good support to protect your knees. In the case of osteoarthritis, physical activity and properly adapted exercise are particularly helpful. Hence it's especially important to find a solution that makes it easier to accomplish.

When to use knee support

There are many reasons to use knee supports. Therefore, there are also many different types of knee supports, especially adapted to specific problems and varying situations. By wearing a protective knee support, you can provide more stability, warmth and support to your knees, thereby also reducing the risk of injury.

You should definitely use supports that provide a little extra stability if your knees feel weak or unstable. Anatomically designed knee braces with targeted patella support are used to keep the kneecap in place during exercise. Back on Track knee supports are also used for their therapeutic effect alone - and are considered particularly effective for osteoarthritis. We help you choose the right one!

Knee support for prevention

It's important to protect your knees - and it's obviously better to protect them from injury than to have to use knee braces for your rehabilitation.

Knee supports that provide support and stability reduce the risk of injury as they can also reduce the risk of improper use of the knee joint. Back on Track protectors contain Welltex® which can stimulate blood circulation, thereby also helping to keep the muscles a little extra soft and supple. The knee supports are therefore perfect to use for preventive purposes. Warm, flexible muscles also increase reaction speed - and that alone can help reduce the risk of injury.

Knee supports with Welltex®

All Back on Track knee supports/braces contain Welltex®, which can help increase blood flow in the area around your knees. This makes them perfect to use for preventive purposes. The same properties can also facilitate recovery and thus help your knees get better faster. 

Our supports/braces combine the power of Welltex® with different levels of support or relief - depending on the model you choose. However, many people use our knee supports simply for their beneficial and soothing effect on all kinds of knee problems.

Knee supports for extra stability

Knee supports can help support and stabilise the knee, the area around the knee or certain structures in and around the knee joint. ‘The ‘Patella Stabilising Knee Brace’ for right or left knee provides increased stability to the knee and targeted support for the patella. This more heavy-duty knee brace will hold the patella in place during exercise through its anatomical design. Broad hook and loop straps allow you to self-tighten it around the knee to the desired degree of compression.

Welltex® Tape

Welltex® Tape is designed to be used on the neck, shoulders, knees, arms or wherever you need it. Perfect for tricky areas, where our regular protectors have difficulty reaching or do not fit well. The tape is highly breathable and made of a soft jersey fabric

Welltex® tape for your knee

If you prefer to use tape instead of a knee support, we also have a textile tape containing Welltex®. The function of the tape is to apply the effect of Welltex® over joints and muscles. Put the tape directly on the site of the problem!

The tape has good adhesion, a soft and smooth textile surface and also has the advantage of being able to be placed with great freedom. If you want to use it to manipulate or support individual structures in the knee, first consult someone with the necessary knowledge of anatomy, such as a physiotherapist.

Knee band with built-in pad

‘The ‘Patella Knee Band’ is a firm band that is lined with Welltex® and has a built-in pad. It is used to relieve symptoms such as patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFSS) and can help speed up recovery after sports or work injuries. The band is placed just below the kneecap and provides support and relief to the patellar tendon. 

Knee supports when you sleep 
If you want to use a knee support while sleeping, they need to be soft and flexible and have an excellent fit, so that they stay in place. They should also be made of a relatively thin and lightweight material with good breathability - this is to ensure that they are comfortable enough to wear without interfering with sleep.

There are several knee supports in our range that are perfect for sleeping. Elasticated and tube knitted with the thread containing Welltex®, they are firm enough to provide adequate support and protection for your knees - but they will also exert the beneficial effect of FIR throughout the night.

5 benefits of using knee supports

It's easy to injure your knees. You need them for life, so it's a good idea to protect them! Knees are often used intensively during the day and are also loaded with the full weight of the body. The knee is a complex and delicate structure that is particularly important for mobility and therefore for quality of life. Hence, there are many benefits to using a knee support!

A knee support or brace:

• Provides warmth and keeps the muscles supple
• Provides support and increased stability to the knee joint
• Makes it easier to be active
• Helps keep knee structures in place
• Can reduce the risk of injury

Which knee support is best?

The type of protection that is best for you depends first and foremost on your own needs. Does your knee hurt when you put weight on it or does it hurt even at rest? Does your knee need support and better stability in everyday life, or will you only use the knee support during exercise?

Knee supports from Back on Track can be used during both training and rest, and also during a period of rehabilitation after a knee injury. They provide customised support with a sense of compression, which can make it a little easier for you to perform your usual activities despite knee problems.

3 tips on how to choose the right knee support 

When choosing the right protection or support for your knee, it is important to first think about what you really need and how you will wear it. If you have the answers to the following questions, it will make your choice easier: 

What kind of problem do you have with your knee?

There are many different types of knee support, but which one you need depends on the type of problem you have, or the type of injury you have suffered. You should consult a doctor or physiotherapist if you have severe problems or your knee does not improve after a short period of rest.

What type of knee support do you want?

Do you need support, warmth, stability and compression? Should the knee support provide targeted pressure to specific structures or hold the kneecap in place? Clarify your needs - then it will be easier to find the right solution.

When should you use the protection?

A stronger knee support with targeted support or fixed design elements is suitable if you are going to use it during exercise or if it hurts when you exert yourself. If you will be sleeping with it instead, choose a type of protector that is both soft and pliable.

Take care of your knees

A good knee support can make a big difference. However, there are many different types of knee support - so it's not always easy to find the right one. The feeling of compression, support and increased stability can definitely make using your knee easier and more comfortable. But stronger protection can also control the way you move your knee, and can therefore be used to limit harmful movements or reduce the risk of incorrect loading.

Why does my knee hurt?

Overexertion

Common knee problems such as jumper's knee and runner's knee are usually caused by some form of overload or overstretching of the tendons or connective tissues around the knee. Often, as the names suggest, it is due to overly strenuous exercise associated with sport. But the same problem can of course occur if the knees are overloaded in other contexts, such as at work.

An acute injury requires rest. Most of the time, this is enough for the symptoms to subside. A characteristic of this type of injury is that the same type of exercise that caused it also triggers the pain. Try to vary your exercise so that your knees are not subjected to too much repetitive strain.

Chronic conditions

If knee pain persists after months of rest, the injury may have progressed to a chronic phase. A doctor will usually recognise that the inflammation has resolved and that anti-inflammatory drugs will no longer be helpful. Resting will not make the knee better either. Instead, you may need personalised exercise and a period of rehabilitation.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease that causes the cartilage in the knee joint to start breaking down. This leads to swelling, pain and inflammation in the knee joint. The knee becomes stiff and difficult to move, especially after a period of immobilisation. Knee supports with Welltex® contain minerals that reflect infrared energy, generated by body heat. This can help reduce the problems of inflammation, swelling and stiffness that are typical of this common disease.

In both cases, however, you will probably be advised to keep moving despite the pain. Exercise your knees gently and according to the instructions of a physiotherapist, for example. A knee support that stabilises and supports the knee can make it easier to use, load and support it again. 

Movement is medicine

Movement, physical activity and everyday exercise are very important for health and well-being. It is therefore almost always better to try to stay active than to remain sedentary, at worst bedridden. However, this is easier said than done.

But when it comes to musculoskeletal problems, such as joint and muscle disorders, some exercise may be necessary and can actually provide relief and healing in itself. Daily exercise can even have a pain-relieving effect.

How to use a Back on Track knee support?

Back on Track joint and muscle protectors are very easy to use. There are different models, but they are either pulled up over the knee or placed over the knee joint and closed with Velcro. They have an anatomically customised design and a simple but thoughtful and careful construction. They are used before, during and after strenuous activity.

Their main advantage is the effect of Welltex®. At the same time, they provide a reasonably firm support with a feeling of compression, and hopefully make both everyday exercise and training a little easier to perform.

Our very first knee supports were developed for use with joint and muscle problems, with the aim of making physical activity easier despite the problems. We now have several different models in our range for use both during exercise and rest, and during rehabilitation from knee injuries.

When to use knee support? Frequently asked questions and answers!

Is it good to use knee support?

Yes, it is good and important to provide protection and support to your knees. Knees can easily be subjected to stresses that are greater than they can withstand, and it can take a long time to recover from an injury. It is definitely better to protect your knees and their muscles, tendons and joints by using a protector.

Knee supports are used for many reasons. There are also many different types of knee supports and they can have many different functions. Most provide some form of support, compression, warmth and protection. Choose a type of knee support that provides extra stability if you have a knee that feels weak or unstable. This is especially important if you are going to use it while exercising.

Can I wear knee support all day?

You can absolutely wear your knee support as much as you need to - as long as it fits well and is comfortable over your knees without getting too hot or feeling tight.

There are many ways to use knee support. If you want to wear them all day, you may want to choose a thin, stretchy and flexible material to fit under your clothes. If you also want to sleep with it, the choice of material is particularly important.

Can I use knee supports at night?

You can sleep with knee supports if they are not too tight or cause discomfort. A flexible and highly breathable material allows the skin to get rid of excess heat. Most Back on Track protectors are made of soft materials, making them ideal for night-time use.

A firmer knee support that is mainly used to prevent certain movements can be helpful at night as it keeps the knee in the right position even while you sleep.

How tight should knee supports fit?

Knee supports should fit around the knee joint with a reasonably firm grip but not cause discomfort by fitting too tightly. The feeling of compression should be comfortable, and it should be possible to bend and move the leg. It is particularly important that the protection does not restrict blood flow.