| There are two basic types of sports injury, overuse | | | | players can suffer. Small tears in the ligaments or |
| injuries and traumatic injuries. Fairly obviously, overuse | | | | meniscus can heal by themselves with the proper |
| relates to wear and tear over a period of time and | | | | treatment, though arthroscopic surgery is still |
| will result in damage to the body that begins to hurt. | | | | sometimes required. Major tears, such as damage to |
| Achilles tendonitis is a classic example of this where | | | | the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) will often require |
| pain begins to occur in the lower back of the leg. A | | | | surgery for sports participators, though a damaged |
| traumatic injury is a sudden one, like a muscle pull or | | | | medial collateral ligament (MCL) will heal itself.Again, |
| tear that happens without warning.Traumatic injuries - | | | | hinged braces with rigid metal supports provide most |
| AnklesOne of the most common sports injuries is the | | | | protection, particularly to the medial and lateral |
| ankle sprain, which can be either an inversion or | | | | ligaments. Unfortunately no brace can prevent ACL |
| eversion injury. Inversion is much more common due | | | | injury as this can occur with just a very slight twist |
| to the relative weakness of the lateral ligaments. | | | | of the knee, but a hinged brace will assist with |
| Where eversion does occur, damage to the stronger | | | | recovery from the injury. These hinged braces are |
| medial ligament will usually take longer to repair.There | | | | not suitable for wear while playing sports. More |
| are three basic types of ankle brace available, and | | | | suitable are stabilized knee supports, secured by |
| the most effective in the prevention of this type of | | | | straps, which are slightly less effective, but are not |
| injury is the semi-rigid hinged brace. Unfortunately this | | | | so restrictive and will not cause injury to other |
| brace is not ideal for wearing while playing sports as | | | | players. Neoprene knee supports will only offer |
| it will impair mobility and movement. The least | | | | moderate protection from the common injuries, but if |
| effective is the heat retaining neoprene type brace | | | | the requirement is to keep the knee joint warm to |
| which although keeping the ankle warm will not | | | | assist mobility, then these will suffice.WristsLike the |
| prevent sprains. The brace best suited to players is | | | | ankle, the wrist can easily be sprained, most |
| the laced type, which does offer a good level of | | | | commonly in a fall for sports players. The damage |
| protection, particularly from inversion.KneesKnee | | | | can vary from a micro-tear to a severe or even |
| injuries are often the most serious that sports | | | | complete tear of the ligament tissue. |