Following both acute and overuse injuries, specialist orthoses such as knee braces or foot orthoses play an important role in the rehabilitation process. Many injuries can be managed conservatively, and an orthosis can enable activity whilst providing biomechanical support or restraint. 

Acute injuries

Typically when people think of a sporting injury they picture a sudden event, perhaps during a tackle or a fall when the demand on a particular tissue exceed its capacity, resulting in a traumatic injury. Orthoses can be used to resist unwanted movement and enable effective healing of injured tissues by reducing biomechanical stress. Examples of acute injuries include: 

• Ankle inversion injuries (lateral ankle injuries, ankle sprains and ruptures)
• Knee ligament injury (including ruptures and strains). Commonly injured tissues include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial or lateral meniscus.

Overuse injuries

Overuse injuries are commonly seen when an individual increases training intensity, often when preparing for an event such as a marathon, or when undertaking a new type of exercise or sport. Orthoses can be used to reduce biomechanical stress on targeted tissues, helping to settle the injury effectively. Examples of overuse injury include:

• Patellofemoral pain (runner’s knee)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendinopathy
• Bone stress injuries
• Anterior ankle pain

Depending on the type of sporting injury, an orthosis may be beneficial to aid recovery or enable you to continue training or participating in your chosen sport. Feel free to contact us to discuss your specific case.