ACL BRACING
ACL injuries are often classified into three grades:
GRADE I: Mild Injury - the ligament is stretched, but there is no tear. It is a partial tear, and the knee joint remains stable.
GRADE II: Moderate injury- this involves a partial tear of the ligament. The knee may feel unstable, and there might be some loss of function.
GRADE III: This is a complete tear of the ACL. The knee is usually unstable, and the range of motion may be significantly affected.
Reconstructed knees returning to high risk sports, or the ACL deficient knee attempting dynamic movements, may benefit from Functional Ligament Bracing. ACL bracing can provide support post-surgery, aid in rehabilitation, provide protection and stability and assist with reducing kinesiophobia for clients post ACL injury.
The DonJoy 4-Points-of-Leverage System, first developed in 1980, remains the basis of all DonJoy ACL bracing options today.
The 4-Points-of-Leverage system is enhanced by the addition of the ACL specific FourcePoint Hinge, which utilises a spring mechanism to apply a gradually increasing amount of resistance as the knee extends. This reduces the amount of time in the "at risk" extended position and also offers a more natural gait by applying progressive resistance before reaching a firm end point.
MCL/LCL BRACING
The MCL is one of the most commonly injured ligaments of the knee. Valgus stress is the most common mechanism of injury. The LCL is less common and occurs when a varus stress is applied to the knee (e.g. sliding tackle).
GRADE I: Mild injury with minimally torn fibres and no loss of ligament integrity.
GRADE II: Moderate injury with an incomplete tear and increased laxity of the ligament.
GRADE III: Severe injury with a complte tear and gross laxity of the ligament.
Treatment for MCL injuries depends on the severity of the injury:
GRADE I: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E), along with physical therapy, are often sufficient for recovery.
GRADE II: This may also involve R.I.C.E, but bracing and a more structured physical therapy program are commonly recommended.
GRADE III: Severe cases may require more intensive treatments, and in some instances, surgical intervention might be considered.
BIOMECHANICS OF THE KNEE FOR ACL PATIENTS
Professor Jim Richards
THE ENOVIS BRACING REVIEW
The Enovis Bracing Review has been put together to help the experienced clinician complement their current practices. It has also been designed to help clinicians, who are new to the bracing journey learn about some of Enovis' more popular bracing options, how to select the correct brace, offer reasoning behind this selection and give fitting tips to help optimise the brace fit. Ideally our aim is to help you improve your patient’s rehabilitation and recovery outcomes.
Each chapter in this review is based either around an anatomical joint, a specific condition or a bracing type. In each of these chapters we have selected our most popular bracing options. Where appropriate we have added a Decision Tree to help simplify the selection process.
In some chapters you will also find a QR Code. These are linked to a short video, with one of our experienced clinical team members going through more extensive fitting hints and tips in their specific area of expertise.There are many other bracing options available at Enovis that offer subtle differences from those covered in this review.
If you would like to find out more information about any of our bracing and supports, Enovis' other medical devices or related services, then please contact our customer service team.
FUNCTIONAL LIGAMENT BRACING RANGE