Category Archives: braces Supports

Magnetic Tennis Elbow Brace – How Are They Better?

October 26, 2011

For several years, magnetic therapy has been used in our country, as well as in other countries. There have been accounts of great results. The magnetic tennis elbow brace is only one of these therapy devices. Why does magnetic therapy seem to work?

There are electromagnetic fields in the body, caused by the moving of charged particles of different chemicals in the body. Magnetic therapy works because it brings these particles back to the position in which they should be in the body. Pain is caused by the ions, or charged particles, being changed or rearranged inside the body. when there is an injured area, placing magnetic materials on the area will cause the blood vessels to relax and more blood will flow into the muscles and other tissues around the area, therefore increasing the amount of oxygen and other materials carried by the blood, to enter the area that is having the pain. this blood flow restores the ions to the area, thereby easing the pain,

The magnetic tennis elbow brace, as well as other magnetic products, can be used as a pain preventive. it can be worn while playing tennis to keep the ions in the body from being rearranged. if worn on areas that are prone to strains caused from playing tennis, they can protect these areas which are often stressed and become swollen and painful. you can also get magnetic braces for the back, which are often used while exercising, to keep the back area from being stressed.

Magnetic therapy is being widely used today, and has shown some amazing results. it has been shown to be very effective. There are reports that have shown that this type of therapy has worked for various kinds of sports injuries. it has been used in some foreign countries and has shown great benefits for a wide range of conditions.

The magnetic tennis elbow brace is a brace for the forearm which has a strong magnetic field to ease and comfort strains caused from playing the game of tennis. it is effective because of the strong magnetic field that passes through the injured part or the body, going much deeper than the injury, keeping the ions moving normally though the body.

Magnetic therapy has been used effectively for sprains, strains, inflammation and stiffness in knees, elbows, backs, and other parts of the body that are subject to any of these maladies.

When choosing a magnetic device, you may need help in selecting the correct strength and the size for your particular need. They come in all different sizes and strengths, making it important to find the one for your own type of injury.

Magnetic devices are made of different materials that allow your skin to breathe and prevent heat buildup. There are different strengths, sizes, and different magnetic strengths for your use. you should select a device that is padded well, so that it will be comfortable to wear.

Magnetic therapy is safe for most people. if you are pregnant you should not use it. also, if you have a pacemaker, or some other type of medical device that you must wear, you should not use magnetic therapy without first talking to your physician about it, and be sure to follow his directions.

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Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace

October 1, 2011

The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, or CTS, is an injury caused by the pinching of nerves in the wrist. the known symptoms are pain in the hands, fingers and wrist, especially during activity, abnormally weak grips on objects and swollen fingers.

If you suffer from such a condition, specialists recommend wearing a carpal tunnel wrist brace during activities like use of computer, cooking or household chores. Always go for a brace that fits your hand like a glove, leaving your fingers out and securing your wrist in a neutral position.

Carpal tunnel wrist braces come with adjustable straps around the wrist, which should be fastened so that you can barely bend your wrist backwards and forwards, yet not too tight, to allow blood to circulate.

If you feel your hand has gone numb, or is getting a purple shade, you should loosen the straps, as you are putting pressure on either the nerves or the blood vessels. Also, you should take regular breaks from using your hands (some recommend at least ten minutes every hour), remove the brace and move your wrist in several directions.

If you wake up with wrist aches, you should put on your wrist brace when you go to sleep. It will help you rest better by keeping the wrist in the right position, in case you roll around in your sleep. since you will be wearing it for many hours during sleep, make sure the straps are not too tight.

Carpal Tunnel Brace

If you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, it is highly recommended that you also purchase a wrist rest for your keyboard in addition to the carpal tunnel wrist brace and make sure you learn about proper hands and arms position while typing. Carpal tunnel syndrome is frequent amongst programmers and other heavy computer users who don’t follow some basic working position tips. You can find wrist rest kits with almost any computer retailer.

When shopping for carpal tunnel braces, some of the best deals can be found online. Large retailers usually team up with country distributors or even manufacturers and can offer you far better prices than the corner drug store. A little comparison shopping will get you the best rate out there.

Plus, you get to order it from the comfort of your living room or office, without having to drive from store to store to get your favorite model. Wrist braces are usually relatively inexpensive, often seen for $30 or less. Be sure to check if your online purchase qualifies for free shipping, so that the S&H costs don’t dramatically increase the price of your carpal tunnel brace.

Last, but not least, keep in mind that CTS can result in heavier nerve injuries, if not taken care of properly. if you feel that your carpal tunnel wrist brace doesn’t work for you, get in touch with your physician for further advice.

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Health Claims For Bio-Magnetic Therapy

September 26, 2011

The medical applications of magnetism are no longer just relegated to such things as high tech diagnostic devices, like the MRI, and magnetic dental implants. The health claims attributed to magnets have many people donning magnetic jewelry, sports magnets and other forms of bio-magnets. Some studies have indicated that bio-magnetic therapy may provide an alternative form of therapy for injuries.

There has recently been a resurgence of interest in using the basic principles of magnetism to treat pain and discomfort. Various athletes wear flexible coated magnets in lumbar supports, in knee braces, wrist bands, elbow supports, ankle supports, sewn into clothing or in their shoes. These flexible magnets are very popular with golfers and can be found in many pro-shops. Magnetic bracelets are also very popular but generally make no specific health claims. there are even whole body magnet kits for sale that include a variety of flexible and wrap-around magnets for any part of the body Some people sew flexible magnets into clothing to wear while exercising or training. but be careful wearing magnets, of any type, during contact sports could cause injury to you, your teammate or your opponent.

Magnet therapy dates back to the time of Plato when they were used to treat muscle spasms and gout. During the middle Ages, people placed magnets on the skin in an attempt to attract diseases out of the body. Today magnets are theoretically used to affect red blood cells (which contain iron) as they respond to a magnetic field causing the cells to become more active. Supposedly, more active red blood cells use more oxygen thereby causing a more rapid healing. Bio Magnetics International claims that magnetic therapy causes a quicker removal of lactic acid from overworked muscles, resulting in a faster recovery time, and a change in the migration of calcium ions that aid in the removal of toxins from arthritic joints. The magnet’s negative pole (N pole) appears to contain the healing energy. Negative electromagnetic fields appear necessary for healing to take place.

Medical claims include: temporarily relieving pain and stiffness, helping to heal bone fractures, treat restless leg syndrome, treat severe depression (replacing electroconvulsive treatment) and to assist in the maintenance of peripheral blood flow. Magnets have also been shown to decrease pain in diabetic peripheral neuropathy and post-polio pain, but pain returned when magnetic therapy was discontinued. there are also on-going studies using magnetism for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Some sources suggest that more than 70% of those who tried biomagnetic products have found some level of improvement for their condition. around the world, magnetic-pulse therapy is used to treat thoroughbred horses with leg and spine injuries.

Research has shown that when charged particles pass through a magnetic field perpendicularly, they generate an alternating current that generates heat, expands blood vessels and increases blood flow with increased oxygen and nutrients to heal an injured site. Although magnet therapy may help to relieve pain and discomfort, it is not an accepted medical treatment and a medical doctor should be consulted for any serious condition. more controlled studies are needed to determine the best strengths of magnets and to determine any dangers or side effects.

If you decide to try magnet therapy, choose a magnet with its strength labeled. A magnet’s strength is measured in gauss. The higher the number the stronger the magnet: usually 300 to 500 gauss. Your favorite magnet on the fridge is about 60 gauss

The jury is still out on determining the optimal magnetic field for specific medical conditions. when more studies are done, you’ll know whether your magnet is too weak, too strong or just right for your condition.

Note: A physician should be consulted prior to using magnets and to rule out possible medical conditions. Don’t stop any treatment that you are on without the consent of your physician. Make sure your physician is aware of any shrapnel or surgical screws and pins in your body. Don’t use magnets at the same time as you use an electric blanket or electric heating pad. Magnets should not be used around a pacemaker or implant or if pregnant.

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Bowling Wrist Supports – To Wear Or Not to Wear?

September 8, 2011

Wrist supports are one of the most widley used bowling accessories. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials with each boasting different benefits. most bowlers usually attest to the fact that it keeps their wrist stable throughout the shot and gives them more consistency, revs and power at the pins.

Why I Don’t Recommend them. With all the benefits touted by their manufacturers it’s surprising to most people that I rarely if ever recommend them to anyone. allow me to explain. Bowling at the high level requires the bowler to be skilled enough to change the ball roll depending on the conditions on the lane. this is done by manipulating the wrist position not only up and down, but side to side as well. Keeping your wrist locked in to one position really limits the required versatility to perform on a vast array of conditions. While bowling on a typical house shot you might be successful, you’ll inevitably encounter a more difficult sport condition with multiple lane transitions that will leave you wondering what could have been.

Lessons from the pros. But PBA member Mike Scroggin’s has been seen on television bowling with the latest and greatest wrist device. what do you have to say about that? yes I’d agree Scroggin’s definitely uses a wrist aid, but looking at the big picture he is definitely the exception and not the rule. the vast majority of the modern greats do not wear wrist devices. Think Walter Ray Williams Jr., Norm Duke, Wes Mallott, Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Parker Bohn III, etc. none of them use wrist devices in competition. in fact going through the list of the 50 PBA all time greats I don’t see any modern player that uses a wrist support.

Weak wrist? a lot of female bowlers as well as some male bowlers lack the strength in the wrist to get the reaction they want. if that is the case then there should be some serious considerations on starting a strength training program. Using a wrist support in this instance is akin to applying a band aid, rather than addressing the problem. in a matter of months a smart training program will give you all the strength you need to manipulate the ball roll, not to mention the added benefits of being fit and healthy. An elite level player should be training often regardless of wrist strength.

Youth Considerations. when working with youth I really advocate holding off on using a wrist aid and allowing the athlete to develop the necessary strength over time. once a youth bowler starts using a wrist device it’s rare to see them ever stop. it becomes a crutch and prevents their wrist from developing the strength they’ll need to take the device off.

Exceptions. While I said I rarely recommend wrist devices there still are times when they can be useful.

* Wrist Supports work great as a training aid. Getting your hands on an adjustable wrist support will allow you to practice the feel of different releases. a lot of the wrist devices only allow for one release, so make sure it is adjustable and see just how many different ball rolls you can do.

* Pain or an injury in the wrist or forearm can prevent someone from bowling all together. We see this a lot with senior players and even some younger players for a variety of reasons. if not wearing a wrist support would prevent someone from bowling then obviously go ahead and have at it.

* a recreational player that has no intentions of ever competing at a high level could certainly benefit from using one

If you are reading this and regretting the purchase of a stationary wrist aid don’t fret. if it’s leather wrapped they make excellent chew toys for your dog.

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Has anyone used the Velocity Ankle brace?

September 1, 2011

I had surgery last summer to repair a ligament and take out some excess bone chips, and have received the okay from my doctor to begin playing soccer again. he wrote me a script for the Velocity ankle brace. the brace looks like it would give great support for my sprain-prone ankle, but it also looks like it would make it hard for me to have the wide range of ankle motions needed to play soccer. has anyone had experience with the Velocity Ankle brace (LS) and could let me know how they feel about it? thanks so much.

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How To Deal With Tennis Elbow Pain

August 24, 2011

Tennis elbow is a common injury, also known as lateral epicondylitis, which makes you suffer with tennis elbow pain. this injury is known to be the inflammation of the tendons that greatly affect the outer part of our elbow. this injury is mostly suffered by tennis players, golfers, other sports participants and manual laborers. Yet, tennis elbow is not limited to be experienced by the ones mentioned.

It can happen to everybody. the symptoms of this injury can easily be detected through pain. When you are experiencing pain in the upper part of your elbow, pain when you try to flex your fingers, pain when you try to handle even some light objects such as a door knob, or pain when you try to lift a cup of coffee, then you must be suffering with tennis elbow. since chronic tennis elbow may be difficult to treat, you must not ignore any elbow pain that you may be experiencing.

Pain is an indicator that there’s an irregularity in your body coordination.

The symptoms of this painful condition include:

(a) unhurried increase of pain around the outside of the elbow, where that pain may suddenly develop;

(b) worse feeling of pain when shaking hands or squeezing objects;

(c) worse feeling of pain as you stabilize or move the wrist with force such as lifting, opening jars, or even handling of simple utensils.

This condition cannot be diagnosed from blood tests and, rarely by X-rays. Usually, it is diagnosed by how you described the pain to your doctor and certain findings from a physical exam. Specifically speaking, pain is being experienced about 1 to 2 centimeters down from bony area at the outer part of the elbow, pain is being felt at the outer part of the elbow when the hand is bent back at the wrist against resistance and, pain is being felt when the part just below the outer part of the elbow is pressed.

The pain hinders you from living a normal busy life. it should be dealt in with accordingly by treating it. the treatments can be done through strict medical procedure like anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections or surgery. the help of medical personnel is vital for this kind of treatment. this type of treatment prescribed for the injury is based on several factors that include the age, medical history, type of drugs being taken, general state of health, and severity of pain.

The objectives of this are to promote healing, to lower down the stress and abuse on the injured elbow and to reduce pain or inflammation. another way of treatment to relieve elbow pain is to apply ice or cold therapy to the elbow for about 15 minutes. the cold therapy must be done for up to six times a day. this aids in reducing pain and/or inflammation. you can also wear brace or support to protect the tendon while healing.

For the use of elbow braces and supports can protect the injured elbow and promote healing to it. the use of elbow braces and supports are not to mask the pain but to aid in healing. the performance of proper exercises and stretching helps in promoting healing for it assures proper blood circulation. Most importantly, rest should be considered as an extreme component in the healing of tennis elbow. Rest is a must. Elbow pain can never be taken for granted for it forbids you to live your life normally.

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Can wearing knee support prevent injury while running?

August 15, 2011

I have seen a lot of people lately who wear knee support while running. They look like tight neoprene with a hole for the knee (I'm assuming so it is easier to bend). would these be beneficial for longer distance running to prevent injury? Thanks.

They can help. Some other things you can do; Wear good shoes, run on soft surfaces, stretch well before running.

Knee support is great for recovering from an injury. Even after you are fully recovered, it does not make much of a difference if you wear them because all they do is provide support. Some people claim (without any evidence) that if you wear them too long, your leg muscles become too dependent upon them, weakening critical muscles in the legs. I have never known this to be true, and I often find people come back stronger runners than before. this is most definitely because they have been continuing practicing, not because the knee support gives them an edge.

Most of the runners I know do not wear them to prevent injury, and I personally do not see why you should. as the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". if you want to wear them to prevent injury, you can, but they get hot and bothersome after a while.

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Patellofemoral Knee Pain – An Overview of PFPS – Braces That Help

June 19, 2011

Is your kneecap unstable?

Do you suffer from knee discomfort at the same time?

When you experience either one of these issues, it can be a very unsettling experience.

If you have ever had this happen to you, you might be seeing early signs of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) – an Overview

The term “PFPS” can also be known as “anterior knee pain” and/or “runner’s knee” in different medical information that you will find.

There are many muscle groups and ligaments that help control the movement of the patella. The patella and the femur come together to form a joint known as the patellofemoral joint. this joint is made up of muscles, soft tissue attachments and the trochlear groove where the patella moves along. As long as it stays “on track” you probably will not experience any patella deviation.

PFPS is a knee condition in which people usually indicate that they have pain “around” or “under” the kneecap. sometimes this condition is also referred to as chondromalcia patella, but various medical authors have disagreed on the validity of this statement…

Typically, your kneecap is designed to move smoothly along a groove on the femur or thighbone, called the trochlear groove. PFPS, is believed to be related to poor kneecap (patella) “tracking”.

The patella can be pulled off the track of the trochlear groove and can deviate off of your true knee center position. this can occur when the front thigh muscles are weak and imbalanced, causing pressure and strain on the cartilage on the undersurface of the kneecap. – Patellar dislocations are more likely to occur when your knee is moving; this is more commonly seen in runners and athletes.

Causes of Poor Knee Tracking

There are four conditions that can predispose poor tracking of the patella along the femur, and it is important to see your physician if you believe you have one of these problems.

- Weak Quadriceps- The front thigh muscle or the quadriceps become weak and can cause an imbalance as the patella slides over the groove along the femur. A supervised strengthening exercise can help correct this poor knee tracking issue.

- Imbalanced Quadriceps – The four divisions of the quadriceps can become imbalanced. The kneecap is pulled off center as a result of the imbalanced pull by the outer quad and the inner quad. this condition deteriorates over time to become full blown PFPS.

Rehabilitative exercise can also help correct this imbalance of the quadriceps and correct the painful knee experience. if this is done at the early stages of the muscle problem you may be having, the condition may not deteriorate into PFPS.

- Weak Hamstrings – this imbalance occurs when the muscles in the front of the thigh (quadriceps) becomes stronger than the hamstrings. this condition can put a strain on the quads causing increased pressure on the femur and the kneecap.

There are two types of medical interventions used to help treat Patellofemoral pain syndrome- invasive and non invasive treatments.

Under a more severe condition, the surgical option might be recommended by your orthopedist (consult your physician for medical advice). The surgeon can either perform an arthroscopic lateral release, which will help correct the tracking of the patella, or do ligament tightening.

A support, sometimes referred to as a patellar tracking knee sleeve (or patella tracking knee brace) can be used to help limit any deviation of your kneecap. this is a very helpful support while you participate in rehab, especially when your muscles may be weakened. further, the use of a knee brace can relieve your knee of significant pressure and help ease the pain considerably. These supports should not be overlooked, and can really become your new best friend if you have knee problems such as PFPS.

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St. Joe tennis star returns from broken ankle to lead Indians

June 14, 2011

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A year ago, Alaina Roberts led South Bend St. Joe to a state tennis championship.

But two weeks into this season, disaster struck

“I fell down the stairs the day before spring break,” Roberts explains.

St. Joe’s top singles player broke her ankle in four places. The junior thought she would be back soon enough, but the recovery was tougher than she thought.

Then again—most would say the fact that she’s now back just two months removed from such an injury is better than she should have ever expected.

It doesn’t mean she’s always feeling great out on the court however.

“I had to take like four advil to stop the pain,” Roberts said about the normal routine these days. “Some matches it feels fine. Sometimes it hurts a lot.”

Wednesday was just her 5th match back. She was facing Penn in regionals and she hit a wall in the 2nd set due to unforced errors.

And the pressure was on. The team score was tied at one with the two other matches closing tight.

“i was just worried,” Roberts explained. “I knew our #2 doubles lost the first set. and I saw the #3 girl coming back on Darby. 3rd set I was pumped and excited to play my game again.”

And that’s what she did. Roberts rolled 6-0 in the 3rd set to send the Indians to Semi-State.

“It’s always exciting to be the winning match because you just know you have it and your team is so proud of you,” Roberts said.

Her teammates showed that, racing onto the court to hug Alaina. They know moving on probably wouldn’t be possible without her.

“Oh no,” says senior Jesica Rink. “We would have had a very tough time without Alaina. Ever since the first day she broke it, we were like, ‘wear your brace, do this, do that.’ just so she could come back for us.”

Roberts played at #1 singles last year. Since her return, she’s playing at #2 with Rink taking over the top spot.

The time away makes her appreciate all of it a lot more.

” i was kind of losing some motivation during the summer,” Roberts admits. “Now I just have all the more motivation to get back where i was, play well and help my team and support them.”

Exactly what you need if you’re looking to repeat as state champions.

St. Joe looks to book its ticket back to the state finals Saturday at LaPorte.

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