Can I wear a knee support while playing football?
Knee injuries are one of the most common injuries in football and can be caused by crunching tackles or the fast-paced cutting and turning manoeuvres carried out by players. So, to be more confident in your joint's stability and to get back on the pitch as soon as possible many people will wear a knee support.
A player would want to wear a knee support to provide support to the knee joint, reduce lateral and rotational movement, stabilise the knee cap or prevent excess movement. Additionally, a brace may provide warmth, compression and increased blood flow.
Although a brace will provide numerous benefits for the person wearing it what threats could it pose to another player on the pitch?
FIFA, the governing body of football across the world states that: “The vast majority of commercially manufactured supports are safe to use. These items pose less of a hazard than players accidentally banging heads, for instance." “The major concern is not the hardness of the equipment alone, rather it should be whether any part of it can cut or wound another player. Any support must be safe for all players and adequately padded if necessary.” However, due to the wide range of braces and supports available FIFA cannot apply a blanket rule, meaning the decision of whether a brace is suitable is down to each individual referee.Which Knee Support is best for football?
If you require a knee support when playing football, it is important to carefully consider the type of brace or support you purchase. There are 3 key factors to consider when selecting a knee support, these are:- The rules of the sport being played
- The type of injury that you sustained
- The level of support you are looking for