Pharmacies (and Amazon, too!) make it easy to purchase a compression sleeve or brace the minute pesky knee [1] (or other joint pain!) starts to flair up. But just because businesses have aisles dedicated to these products doesn't mean you should buy one blindly.
While you don't need a prescription to buy a compression sleeve — Brittney Everhart, PT, DPT, OCS, a clinical manager at CORA Physical Therapy [2] — notes that you should always talk to your doctor or physical therapist before wearing one because braces and supportive devices are designed to fill a gap where our body is not maximally performing.
Think of compression sleeves as a crutch — they should only be worn during periods of prolonged weight-bearing activity, high-impact [3] activity, if an individual feels pain or instability, or amid activities requiring loaded movements, she adds.
If you're professionally advised to wear a compression sleeve, make sure to ask what size is best for you. Everhart says that a sleeve will only reduce impact through an area, provide support to a joint [4], and create warmth to reduce stiffness if it fits properly.
"The size, fit, and comfort [of a compression sleeve] is more important than the type. You want to experience a compressive feel, but you do not want it to be too tight or constricting," she says.
Finding a product that fits right, feels good, and is physician-approved doesn't mean your research ends at the (virtual!) checkout.
According to Everhart, wearing a brace when not needed can cause our body and muscles [6] to rely on extra assistance. So, it's important to strengthen your body with pain-free movements outside the compression sleeve.
Try to think of your compression sleeve as a means to reduce pain during certain activities, until your muscles and joints [7] can be conditioned to overcome that discomfort without support.
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