Click Here for Football Brace Pricing

The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most commonly injured ligaments in the knee.

The function of the ACL is to prevent excessive forward movement of the lower leg in relationship to the thigh, as well as limits rotational movements at the knee joint.

The ACL ligament is one of 4 important ligaments that stabilize the knee and prevent excessive or abnormal range of motion. Football, due to its high impact and high contact movements makes it one of the most common sports with ACL ligament sprains and tears. The question then arises that if there are so many of these types of injuries, why is there not more attention addressing the need for protective bracing.

Over the last decade, there has been more awareness of the need to protect the knee during these types of high contact and high impact sports. Many professional football players have utilized rigid knee braces following ACL surgery to continue their careers. As more studies are done, and the technology improves regarding the materials used in brace construction, it has become apparent that more athletes, both amateur and professional are wearing knee braces for both preventative purposes and after ACL surgery. More coaches and trainers have recommended braces to their players, especially those with previous knee injuries or instabilities.

Most ACL braces for football usually are metal or carbon fiber framed braces. This provides the maximum support level that can be obtained, without restricting movement of the knee joint. Fabric hinged braces are available for ACL protection, but they are limited in support, due to the flexibility of the material.

It must be understood that braces do not prevent injuries. Like airbags in a car, they reduce the severity of the injury. So if an athlete is going to be injured, the idea is to reduce the severity of the injury with additional support, thereby improving the prognosis and recovery period.

There have been arguments regarding the use of braces causing muscle atrophy, bone loss and weakness due to wearing knee braces. Although prolonged use of a brace can have such implications, there is no data to demonstrate that short term use during play or practice causes these types of complications. The risk of injury and surgery usually far outweigh any potential issue of short term muscle atrophy.

There will always be controversy regarding the use of these devices and the true effectiveness in protecting and stabilizing the knee during football. It is strongly advised that you consult with your physician, coach or trainer to determine if you would benefit from a knee brace.

Coconut Creek FL- July 26, 2010 –  The Brace Shop, LLC is please to be one of the exclusive agents for a revolutionary new orthopedic product known as the Freedom  Leg .  The Brace Shop is the premiere online store for medical extremity braces, supports and rehabilitation products.

This new orthopedic brace, which can be found at   The Brace Shop, helps patients walk with zero weight on the injured foot, ankle, knee or lower leg.

Many patients cannot use crutches to ambulate following trauma or surgery.  This relegates the person either to use a walker, wheelchair or stay non-weightbearing .  The application of The Freedom Leg allows patients to accomplish all of their day to day tasks without assistance.

The advanced carbon composite beams on the sides of the leg transfer the weight from the person’s thigh to the ground, creating zero weight on the foot. This is ideal for diabetic patients, suffering from neuropathic ulcerations of the foot that require complete non-weightbearing. The Freedom Leg can also be used for patients with lower leg and foot amputations.

The Freedom Leg also reduces the chance of disuse atrophy of the upper leg, which is normally seen with extended non-weight bearing.  Its unique shape encourages a near-normal gait. The Freedom Leg is now available at The Brace Shop.

About The Brace Shop, LLC

Based out of Coconut Creek, FL, The Brace Shop, LLC is a wholesale distributor and retailer of off-the-shelf extremity braces, supports and physical therapy and rehabilitation products.  By utilizing its tremendous buying power, The Brace Shop, LLC can offer special pricing not available in the retail environment.

The Brace Shop, LLC clients include athletes, sports teams, hospitals, schools, military bases and personnel, shipping all around the world. For more

information, visit http://www.braceshop.com

Media/Analyst Contact:

Stephanie Bregman

stephanie@braceshop.com

954-574-9720

Drytex Playmaker Brace

Neoprene Playmaker Brace

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber material designed to be flexible, durable, and to resist breakdown by water. Neoprene has been used for over 75 years. In its application to braces and supports, it is very form fitting and resilient to the stresses placed on it.

Neoprene is a very popular material for cold weather sports such as skiing and snowboarding, and is used extensively in water sports.

Neoprene braces are ideal supports to provide uniform compression over an extremity such as the knee or elbow. Neoprene’s heat retention properties is preferred by some to help ease the pain of a joint due to arthritis and muscle strain.

The disadvantage of Neoprene is know to many parents who pick up their child’s brace, with an odor that is hard to describe and tolerate. Neoprene is not a breathable material, and therefore retains the sweat and perspiration of the skin at the surface. Many people have allergies to Neoprene, causing skin rashes, blistering, itching and more severe allergic reactions.

Elastic material is not a good alternative as it does not stretch like neoprene, nor does it have the compressive qualities and durability of neoprene.

DonJoy developed a material referred to as “Drytex” as an alternative to Neoprene.

Drytex is a material made of a Nylon core and Polyester Lycra fabric, which retains the durability and compressive advantages of Neoprene, but is breathable and non-allergenic.

Drytex braces are more comfortable to wear compared to Neoprene, with the absence of the foul odor usually associated with its counterpart.

So how do I tell the difference between the two materials?

Simply lift the material up to light and stretch the material. If light shines through, it is a breathable material. If there is no light seen, it is probably neoprene.

If you are in a warm weather climate, and participate in sports such as Basketball, Football, Soccer, Tennis and Golf, then Drytex is an alternative to Neoprene. If you have allergies to Latex and Neoprene, Drytex is an excellent choice for support.

This material is only found in select manufacturers like DonJoy. It usually is not found in retail stores.

It is important to consult with your treating doctor prior to purchasing any orthopedic brace. There are many choices to be made when deciding which knee brace to purchase.

Brace Shop Home Page

Braceshop.com Launches Expanded New Website

Coconut Creek, Fl., July 15, 2010 — The Brace Shop, LLC today launched its new and expanded medical supply website called Braceshop.com, the premiere online store for medical extremity braces, supports and rehabilitation products.  With its expanded features and customer friendly navigation, Braceshop.com continues to lead by example over all its competition.

The new site, which can be found at http://www.braceshop.com, helps patients, athletes, physicians, therapists and other medical facilities choose from thousands of name brands, quality knee braces, ankle supports and other therapy devices.

“The site was redesigned to meet the tremendous demand from our large customer base,” said Stephanie Bregman, marketing director of The Brace Shop, LLC. “Customers can easily navigate from a wide range of options from the type of brace required, manufacturer, the type of condition the patient is suffering from, or from the sport they are participating in. With the addition of Twitter, You Tube and Facebook, we are expanding our customer base and providing a wealth of information for all of our clients.”

As customers browse through the internet looking for products, they always seem to come back to The Brace Shop! There are hundreds of websites selling similar products.  Many customers become confused as to which product is best for them. “We make it easy for our customers to find the right product,” said Linda Medina, director of customer service. “In this difficult economy, customers demand great pricing and great service. We deliver both! That is the reason for our tremendous success.”

With over 1 million braces sold, it is no wonder The Brace Shop is the site where the Pro’s go.

About The Brace Shop, LLC

Based out of Coconut Creek, FL, The Brace Shop, LLC is a wholesale distributor and retailer of off-the-shelf extremity braces, supports and physical therapy and rehabilitation products.  By utilizing its tremendous buying power, The Brace Shop, LLC can offer special pricing not available in the retail environment.

The Brace Shop, LLC clients include athletes, sports teams, hospitals, schools, military bases and personnel, shipping all around the world. For more information, visit http://www.braceshop.com

Media/Analyst Contact:

Stephanie Bregman

Stephanie@braceshop.com

954-574-9720

The ARMOR represents DonJoy’s strongest patient-ready knee ligament brace and is ideally suited for extreme and contact sports. The 1/8″ 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum frame of the DonJoy Armor provides maximum strength and stability in high impact and high contact activity.

Like any brace, there are advantages and disadvantages to wearing the DonJoy Armor that should be reviewed when comparing it with the new FULLFORCE knee brace.

The advantage of the Armor of course is the rigid frame and stability factor of the brace. Many athletes with severe instability of the knee utilize the DonJoy Armor for the most extreme sports. The Armor is also used as a protective brace and preventative support, when the athlete requires maximum stability and rigidity.

The price to pay for this rigidity and support is a heavier and thicker frame that may not be suitable for certain sports such as tennis, golf and running. The brace will also have a tendency to slip down with prolonged use. The addition of the FourcePoint Hinge adds additional bulk and a higher profile brace.

The New FULLFORCE design combines the two clinically-proven DonJoy technologies in one brilliantly performing brace. The 4-Points-of-Leverage System provides ligament stability and significantly reduces ACL strain. DonJoy’s upgraded FourcePoint hinge dampens knee joint extension, which increases flexion angles and reduces anterior shear forces on the tibia.

The result – less strain on the ACL and a considerable decrease in the chance of injury. Together, these two technologies add up to ironclad confidence.

Created for all activity levels, FULLFORCE’s sleek, low profile and exceptionally light weight have made it the go-to prefabricated brace for competitive and recreational athletes of all kinds.

An Anti-Migration band on the FULLFORCE anchors on the upper calf to prevent slippage. The swooping Thigh Cuff for inner thigh clearance is ideal for bilateral brace use. The FULLFORCE is essentially the donjoy 4-Titude with the new LoPro FourcePoint™ hinges, that do not stick out as much as the traditional FourcePoint hinges. Like the Armor Extreme, it is available in a short calf version for ski boot clearance.

If your sport or knee condition requires the most rigid support for maximum stability, the DonJoy Armor Extreme is still the benchmark knee brace.

If you are looking for a lower profile and lighter weight brace, the New FULLFOURCE should be of more consideration. Not as rigid as the Armor, the FULLFORCE still provides substantial support for most knee conditions, including acl, menisucs and collateral ligament instabilities. The FULLFOURCE is more comfortable to wear, and contours better around the thigh and calf. The FourcePoint hinge is indicated for acl instability, especially in repetitive kicking sports such as martial arts and soccer.

It is always recommended to consult with your treating doctor to determine the correct brace for your orthopedic condition. The content of this article is not intended to diagnose, treat any health problem or recommend any brace.

Dr. Kenneth Shapiro DPM is one of the advisers for Braceshop.com, an online orthopedic brace store.

The Brace Shop is one of the fastest growing brace companies in the USA. They provide one of the largest selections of extremity braces, therapy products & accessories on the internet. The Brace Shop represents some of the most recognized manufacturers in the world of orthopedic braces and supports. No one can beat their prices, their service and their selection. For more information on the New DonJoy FULLFORCE Ligament Knee brace go to DonJoy FULLFORCE

Braceshop.com supplies hospitals, sports teams, schools, doctors, therapists, nursing homes & military bases around the world. Shop Where The Pros Go!

The most familiar muscle groups in the shoulder are the deltoid muscle and rotator cuff. The deltoid muscle is responsible to lift your arm up and away from your body. The rotator cuff is actually made up of four muscles that are designed to allow rotation of the arm. Under the rotator cuff and above the glenohumoral joint (the ball and socket of the shoulder joint) is a large bursa sac, that separates the muscle from the joint. The purpose of the bursa, like other bursa throughout the body is to absorb shock and forces placed on the shoulder, and to allow the muscles to glide smoothly around the joint complex.

It is possible to have bursitis with other injuries of the shoulder, such as tendonitis and muscle tears. Repetitive movements seen in such sports as baseball, tennis, racquetball and volleyball are common sports with shoulder bursitis. Football is another contact type of sport that causes shoulder damage due to impact and abnormal or excessive range of motion.

When the joint is damaged, there will be swelling and pain with movement. When the muscles are swollen around the shoulder joint, the bursa becomes irritated and inflammed, leading to pain, swelling and restricted motion.

Symptoms of bursitis are similar to tendonitis and capsulitis of the shoulder. Pain on palpation and range of motion of the shoulder occur. There may be weakness in the shoulder, pain at rest and restricted movement.

Your physician may treat the condition initially with ice, to reduce the swelling, pain and inflammation. Resting the shoulder is key to resolving the bursitis. Heat can be placed over the shoulder several days after the initial injury to improve shoulder mobility and increase circulation to the affected area. A shoulder sling or shoulder brace maybe needed to immobilize the shoulder and arm and allow the area to heal.

More severe cases require non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy and a cortisone injection to reduce swelling, pain and improve function. Bursitis may be caused by a bacterial infection that requires aggressive antibiotic treatment, so if the problem is not resolving in a timely manner, seek medical attention.

It is important that you consult with a physician before attempting any treatment for a shoulder bursitis. Most cases of bursitis can be reduced by proper conditioning, stretching, warming up and cooling down following activity.

One of the premiere websites that sells shoulder braces and shoulder slings for Bursitis and provides a wealth of information on these types of shoulder injuries is www.braceshop.com .

The Brace Shop, LLC. is one of the fastest growing brace companies in the USA. They provide one of the largest selections of extremity braces, therapy products & accessories on the internet.

Dr. Kenneth Shapiro

PM Images/Getty Images

 Recently, Dr. Constance R. Chu, the Albert Ferguson associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Cartilage Restoration Center there, confirmed a theory, and found herself troubled by the results. It turned out that if you dropped a heavy weight onto parts of a cow’s knee joint from various heights, the joint was hurt. (While the parts of the joint were damaged, the cow itself was uninjured by the experiment; the knees came from a local abattoir.) When the weight hit the joint’s surface cartilage with great speed and force, the bone and cartilage fractured. No surprise there. But it is what happened in Dr. Chu’s experiment when the impact was more subtle — closer to, for instance, the perturbations inside a human knee when a ligament is torn — that concerned her. She found that with lighter impact, the various parts of the knee appeared, visually at least, to be fine. But when Dr. Chu and her colleagues examined the cartilage cells just below the placid surface, they found carnage. “Many of the cells within the impact zone” — the area that had been directly thwacked by the weight — “were dead,” she said. They died instantly. More insidiously, other cartilage cells, those outside the injury site, began to die in the hours and days after the impact. “We saw an expanding zone of death,” Dr. Chu said. By the end of her group’s planned observation period, four days after the impact, cartilage cells well away from the original injury site were still dying. The results are fascinating, in a gruesome sort of way. But why should escalating damage to cows’ cartilage matter to the average active human? Well, Dr. Chu says, this study, which was just published in the December issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine, in conjunction with other researchers’ findings, may help to explain why, she said, “I’m seeing so many patients in their 20s and 30s with knee arthritis after joint injury.” Human knees (as well as bovine ones) are remarkable instruments, able to bear large loads and pivot in multiple directions. But they also damage easily, as evidenced by the approximately 175,000 anterior-cruciate-ligament-reconstruction operations performed in the United States every year, a number that, by all estimates, has risen steeply in the past decade or so. (No agency tracks the procedures.) Many of these operations are being done now on teenagers, who rip an A.C.L. during a soccer or basketball game. (A.C.L. operations were relatively uncommon in young people before youth sports grew so popular.) Others are in men and women in their 20s and 30s who fall on the ski slopes, for instance. What has been less remarked upon is the concomitant growth, Dr. Chu says, in cases of exceptionally early-onset arthritis. Once a disease associated primarily with people past retirement age (and still most prevalent in that age group), osteoarthritis, or degeneration of the cartilage in the knee, has been showing up in much younger people lately. “It’s not only in my practice,” Dr. Chu said. “Most orthopedic surgeons are seeing very young people with very old knees.” An early and mass death of some of their cartilage cells may help to explain why, Dr. Chu says. If the results of her cow study can be extrapolated to human knees, then it’s possible that ripping an A.C.L. doesn’t damage just the A.C.L. The trauma from the incident affects the knee’s cartilage cells, too. These cells make up the tissue that coats the ends of the knee bones. Without this coating, the bones rub against each other. Pain and disability can follow. It’s not yet fully clear, Dr. Chu says, what kills off the cartilage cells located away from the injury site. “The cells could have been injured by the initial impact, not recover and die,” she said. “They could be killed from exposure to noxious substances released by cells that have died. It could also be a combination of the two.” The result is a patch of cartilage in the knee that no longer functions well, if at all. “In a healthy knee, the cartilage is repairing itself all the time,” Dr. Chu said. “But if one loses too many cartilage cells, there can be too few cartilage cells to repair and maintain the cartilage in good condition.” Related More Phys Ed columns Faster, Higher, Stronger Fitness and Nutrition News Unfortunately, the damage to the cartilage cells is invisible, Dr. Chu says. The dead or dying cells don’t show up on a typical M.R.I. scan. “The surface” of the cartilage “looks fine,” she says. The knee, in fact, after the A.C.L. reconstruction surgery, seems to have fully recovered. People return to full activity, including soccer games or skiing, “without realizing that their cartilage is weaker now,” and more prone to re-injury and disintegration, resulting in arthritis. Not everyone who suffers an A.C.L. tear or other serious knee injury develops early arthritis, of course. “Right now, a good guess is that about 50 percent” will have clinical arthritis “within 5 to 10 years” after the injury, Dr. Chu said (meaning, for a 15-year-old, by the time he or she is 20 or 25, and for a 30-year-old, probably before he or she turns 40). “That’s quite a large number.” Dr. Chu and many other researchers across the country are trying to develop methods to determine which people will develop arthritis after a knee injury and why. “Many labs are interested in this question,” she said. But for the moment, no one has had much success. There also are no treatments yet available to slow or stop the deaths of cartilage cells in humans due to an injury. But, Dr. Chu says, one possible response is to “avoid overloading” the injured knee, to coddle the joint, perhaps a little more than might feel necessary. “You may want to alter your activities, even if the knee seems recovered and feels fine,” she said. “Maybe choose bicycling over marathon running,” she said. (For those who recall an earlier Phys Ed column about how running does not appear to harm knees, that finding applied to people who’d never suffered a major knee injury in the past.) The expectation, Dr. Chu says, is that the remaining, weakened cartilage cells will be “protected from a second assault that they might be able to resist when healthy, but are more vulnerable to after injury.” If you are careful with the knee, in other words, you probably lessen your chances of developing arthritis. But that’s not necessarily a message active people want to hear. “I just had a teenage girl in here who’s only three months out” from an A.C.L. reconstruction, Dr. Chu said. “She felt great and wanted to know if she could go ski. It’s hard to tell someone like that that you just don’t know if she’ll ever have a completely healthy knee.”

Phil Jackson is Feeling Much Better

By Mike Bresnahan
LA Times
November 13, 2009

The smaller things in life ate away at Phil Jackson the last few years.

He felt the toll of 12 seasons as an NBA power forward whenever he stood for too long. Or shifted in his seat at a movie theater. Or simply walked from the locker room to the team bus.

The Lakers’ coach had chronic pain in his back, hips and knees, sometimes skipping games to rest his body.

But Jackson, 64, is feeling better than he has in years.

He is wearing an “unloader” brace on his left knee and seeing the benefits of years of physical therapy.

“I feel really good,” he said Thursday. “I have a device that really takes away a lot of the discomfort that I’ve had. That’s a real big relief for me as far as just having to deal with some issues when I stand or walk. I’m much better that way.

“As far as the edema that I was kind of suffering from flying, obviously, we haven’t been out on the road very much, but that’s well-controlled.”

It brings up a natural question. Because he’s feeling better, is he back next season?

Jackson is in the last year of a contract that pays him $12 million this season, and Byron Scott, who has expressed a desire in the past to coach the Lakers, was fired Wednesday as coach of the New Orleans Hornets.

The Lakers want Jackson back next season, for obvious reasons, and negotiations would be hassle-free, possibly starting as soon as Jackson picks up the phone and calls Lakers owner Jerry Buss.

Jackson typically goes through a health checklist after every season before determining whether to return.

For once, though, health wasn’t the main concern for Jackson when asked about coming back next season. Rather, it might come down to the Lakers’ playoff success . . . or lack thereof.

“It’s all about the season, playing together and how we’re going to do,” Jackson said. “I think that’s the only way you can address it right now.”

Jackson has had both hips replaced and underwent an angioplasty in 2003 to clear a blocked artery in his heart.

The knee brace he is wearing is custom-made, meant to “unload” pressure on the knee by applying more weight on the thigh bone and shifting it away from the knee itself.

Players and team personnel have noticed Jackson’s changed disposition this season.

“When you have a bad back, it’s easy to be grumpy,” forward Lamar Odom said. “I’m not saying that P.J. was grumpy, but most likely, he’s feeling good now.”

Scott scuttled

Scott, 48, was replaced Thursday by New Orleans General Manager Jeff Bower after the Hornets started out 3-6. Scott was in the last year of his contract.

“I think we’re all surprised,” Jackson said. “It’s pretty early in the season. I know that firing’s very hard on owners, but usually the players fire the coach before the owner has to fire him. The players stop responding to the coach. This is a league in which attendance is a key that drives what we’re going to do. Teams have to be able to compete on the floor.”

For more information on this brace, go to http://www.braceshop.com/productcart/pc/Ossur-Unloader-One-Arthritis-Knee-Brace-42p496.htm

What makes the Active Ankle T2 so popular in volleyball?

The Active Ankle T2 provides 54% more stability than competitive products. The solid shell transfers some of the weight-bearing forces around the injury site up into the lower leg to help reduce pain.

A Drexel University study showed the brace reduced by about 8% the weight carried by the heel bone-equal to 12-pound unloading during ambulation in a 150-pound person. Bilateral hinges allow unrestricted flexion of the ankle assisting in a faster return to activity.

The T2 features a durable, quick-fitting single strap system that is adjustable for both high- and low-top shoes. Combined with feather-light E.V.A. padding that hugs every contour of the ankle the T2 offers a sleeker, less bulky brace while still offering maximum performance and protection.

The patented design reduces pain, increases stability by controlling medial/lateral motion of the calcaneus (heel bone). Bubble flex pads provide intermittent compression to massage edema away during ambulation. The solid U-shaped brace locks the ankle in place by surrounding it in a hard shell. Full elastic back ensures complete unrestricted blood flow to the Achilles’ tendon and virtually eliminates the chance for blistering. A short curved seamless arch virtually eliminates irritation to the bottom of the foot.

Robert Grey M.S. ATC, who is a coordinator of Athletic Training for The Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Division, endorses the T2 because many school and athletic programs have limited budgets and resources for expensive braces. The T2 is easy to fit, rigid in construction and provides the support & durability to last a full season.

The T2 accommodates a wide variety of shoe gear, so volleyball is not the only sport this brace is ideal for. Basketball, Tennis, Racquetball and other court sports have had tremendous success with the versatility and durability of this sure winner. For more information about this brace including sizing information, CLICK HERE.

If you are a coach or trainer, looking for a brace that all players can wear, look no further. If you are an athlete, talk to your doctor or therapist about the Active Ankle T2.

For more information on our full line of braces, visit us at www.braceshop.com or call us at (866) 325-8045.

It is always recommended to consult with your treating doctor to determine the correct brace for your orthopedic condition.

The AirCast AirSport™ Ankle Brace has proven itself over the years as the benchmark for all stirrup ankle braces.

The AirSport™ Ankle Brace incorporates clinically proven Air-Stirrup® Ankle Brace features, such as a semi-rigid shell and aircells, to provide comfort and support. Additional compression and stabilization is provided by ATF (anterior talofibular) cross strap and integral forefoot and shin wraps.

The unique “step-in” design (toes first inserted into the back of the brace) and automatic heel adjustment make the AirSport™ extremely fast and easy to put on. This design also prevents excessive movement of the brace within the shoe.

The AirSport™ Ankle Brace is used in a wide variety of sports activities, with only certain limitations. Some sports that require cleated shoes may not have the room to accommodate the AirSport™. Baseball, football and soccer may require a lower profile brace to fit into cleats. The AirCast A60™ is a great alternative if that is the situation an athlete faces. The A60™ is similar in function to the AirSport™, but less bulky and a lower profile brace.

The AirSport™ is ideal for all indoor and outdoor sports where ankle protection and increase stability is required. Many patients wear the AirSport after an injury has healed for additional protection from reoccurrence due to chronic instability.

Patient feedback has been remarkable, given the choices available in the brace market. It is available in a wide range of sizes to accommodate most shoe sizes. For more information on this brace including sizing CLICK HERE.

If your shopping for an ankle brace that offers maximum support, with comfort and proven reliability, then look no further. This is the brace for you!

For our full line of braces, visit us at www.braceshop.com or call us at (866) 325-8045.

** It is always recommended to consult with your treating doctor to determine the correct brace for your orthopedic condition.