Though helpful and important, braces do not ensure against reinjury. To promote compliance and achieve successful rehabilitation, physicians must understand the nature of the patient's activity, how a given brace works, the anatomy and physiology of the joint, and the patient's expectations and concerns. N ot too long ago, physicians, trainers, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals who treated athletes had limited choices for bracing injured joints for rehabilitation and competition. The sparse repertoire included taping, elastic bandages, and plaster casts. Brace manufacturers rapidly spin off new and sometimes costly brace designs and have the marketing clout to let the athletes and sports medicine communities know about them.
More people come up with more gadgets, some of which can help.
So physicians have to know the science of the gadget and the biomechanics of the gadget. But they have to know even more about the person they are using this gadget on. When we put these things on people, we need to understand why we are doing this and what the consequences are. It's a huge balancing act. To begin with, after injury, a brace is not a panacea.