Knee Braces to Prevent Injuries in Football

In brief: Knee braces are used widely by linemen in professional and college football, and many coaches and team physicians believe the braces have reduced the number and severity of knee injuries. But questions remain about the strength of the braces, whether they prestress the knee in some cases, and, above all, whether they actually reduce injuries. This panel of team physicians says that most evidence of reduced injuries is anecdotal and that some limited evidence suggests that the braces actually increase injuries. While most of the panelists favor continued use of knee braces, they believe that more clinical and biomechanical research is necessary to establish their value.