Postoperative Knee Bracing After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Bracing for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury began in the 1970s and is widely used today for both nonoperative treatment and during the postoperative rehabilitation process. ACL braces are designed to shield the reconstructed ligament from increased stress or stabilize an ACL-deficient knee. The evidence to support routine functional ACL bracing for uncomplicated primary ACL injuries is limited. The decision to use a brace in ACL-deficient knees with collateral ligament injury is the individual physician’s choice. There is some evidence to support the use of bracing in ski athletes. Further research looking at functional bracing in high-demand contact athletes should be conducted to establish its role in the future.