Bracing

We provide a variety of bracing that can prevent injuries, help you heal properly, or enable you to be more active. By providing support and stability, braces can reduce the stress on a joint and relieve pain. And by helping your joint to work naturally, braces can help restore your range of motion and physical abilities.

A patient being fitted for a custom knee brace by a physiotherapist.

Symptoms

Braces are used to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions that affect the joints. That includes everything from sprained ankles to dislocated shoulders. Just a few examples are:

A patient with an arm injury being supported by a brace.

Injuries

A pair of crutches.

Post-operative rehab

Icon depicting knee pain from IT band syndrome.

Joint conditions like Arthritis

A pair of athletic shoes.

Conditions related to Athletic Injuries

A patient with back pain from heavy lifting.

Jobs involving heavy lifting or repetitive motions

A painful joint with strained connective tissue.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS)

A knee joint with pain from jumper's knee.

Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee) and conditions related to Runner’s Knee

That includes conditions such as:

  • Knee injuries
  • ACL injuries
  • Meniscus tear
  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfer’s elbow
  • Elbow hyperextension
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Back pain
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Scoliosis
  • Herniated discs
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Chondromalacia

How does bracing work?

In a way, braces are similar to casts. They can help injuries heal properly and prevent further damage by restricting movement. However, there are many different types of braces to suit different situations. Here are the three main categories:

Types of Braces and Straps:

Prophylactic braces are used to prevent injuries. They are worn in situations where there is a high risk of injury, such as jobs involving heavy lifting or athletes who have had a past injury and want to prevent it from coming back. 

Rehabilitative braces are used after an injury to promote proper healing. They do this by immobilizing a joint, restricting movement, and providing compression to reduce swelling.

Functional braces allow more freedom of movement than rehabilitative braces, but are still specially designed to prevent abnormal movements and help injuries heal, They are often used to provide additional support to an injury and enable you to return to sports or activities sooner.

We can provide braces for practically any part of the body. Some common types of braces include:

  • Hinged knee braces
  • Wrist and thumb braces
  • Lower back supports
  • Elbow braces
  • Walking casts
  • Ankle braces
  • Leg braces
  • Osteoarthritic braces
  • Shoulder stabilizers
  • Pregnancy back braces
  • Rehab jackets
A patient putting on a lower back brace.

Getting the right brace

If you think bracing may be the answer you’ve been looking for, let us help. We can assist you in getting the right brace for your particular situation. Our knowledgable team of doctors and specialists have extensive experience in that area, and we can provide custom braces to suit your unique needs.

Cost and Coverage

Like most of our services, our braces are usually covered by extended health care plans. That includes the coverage you may have through an employer, auto insurance company, or the Work Safety Insurance Board. If you don’t know if you’re covered, give us a call and we can help you find out. We also can provide our treatment plans at competitive rates. You can give us a call or schedule a consultation today.

An icon for physiotherapy insurance coverage.

Activa has seven clinic locations that can provide bracing in Southern Ontario, serving communities including Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, Brampton, Kitchener, and Scarborough.

FAQ's

When your braces are put on, it helps you prevent knee injuries during sports or heal after an injury. Some doctors will recommend wearing a brace for knee pain.

Yes, it is safe to wear a knee brace all day. You should wear your brace all day or just for certain activities to maximize the healing process. On the other hand, wearing it too much or not enough can cause problems.

You should wear a brace for a sprained ankle for up to 6 weeks. This will keep the ligaments and joints in place while they heal. It limits motion, provides protection, and helps reduce paiin.

No, a splint is not supposed to hurt, but if a splint is too tight, it may cause increased pain, and your toes may swell. You may also feel numb and tingling in your hand or foot.

A splint usually stays on for about 3 weeks. Most fractures heal well. After healing, your knuckle may look different, or your finger may move in a different way when you close your hand.

Yes, you should sleep with a split on and try to wear it all night. On the other hand, if you have to get out of bed during the night, you should remove it since you cannot apply weight to the splint.