There are thousands of different knee brace options out there, and here I will help you work out what is the best for you. Knee braces provide different levels of support and fix to the knee in a number of different ways. They also come in different materials and vary enormously in price.
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You can split them according to manufacturer (eg Mcdavid, Body assist and Oppo) or type (e.g. hinged or straps, stays) or by protection level (e.g. basic or advanced)
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The best place to start is to work out what level of support and protection you need from a knee brace and then choose a style of brace.
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Basic: Level 1 Knee Brace
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Why would you buy this type? Low cost, very easy to put on, provides some support to the knee.
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Ideal for? Ongoing knee conditions that require a low level of support such as mild knee sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, cartilage irritation and arthritis.
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Advanced: Level 2 Knee Brace
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Why would you buy this type? Provides moderate support, long lasting, adjustable so fits better and is more comfortable
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Ideal for? Providing moderate levels of support and reducing the forces through the knee for e.g. mild-moderate sprains/ligament tears, arthritis, cartilage tears, Runners knee, Chondromalacia patella, Osgood Schlatters and patellar tendonitis.
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Elite: Level 3 Knee Brace
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Why would you buy this type? Provide maximum stability to prevent giving way. Some braces can be locked to restrict movement if required
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Ideal for? Knee that repeatedly gives way e.g. following complete ligament tears or following knee surgery.
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Knee Brace Styles
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Here is a simple guide to the most popular styles of knee brace available.
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Pull Up Knee Sleeves
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Knee Sleeves are easy to use and apply, these will provide some support and warmth to your knee. Perfect for people who get niggles when doing activities. These are generally the cheapest types of knee support. Great to have in the cupboard for those inevitable knocks!
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Wrap Around Knee Braces
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Velcro braces can be adjusted to fit your knee perfectly so they stay in place better than pull up ones. Some are open at the front for the knee cap (putting less pressure through it and allowing the knee to breathe) while others are closed all the way round. Some have side stabilising bars in them for extra support.
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Hinged Knee Braces
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Hinged knee braces provide much more stability than wrap around and pull on braces. You can set these braces to limit the amount of flexion/extension which can be important after knee surgery or if you have an unstable knee e.g. after an ACL tear.
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Magnetic Braces
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Magnetic knee braces have varying numbers of magnets sewn into them. Magnets are supposed to help increase the blood flow and reduce inflammation which can speed up healing time. Magnets can also supposedly have an impact on the nervous system which can help reduce pain. Personally, I’m a little sceptical on the benefits of this type of brace, but there are positive testimonials from users.
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Knee Straps
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Knee band straps offload strain from parts of the knee reducing forces through the kneecap and patellar tendon. They help reduce pain for overuse conditions such as Osgood Schlatters, chondromalacia patella, patellar tendonitis (Jumpers Knee) and Runners Knee. Also good for general anterior knee pain around the kneecap.
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