A knee brace (or support or splint) can play a critical role in reducing knee pain and helping the joint recover from various types of injury.
A knee brace can provide support and/or compression to help heal many common causes of knee pain. These include Jumper’s Knee (aka patellar tendonitis), a maltracking patella, a sprained knee ligament and many others.
However, there is a vast variety of braces available on the market today. If a medical professional has advised you to wear a knee brace, you may be in need of additional guidance as to which is the best for you.
Knee braces can provide either lateral support or kneecap support. Lateral support protects the knee joint against forces that can push it either inwards (towards the centre of the body) or outwards (away from the centre).
As we have explained above, the knee already possesses four ligaments to protect against such forces (see the diagram at the start of this page). However, if these ligaments are overstretched, torn or ruptured, a knee brace can supplement the protection they provide and allow them to heal more quickly than they otherwise would.
Knee braces can also provide patellar support (i.e. support to the kneecap). The kneecap sits in a narrow groove in the thigh bone known as the trochlear groove. Some types of knee disorders can result in the kneecap being unable to remain centrally positioned in the groove. Instead, the kneecap may tilt either to the inner or outer side of the knee.
Knee braces can provide direct patellar support by keeping the kneecap centrally positioned and preventing this tilt.
In addition to patellar or lateral support, some knee braces can provide direct compression to the joint to control pain and/or inflammation. In some cases, the compression is needed not directly to the joint but to a specific area just above or below it.
For example, the patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the tibia and can sometimes become injured or inflamed (for example, if you develop a case of patellar tendinitis). In this situation, it can be therapeutic to apply compression to the tendon to stabilize it and reduce the pain.
Knee braces can also, in some cases, change the point of contact between the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia). This is useful if the cartilage between these bones has deteriorated for one reason or another and you are starting to experience pain as the two bones make direct contact with each other.
Finally, a knee brace (or splint) can also provide soothing warmth for additional pain relief if it uses neoprene or some other heat retentive material.
When selecting a knee splint, we suggest that you ask yourself whether you are looking for a brace to provide support and, if yes, the type of support you will need (lateral or kneecap) and the amount of support.
Essentially, there are six types of knee brace design – hinged knee braces, knee stabilizers, knee compression sleeves , knee straps, patella stabilizers and unloader knee braces.
Hinged knee braces offer the strongest lateral support possible while allowing your knee to maintain the most natural range of motion. Importantly, hinged braces can also protect the knee joint against hyperextension (excessive straightening of the joint, placing stress on the back of the knee joint). This type of knee brace is most useful in combating injuries like severe knee ligament sprains or damage to the knee menisci. They can also be useful in speeding recovery post surgery to correct knee problems such as a completely ruptured ligament.
Knee stabilizers use metal springs or plastic stays on either side of the knee to provide another form of lateral support. However, this support is not as strong as that provided by hinged braces. In addition, knee stabilizers cannot, in general, protect against knee hyperextension. If you have a mild knee ligament sprain or suffer from knee joint instability, this type of knee support may be the most appropriate for your injury.
In general, stabilizing knee braces are a little more comfortable and lightweight than hinged knee braces.If you have injured your knee in the past and are looking for a knee brace to provide more support while you participate in sport or work out, this type of brace may again be appropriate.
Knee compression sleeves do not provide any significant lateral or kneecap support but instead apply general compression to the knee joint. Like knee stabilizers, you may find them appropriate for injury prevention during physical activity or for treating mild general knee injuries. Many knee sleeves also retain body heat and can serve as a source of therapeutic warmth to the knee, particularly if they are made from neoprene.
Knee straps offer no lateral or kneecap support but can help provide targeted compression to relieve certain conditions. As we have mentioned above, patellar tendinitis is one such condition. IT Band Syndrome (when compression is required just above the knee joint) is another.
Patella stabilizers possess a buttress that surrounds the knee cap to keep it properly oriented and prevent patella tracking problems such as partial or complete dislocation, tilt or glide. In some cases, this feature may be incorporated in one of the other types of design e.g. some hinged knee braces also have a patella stabilization feature.
As mentioned above, unloader knee braces are designed to shift the point of contact between the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shin bone). This type of brace is useful in combating a type of knee arthritis known as osteoarthritis in which the cartilage between the bones deteriorates. It is also useful in treating meniscus tear injuries, which can sometimes have osteoarthritis as the root cause. Shifting the point of contact to an area with healthy cartilage can be effective in reducing knee osteoarthritis pain.
In addition to the type or degree or compression of support from your brace, you should also give some thought to the type of closure mechanism. In addition, you should also consider whether you would prefer an open or closed patella design.
There are two types of knee splint closure mechanisms to choose from – slip on and wraparound. While slip ons are usually sized, wraparound braces are usually more adjustable and can be placed either in front of or behind the knee. If you suffer from compromised manual dexterity or strength, you may prefer the wraparound design. In some cases, the wraparound design is more adaptable to unusual knee shapes or sizes.
Another important categorization is open vs. closed patella. Closed patella braces provide the same amount of compression to the knee cap as to the remainder of the knee. Open patella braces are more comfortable and will also relieve pressure on the patella.
Correct sizing of your knee splint or brace is extremely important. Each will come with specific instructions as to the measurements you need to make for a proper fit. We suggest you follow these closely. If your measurements place you in between sizes, we suggest you choose the larger of the two.
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The Bio Skin Premium J combines function, comfort and affordability with a buttress around the patella to help prevent patella subluxation and knee dislocation. It also features dual elastic straps criss-crossing the knee to help seat the patella in its trochlear groove for less patellofemoral pain.
The Bio Skin Premium J with Conforma hinge combines function, comfort and affordability with a buttress around the patella to help prevent patella subluxation and knee dislocation. It also features dual elastic straps criss-crossing the knee to help seat the patella in its trochlear groove for less patellofemoral pain.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Pro Level Hinged Knee Brace features a super strong triaxial hinge that follows the complex motion of the knee and results in near normal motion that standard polycentric dual hinges simply cannot match. It provides serious athletes with maximum medial-lateral support and can also be used in rehabilitative applications to limit the range of motion to 10°, 20° and 30.
The low profile BioSkin Q Baby Patella Tendon Strap uses Bio Skin’s patented Ultima 2SL™ material with micro fleeced lining for extra comfort. The Q Baby goes on your knee just below the patella and compresses your patellar tendon with its uniquely shaped silicon pad to reduce pain and speed healing.
The Bio Skin Q Brace will help to reduce the pain of mild to moderate patellar tracking problems. It uses a T Strap to exert gentle pressure on your patella to help prevent subluxation (dislocation) and keep the patella in its proper position.
The Bio Skin Q Brace will help to reduce the pain of mild to moderate patellar tracking problems. It uses a T Strap to exert gentle pressure on your patella to help prevent subluxation (dislocation) and keep the patella in its proper position.
The Bio Skin Q Brace with Conforma Hinge helps reduce the pain of mild to moderate patellar tracking problems. Its t-strap exerts gentle, lateral pressure on your patella to prevent subluxation (dislocation) and to keep it in its proper position. The patented and ultra light and thin Conforma Hinge provides additional stability to those who need it.
The Bio Skin Q Brace with Conforma Hinge – Front Closure will help to reduce the pain of mild to moderate patellar tracking problems. It uses a T Strap to exert gentle pressure on your patella to help prevent subluxation (dislocation) and keep the patella in its proper position. An ultra light hinge helps add additional knee stability to wear or unstable knees and the front closure design simplifies application and removal.
The Bio Skin Q Lok will help to reduce the effects of and support the rehabilitation of patellofemoral pain. Using a superior compression and strapping system, the Q Lok pushes the patella back into its correct position in the knee’s trochlear notch, which decreases pain and wear on the joint.
The Bio Skin Q Lok Front Closure helps to reduce the effects of patellar tracking problems and patellofemoral pain due to improper tracking between the patella (knee-cap) and the femur. It uses high levels of compression and a unique strapping system to push the patella back into its correct position in the trochlear notch.
The Bio Skin Q Lok ROM supports rehabilitation of the patellofemoral joint while helping to prevent subluxation and further dislocation during normal activities. A specially designed dynamic patella traction strap make this brace an ideal choice for patients suffering from a high Q angle or from chronic pain from patella tilt, glide and malignment. In addition, its thin, ½ inch range-of-motion hinge allows you to progressively adjust the degree of flexion and extension of the knee.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Self Adjusting Knee Stabilizer features criss-cross straps for consistent support and compression above and below your patella. Fits either knee. One size.
The Bio Skin Standard Knee Skin offers compression for pain relief, swelling control and greater proprioception. The two-panel construction design eliminates any seam from the sensitive skin behind the kneecap and the unique, patented Ultima material keeps it breathable and comfortable by wicking moisture away from the skin.
The LP Standard Knee Support with Closed Patella uses an oval pad to retain your body heat and therapeutically warm your knee joint. This helps to improve blood circulation. The Standard Knee Support can also help to treat postoperative knee problems, arthritis, strains and protection from abrasion injuries. It will fit comfortably under your clothing…
The LP Standard Knee Support with Open Patella uses an oval pad for additional padding and protection to your knee. A reinforced stabilizer surrounds the kneecap and helps to prevent kneecap displacement. The Standard Knee Support is helpful for dealing with postoperative knee problems, arthritis, strains and for protecting you from abrasions. The brace uses…
The Bio Skin Visco Knee Skin with Conforma Hinge is an excellent all-purpose knee support. The Visco gel ring around the patella provides passive massage to remove swelling and decrease knee pain. The brace is comfortable enough to wear all the time and is very useful a few weeks after knee surgery to control swelling and speed recovery. Includes Bio Skin’s innovative, lightweight and comfortable Conforma Hinge for extra knee joint stability.
The Bio Skin Visco Knee Skin with Thigh and Calf Straps uses a ring made from silicone that helps control swelling and relieve edema via passive massage.
The McDavid VOW™ Versatile Over Wrap Knee Wrap w/Stays is a simple & lightweight knee support designed for flexibility in support and fitting comfort.
The McDavid VOW™ Versatile Over Wrap Knee Wrap w/Stays & Straps offers you an uncomplicated knee bracing solution with its compact and lightweight design that allows you to adjust compression, support and comfort to suit your individual tastes.
The Mueller Sports Medicine Patella Stabilizer-OSFM knee brace features steel springs to help support both sides of the knee and a patella buttress that helps protect the kneecap. The open patella helps relieve pressure. Neoprene blend provides soothing warmth. this is an easy on/off brace with wraparound design One size – measure around knee – fits…
The Mueller Sports Medicine Wraparound Knee Support will help to support your injured, weak, stiff or unstable knees and improve blood circulation.
The LP X-Tremus Hinged Knee Brace is designed to treat the symptoms of Cruciate or Collateral Ligament sprain, Knee Instability or Arthritis. It features an I pattern Magic Power Band to preserve energy consumption during knee flexion/extension, two adjustable hook and loop strapsfor a comfortable fit, flexible hinged joints and a symmetrical C pattern Stable Contoured Structure beside the knee cap that enhances joint stability. A donut shaped silicone pad surrounds the patella to provide padded protection and stabilization .
The LP X-Tremus Knee Brace targets the entire knee and provides maximum support with it’s 3-Dimensional knitting structure and donut shaped silicone pad combined with close circle high-density knitted fabric to improve patella stability.Other key features include bilateral spiral stays to support your knee, a double C pattern Stable Contoured Structure adjacent to the knee cap for extra joint stability, and a Y pattern Magic Power Band to conserves energy consumption during flexion and extension movements. Available in sizes Small to 3X-Large.
