What Knee Brace is Right for Me?
What Knee Brace is Right for Me?
What Knee Brace is Right for Me?
Fara Rosenzweig
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Theres no doubt that knee braces are helpful to manage knee injuries or prevention. But choosing which one is right for your needs can be a bit overwhelming. From hinged and immobilization to compression and prevention, we break down everything you need to know to help you find the right knee brace for you.
Types of Knee Braces
From ACL to LCL instabilities to patella and arthritis pain, there are a number of knee injuries that can sideline your training and daily activities. However, there are a variety of braces to choose from that can help you recover quickly and prevent re-injury to the knee, whether it be for sports, daily functions, pain reduction or post-surgery.
Hinged
A hinged brace is ideal for athletes who need protection and stabilization post-surgery, ACL, MCL or PCL injuries. A bad twist, poor knee to ankle alignment, or wrong way to land are common ways athletes sustain ligament injuries. A hinged brace offers protection to the athletes knee, delivering support and stability to heal quickly. Hinges can prevent hyperextension of the knee and offers protection of the ACL, and other ligament injuries, to athletes who dont want to lose speed by weighing themselves down with a heavy brace.
Hinged knee braces come in two forms: rigid and soft hinged. Soft hinged knee braces are ideal for mild to moderate support whereas rigid hinged knee braces are ideal for moderate to maximum support and offer better protection and stability for contact-sports.
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Compression/Sleeves
For mild to moderate chronic knee pain and arthritis can be minimized with sleeves and compression braces. These support braces redistribute the weight-bearing load and increases the ability to perform your best during training and sports, helping decrease pain from day-to-day movement, which is no small feat. Can fit under clothing for daily comfort.
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Wraparounds
Wraparound styles for athletes provide bracing solutions for mild to moderate knee pain, patellar instabilities and dislocation. Simple and easy to put on and off, allow you to customize the fit for comfort and knee protection. Wrap-style bracing can be worn during activity allowing you to focus on your performance without all the bulk.
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Bands/Straps
Help ease runner's knee pain, patellar tendonitis (jumpers knee) or acute knee pain with strap and band bracing. These are designed to apply a comfortable, effective pressure on the knee to help alleviate pain. Simple to wear (fits under clothing), and easy to put on, straps can be worn during daily activities and sports.
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Custom Knee Braces
Custom knee braces are ideal for those looking for a knee brace. Measurements of your knee will be taken and a custom brace will be created for you. We offer custom knee braces available for contact and non-contact sports.
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Open vs. Closed Popliteal
The popliteal is located on the back on the knee brace. An open popliteal has a small opening behind the knee which can help keep the body cool when moving. The closed popliteal means there is no opening on the back of the knee. The closed popliteal can help keep the leg warm when moving in cooler temps.
Open vs. Closed Patella
You may see some knee braces with an opening at the knee cap while others are covered. The braces with an open patella help relieve knee pressure and support the knee cap with tracking assistance. A closed patella brace can help offer compression and knee support. If unsure, you can contact our customer support team for assistance, or speak with your doctor on the better option for your needs.
TopWhy and How Do Knee Braces Work for Knee Pain, Injury and Instability?
Whether its a knee sprain, arthritis, torn ACL, runners knee, knee instabilities or knee discomfort, knee braces help support and manage pain. Depending on the injury will determine how the brace will work. But most braces support the knee and help keep it aligned.
There are a variety of knee braces out on the market today that are specifically designed to provide relief and support for specific conditions, says Anna Muñoz, M.Ed., ATC, DonJoy Performance® and DonJoy Advantage® Product Manager. Knee braces have a variety of features and benefits depending on the condition, you may see a buttress for patella support/tracking, a metal hinge for ligament stability, or compression sleeves for swelling. These design features are incorporated into the brace design to help specifically provide relief and support for the Consumers condition.
When should you start wearing a knee brace?
In general, you can wear a knee brace once you start to experience knee pain or want to prevent a previous knee injury. A knee support can be worn during rehabilitation period like post ACL surgery. Its best to consult with your primary caregiver about when to wear a knee brace.
TopTop 3 Knee Injuries
The knee joint is complex and made of many muscles and ligaments, which can make it vulnerable to an array of injuries. These knee problems can happen to anyone at any age during any activity. From participating in activity to getting up from the couch or walking, knee injuries can have a big impact on your day-to-day. While wear and tear to the knee happens over time, ligament damage tends to occur from a sudden twist or reactive movementespecially in sports.1 Here are three common knee injuries and which knee braces can help manage symptoms.
Meniscus
The meniscus2 is piece of cartilage that acts like a pad between your femur or thigh bone and tibia or shin bone. A wrong twist can easily injury the C-shape cartilage which can be a partial or total tear. If you experience a small meniscus tear, then the meniscus stays connected to the front and back of the knee. If you have a total tear, then the meniscus may be left hanging by a thread of cartilage. Depending on the size of the tear and location will determine the seriousness of it.
Braces that can help manage a meniscus tear:
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Injury
An ACL tear or sprain is most common during sports that involve sudden stops or change in direction, jumping and landing (such as soccer, basketball, football or downhill skiing). Many athletes hear or feel a "pop" in the knee when an ACL injury occurs. Your knee may swell, feel unstable and become too painful to bear weight.3
Braces that can help manage an ACL injury:
Hyperextended Knee
A hyperextended knee occurs when your knee is pushed past its normal range of motion from a straightened position bending too far back in the wrong direction. While mild knee hyperextension may feel sore and uncomfortableand can take 2 to 4 weeks to healserious knee hyperextension can cause damage to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and cartilage injuries in the knee, which may require surgery.4
Braces that can help manage hyperextended knee:
Consult your physician if you have experienced any of the above knee injuries. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best treatment, benefits of using a knee brace, and may prescribe physical therapy exercises to help you recover.
TopProper Knee Brace Fit
Knee braces provide support, stability and more depending on the type of brace. To ensure that you get the benefits of a knee brace, its important to have the right fit. Most knee braces will require you to measure three areas: One at knee center, one at the thigh and the other at the calf (6 inches above and below the kneecap). Some supports only require the circumference of the kneecap. We provide sizing guidance, so take a look at the size charts and measuring instructions to get the appropriate size.
When wearing, youll want the brace to feel snug, but not so tight that it constricts movement or cuts off circulation. If it feels too tight, you may want to consider a different size. You can consult our bracing experts for additional help.
TopOur Top 10 Best-Selling Knee Braces in
Struggling with knee pain? Whether its knee instabilities, a ligament injury or runners knee, here are our top 10 best-selling knee braces in that can help you manage knee pain symptoms and help prevent re-injury.
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DonJoy Reaction WEB Knee BraceSpecial Price
$74.99
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$150.95
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$75.96
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Our best solution for anterior pain. Innovative design works to shift weight away from the painful areas in the knee.
DonJoy® Reaction WEB
Suffering from anterior pain? The DonJoy® Reaction WEB is one of our top solutions to help manage anterior pain. The innovative brace design helps shift weight away from painful areas in the knee. Its shock-absorbing, flexible and breathable, which is why this brace is one of the best for runners knee, jumpers knee, meniscus tear or instability issues.
TopDonJoy® Deluxe Hinged Knee
With bilateral hinges for moderate level of support, the DonJoy® Deluxe Hinged Knee brace is best to help active individuals manage ligament instabilities, meniscus injuries, knee sprains, or arthritis.
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DonJoy Tru-Pull Lite$90.85
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$0.00
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85%
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Low-profile and extremely comfortable for mild to moderate patellar dislocations.
DonJoy® Tru-Pull Lite
Ideally suited for runners, weekend warriors or those who need extra support during daily activities, the DonJoy® Tru-Pull Lite provides mild to moderate support for those suffering with patella instabilities, knee dislocations, or knee tracking issues. The Tru-Pull Lite is one of our best knee braces to help reduce pain when it comes to patellofemoral problems.
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Special Price
$34.99
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$58.23
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$23.24
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76%
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Stabilizes the kneecap. Patented nylon core and polyester Lycra fabric, it allows for airflow while still giving ample support and compression.
DonJoy® Lateral J Patella
One of our top patella stabilizing knee braces, the DonJoy® Lateral J Patella has a lateral J buttress that runs alongside the knee to provide support against the patellar subluxation. You can wear this brace for daily support, during activity, and water sports.
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Special Price
$69.99
Regular Price
$91.99
On Sale
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$22.00
Rating:
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Support for MCL/LCL instabilities, hyperextension and general meniscus support.
DonJoy Performance® Bionic Knee
Working best for MCL and LCL support, the DonJoy Performance® Bionic Knee can help athletes manage hyperextension and meniscus injuries too. The soft hinges help prevent hyperextension and support knee instabilities.
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Special Price
$219.99
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$269.99
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$50.00
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Hinge ACL protection for recovery and to help injury prevention.
DonJoy Performance® Bionic FULLSTOP
Dealing with ACL recovery? The DonJoy Performance® Bionic FULLSTOP can help you perform your best with high-quality protection. The Bionic FULLSTOP delivers maximum ACL support, has hinges to prevent hyperextension, and can help improve joint mechanics in both surgical and non-surgical knees.
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$78.00
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Combining bracing and compression into one low-profile sleeve
DonJoy Performance® Trizone® Knee Brace
When knee pain dampers your performance, it can be address in many ways. The DonJoy Performance® Trizone® Knee Brace combines three essential components of support: compression, cooling, and comfort to help maximize knee pain relief.
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Special Price
$79.99
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$105.99
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$26.00
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Joint stabilizing, bilateral hinged knee sleeve with an open patella design.
DonJoy Performance® Bionic Drytex
Working best to help manage medial/lateral ligament protection, knee instabilities, sprains and strains, hyperextension, meniscus injuries, and arthritis, the DonJoy Performance® Bionic Drytex aids in knee stabilization so you can move comfortably throughout the day and during activity.
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DonJoy TriZone Knee Brace$60.04
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70%
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Multi-functional design simulates therapeutic taping for improved joint stability and added compression to support all types of knee pain.
DonJoy® Trizone® Knee Sleeve
A hybrid design, the DonJoy® Trizone® Knee Sleeve combines three zones of compression around the knee joint and bracing in a single sleeve. The Trizone® Knee Sleeve is a low-profile performance product that will help you move in comfort and support.
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Special Price
$29.99
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$40.99
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$11.00
Rating:
79%
(18)
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Silicone band supports the Patellar Tendon
DonJoy Performance® Webtech Knee Strap
An innovative knee strap that combines compression and silicone web, the DonJoy Performance® Webtech knee strap distributes pain-relieving pressure on the Petellar Tendon. The Webtech Knee Strap is one of our best tools for overcoming runners knee.
Note: Top braces are based on our top-selling knee braces
TopNeed More Help?
Our bracing experts will help you identify the best brace from our bracing collection, whether you need support for preventative care, daily use or sports. Shop our Knee Braces or check out our Brace Advisor for a shopping guide.
TopSources
ComfyBrace Posture Corrector-Back Brace for Men and ...
I just got my brace yesterday and wore it for about half an hour, so that's where I'm coming from with this review.
My family have noticed my poor posture lately and have been commenting on it, so I've ordered a new chair for my home office, a lumbar support cushion for my chair at work, and this thing for when I'm not at either.
I've got a large torso and wide shoulders, so I wasn't sure how long the straps should be; eventually I decided to put them on with only slightly lengthened straps from the default. They're elastic, and fairly strongly so, and they held my shoulders back in the proper posture without trouble. My family noticed immediately that I was standing straighter, so clearly they're doing the job, and there wasn't any noticeable discomfort from the relatively tight straps.
The seller recommends wearing them for short periods until you get used to them, and I can see why: I wore them only half an hour because my shoulders were getting sore.
The fact of the muscle soreness suggests that my body is actually doing some of the work to hold my shoulders back (probably unconsciously), and that's good news: it means my rear deltoids will actually be tightening up over time while wearing them, improving my posture even without the brace on. I don't think this is the ideal solution for poor posture - barbell exercises for the chest and upper/lower back are the best solutions - but for anyone without time or access to a gym this is at lesat a reasonable alternative.
I can't say how well this would help people with longterm injuries or chronic pain, as I don't have either, but at least as far as a single wearing this product seems to be exactly what its advertised to be. I'll update this review in a month or so, after I've worn it more.
EDIT: I've now had the brace for two weeks, and I can safely say that its much more comfortable to wear for longer periods now than it was at the beginning. I've restarted my weightlifting regimen, so it's hard to say which has had more effect, but I've noticed myself automatically sitting up straight without having to consciously make myself do so. Obviously, this involves tensing muscles, so I have a little bit more soreness after long periods sitting with no back support than before, but that's been fading as I become accustomed to it.
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