Donjoy Knee Braces

Written By: Chloe Wilson, BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed by: KPE Medical Review Board

Donjoy Knee Braces Guide: Find out why Donjoy are one of the leading brands on knee braces and how they could help you

Donjoy knee braces are some of the most popular braces on the market. 

They are top of the range braces using specially designed hinges, springs and frames.

Donjoy braces are regularly used in hospitals and by professional athletes and they are known for providing excellent support.

Donjoy make braces to suit all activity levels, from everyday use to professional sports people. They are particularly suited to: 

  • Stability Problems: e.g. ligament injuries
  • Use After Knee Surgery: to protect the knee and allow it to fully heal without getting overstretched and/or overused
  • Arthritis Sufferers: to reduce pain, improve function and delay/prevent surgery
  • Prevent Injury: many sports professionals wear Donjoy knee braces to reduce the risk of injury

Why Choose Donjoy Knee Braces?

Donjoy knee braces are the ultimate in protection. Donjoy has been a market leader in non-operative orthopedic products for over 30 years, and has pioneered innovative brace designs and technologies to help professional athletes and active individuals prevent and rehabilitate from knee injuries.

Donjoy Knee Braces ACL Guarantee

They are so confident in their products that they have even set up the first and only knee guarantee programme. But, if you are looking for a basic brace to provide some support and compression, you can probably find a cheaper, suitable brace from another manufacturer such as McDavid or Mueller. 

To make it easier for you to find the right brace for you, I have split these braces in to three categories:

  1. Stability/Ligament Braces: to treat and prevent instability due to ligament damage, or for use after knee surgery
  2. Anterior Knee Pain Braces: designed to address problems with the patella and how it moves
  3. Arthritis Braces: to help reduce pain, improve function and delay/prevent surgery

You will find information on how the different braces work, what they are suitable for and can read user reviews to help you find the right brace for you.

Stability/Ligament Braces

If you are having problems with stability of the knee from ligament damage, are recovering from knee surgery, or are looking for a brace to reduce the risk of injury, Donjoy knee braces offer the best protection.

Most knee instability is caused by damage to the ACL, as the ACL is the primary stabiliser of the knee. The ACL is most prone to damage is the last part of knee extension (the last 60o), known as the “at-risk” position.

As the knee gets closer to full extension, that is when the force going through the ACL causes the most damage. Donjoy braces are specially designed to reduce that force, decreasing the overall strain on the ACL.

There are two distinct features on the Donjoy knee braces that make them stand out from other brands:

FULLSTOP™ Hinge

The FourcePoint Hinge found in Donjoy knee braces provides gradually increasing resistance to reduce the risk of knee injury

Rather than a simple flexion/extension hinge, the FullStop (formerly called FourcePoint) uses a spring mechanism to provide gradually increasing resistance to the knee as it reaches the “at-risk” positions.

This slows down the acceleration of the knee in the last 25o of extension, reducing the risk of injury.

You can choose the amount of resistance applied depending on your activity levels to make them suitable for anything ranging from everyday use up to professional, extreme and contact sports.

Four Points of Leverage™ System

Donjoy Knee Braces 4 Points Of Leverage

This is all about the frame design. These Donjoy braces have a rigid frame that at the top comes round the front of the thigh to anchor the femur, goes down the sides of the knee joint and then curves round behind the back of the calf at the bottom to anchor the tibia (shin bone).

There are then flexible straps across the front of the thigh and the back of the calf which prevent anterior tibial translation (the tibia gliding forward) which is what tends to cause ACL injuries. This design on Donjoy braces provides dynamic stability through the entire range of movement.

Donjoy Performance Bionic Knee Brace

Donjoy Knee Braces: Bionic Performance Stability Brace

Overview: The Donjoy Performance Bionic Knee Brace provides mild-moderate support. It has bilateral polycentric hinges to provide sideways stability supporting the collateral ligaments. It also features a hyperextension stop which helps support the cruciate ligaments and stop the knee from bending back too far. 

The wraparound design and top and bottom stretch webbing closure ensures a personalised fit and the anti-migration technology helps prevent any slippage.

It is made of perforated neoprene for maximum breathability and has reflective spots for enhanced visibility in low light. There is also a camo colored version.

Our Verdict: The Donjoy Performance Bionic Knee Brace provides great protection in all directions and supports the patella well. It is easy to get on and off and even has a small compartment to hold keys and cards! It is comfy to wear, stays in place well and receives great user reviews. Average user rating 4.3/5

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: ON SALE (guide price $80/£99/€90)

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Donjoy FullStop Knee Brace

Donjoy Knee Braces: FullStop Knee Brace

Overview: The Donjoy FullStop Knee Brace provides moderate to maximum stability making it perfect for ligament injuries. The combination of the FullStop hinge and four-point leverage system trains users to stay out of the "at-risk" position through a dampening cycle.

It is designed for use in high-risk sports such as skiing/snowboarding, football, soccer, basketball and volleyball, with ligament tears or after ligament reconstruction surgery.

Adjustable straps ensure secure fit, and it is also reflective.

Our Verdict: The Donjoy FullStop Knee Brace is perfect for people with moderate to severe knee instability such as ACL tears, allowing people to safely partake in high-risk sports. It's not cheap but it offers excellent protection. Average user rating 4.2/5

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: ON SALE (guide price $200/£300)

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Anterior Knee Pain Braces

There are a number of braces on the market that can help with anterior knee pain, most commonly due to kneecap problems known as patellar maltracking. Donjoy have produced a great brace, designed by an orthopedic surgeon which is unique in how it works to take forces away from the kneecap.

Donjoy Reaction Brace

Donjoy Knee Braces: Reaction Support

Overview: The Donjoy Reaction Knee Brace was specially designed for people suffering from anterior knee pain (kneecap pain) caused by conditions such as chondromalacia patella, patellar tendonitis, Osgood-Schlatters, mild osteoarthritis, and patellar tracking problems.

It has an innovative elastic web design featuring membranes that elongate with movement and then return back to normal which absorbs shock, redirects forces away from the painful parts of the knee as well as stabilising the kneecap and holding it in the best position. It can be worn for daily activities and sports. It is very comfortable to wear as the design makes it breathable and there is an optional removable anti-sweat breathable sleeve. Available in a wide range of colours.

My Verdict: I love how the Donjoy Reaction Brace deflects the forces directly away from the kneecap. People report instant relief when wearing it and say it is tight but comfortable. It doesn't suit everyone but for those troublesome causes of anterior knee pain that just won’t settle down, this is definitely worth a try. Average user rating 3.9/5.

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: ON SALE (guide price $99/£169/€144)

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Donjoy Arthritis Knee Braces

Arthritis Knee Braces by Donjoy

There is a specific range of donjoy knee braces suitable for arthritis that can work really well to reduce pain, improve function and delay the need for surgery. They work by redistributing the way the forces go through the knee from the affected parts to the healthy parts of the knee.

My favourite Donjoy knee braces for arthritis are the OA Lite, OA Assist and OA Everyday. They receive the best reviews from arthritis sufferers.

To find out more about how these braces work and to read reviews, go to the arthritis knee brace section.

Donjoy Knee Braces Size Guide

When using Donjoy knee braces, it is essential to get the right size. Too small and it will quickly become uncomfortable, too large and it won’t provide the support and stability that you need. They come in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXXL.

To get the right size from you, you will need to take three measurements, preferably in standing with your knee slightly bent and your muscles tense.

  1. Center: Measure the circumference of your knee at the midpoint of your kneecap

  2. Thigh: Go up 6 inches from the center of your kneecap and measure the circumference of the thigh at that point

  3. Calf: Go 6 inches down from the center of your kneecap and measure the circumference of your calf at that point.

If your measurement indicates two different sizes, it is recommended that you opt for the larger size.

Donjoy Sizing Guide

*Prices correct as of June 2024.  All prices are subject to change.  Please note we do not stock products directly and therefore have no control over price changes.  See advertising policy for more information.

Page Last Updated: 22/05/24
Next Review Due: 22/05/26