Knee Brace Guide

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

Knee braces are a great way to reduce knee pain and improve support and stability.

There are lots of different knee brace options out there suitable for all different types of knee pain but it can be hard to know which is the best one for you.

There are different shapes, styles, support levels, manufacturers and materials with knee braces and they can vary in price enormously. 

Here you will find everything you need to help you choose the right brace for you, whatever your problem. You can search by:

A basic level knee brace provides gentle support to the knee. They are light-weight, comfortable and great value for money. 

They range from pull-up sleeves to wrap-around braces with velcro straps. Some also have a hole at the front to reduce the pressure through the knee cap.

A basic level knee brace is perfect for mild cases of knee pain where there is minimal instability. Find Out More > 

An advanced level knee brace provides a moderate level of support to the knee and helps reduce the forces going through the joint.

They usually have in-built stabilisers on both sides of the knee brace which help to control sideways movements and twisting of the knee, which particularly helps to protect the knee ligaments.

Advanced level knee braces are perfect for people with mild to moderate knee pain and instability e.g. following a knee sprain. Find Out More >

An elite level knee brace provides maximum support and protection for the knee.

They are perfect if you have significant knee instability or your knee keeps giving way e.g. with ACL injuries or following knee surgery.

They typically have hinges and side supports and on some of them you can set the hinges to only allow a certain amount of flexion/extension. Find Out More >

An arthritis knee brace is specifically designed to off-load specific parts of the knee.

Knee arthritis is often worse on one side of the knee than the other, most typically the inner side, and these knee braces help to redirect the forces away from the arthritic areas.

Not only does this help reduce knee arthritis pain, it can actually slow down the disease progression and help delay the need for surgery. Find Out More >

A knee stability brace provides ultimate support and protection after ligament injuries.

The knee ligaments are the key stabilising structures in the knee so when they are torn, then instability can become a real problem and puts you at risk from further knee injuries.

Knee ligament braces are particularly useful with ACL tears, both following an injury or after reconstruction surgery. They provide much more support than other knee braces. Find Out More >

A sleeve style knee brace is perfect for minor knee injuries and mild knee pain where there is little instability.

These simple pull-up supports provide warmth, compression and some basic support. Some have a hole at the front to help improve patellar tracking. Find Out More >

A wrap around knee brace has velcro straps so you simply wrap it around your knee and fasten it into the position you want for a perfect fit.

This is particularly helpful if your knee is prone to swelling or is an unusual shape. Some have in-built stabilisers for increase support. Find Out More >

A hinged knee brace is ideal if you have knee instability as they can provide moderate to maximum support to the knee.

In some cases the hinges can be locked to only allow a certain amount of knee movement for increased support and protection. Others can be set to off-load one side of the knee and redirect forces away from areas of knee damage. Find Out More >

Single or double knee straps can be really useful with a number of knee problems, particularly things like tendonitis and knee cap pain.

They help to off-load the knee tendons and support the kneecap. They are extremely light-weight, comfortable and are great value for money. They may not look like much, but they are incredibly effective. Find Out More >

5. Knee Pads

Knee pads are perfect for reducing knee pain & providing protection when kneeling, be it DIY, gardening or construction.

Knee pads not only cushion the knee, they help top reduce the forces going through the joint and friction on the knee. They are an absolute must for anyone who spends lots of time on their knees! Find Out More >

ACE stands for All Cotton Elastic and they have been making knee braces for nearly 100 years.

ACE braces provide mild-moderate support at low cost in a range of styles. Best ACE Knee Braces >

Donjoy make top of the range knee braces for everyday to elite athlete use. They use pioneering, innovative designs with a particular focus on stability.

They are particularly good with ligament instability and arthritis. They are not cheap, but the level of support they provide is second to none. Best Donjoy Knee Braces >

McDavid are a well trusted brand that offer a whole range of products that receive great reviews.

McDavid knee braces are effective, durable, easy to use & good value for money. Best McDavid Knee Braces >

Mueller are another well respected brand that have been making knee braces for a whole range of knee problems for over 50 years.

They consistently receive excellent user reviews and there are lots of different styles available. Best Mueller Knee Braces >

Neo G are one of the newer manufacturers on the market but their knee braces are taking the market by storm. They receive excellent user reviews for comfort, support and value.

They are even partnered with the Chartered Society Of Physiotherapy in the UK which is a pretty strong endorsement! Best Neo G Knee Braces >