A knee brace (or knee splint) can be used to relieve and heal a wide range of common causes of knee pain. Whether you are suffering from a case of patellar tendonitis, a torn meniscus or a torn ACL, you will find a great choice for pain relief below. Knee braces are also sometimes also called knee supports, although we prefer to reserve this term for a particular sub category, which we discuss below.
However, knee splints are not all the same – they come in a vast number of styles, types and sizes. To make the best choice, there are a number of important questions to consider, which we outline below.
Key questions for medical professionals to ask when selecting a knee brace include the following. Please read our post on general knee brace questions & answers for more information.
There are basically five types of knee brace that can be purchased “off the shelf”- hinged braces, knee stabilizers/supports, knee sleeves, knee straps, patella stabilizers and offloading knee braces. As an alternative to getting a knee brace “off the shelf”, you can also have one custom made.
Hinged knee braces will offer the maximum lateral knee support (protection from tearing or overstretching of ligaments on either the inside or outside of the knee). They will also allow the patient to maintain the most natural knee movement possible. Hinged braces are most useful for severe knee instability problems such as those caused by torn knee ligaments or meniscus tear injuries. These types of injuries are unfortunately relatively common in contact sports or in sports requiring sharp changes in direction or speed of running.
Please read our post on hinged knee brace questions and answers if you need more information on this type of brace.
A knee stabilizer will be an appropriate choice to treat mild knee injuries such as moderate knee sprains (when the ligament has been overstretched and not torn). These braces don’t have hinges but are instead equipped with metal or plastic stays or metal springs along the sides to provide some lateral knee stability (although not as much as you would get from a hinged knee brace).
If you don’t have a severe knee instability problem but would just like to walk, run or play sports with increased confidence in your knee, you may find that a simple knee support or stabilizer is best suited for your needs.
Knee sleeves come without either hinges or metal/plastic stays or springs, so they do not provide any lateral knee support. They are an appropriate choice if you are looking for warmth and compression to improve circulation and treat a mild knee injury. They should also be considered if you wish to reduce the risk of a knee injury while walking or running or if you are participating in an athletic event.
Knee straps are used to apply pressure to specific areas of the knee joint. For example, if you are suffering from patellar tendinitis, you can use a knee strap to apply pressure to the patellar tendon situated just below your patella or knee cap. Alternatively you can wear a knee strap above your knee to apply pressure to your iliotibial band and reduce the friction as it moves across the bony protusion on your outer knee.
Patella stabilizers (also called patella braces) are designed to help prevent patella instability problems like subluxation and/or tilting. The main feature of these braces is usually a buttress around the knee cap that helps keep it properly seated in the knee’s trochlear groove. These braces can sometimes include other features as well, such as metal stays or springs to provide lateral joint stability.
Unloader knee braces are useful in treating cases of knee osteoarthritis when the cartilage between the thigh and shin bones has deteriorated to the point at which the bones are making direct contact with each other. The result of this is considerable knee pain when walking or placing weight on the knee. An unloader brace is designed to shift the point of contact between these two bones from an area of cartilage deterioration to one with healthier cartilage, reducing pain in the process.
Using an unloader knee brace will help to defer the time at which a knee replacement operation may be needed. In fact it may actually eliminate the need for a knee replacement by deferring the time when one may be needed beyond the patient’s remaining life expectancy.
Please read our post on unloading knee braces if you would ike more detailed information on this type of brace.
As an alternative to an off the shelf brace, custom knee braces are also available, albeit at a significantly higher cost. Although these braces are not among those available on this site, they may be the appropriate choice if the medical professional treating the patient feels that his or her knee injury is untypical of those for which off the shelf braces are intended.
There are essentially two closure styles available – slip on and wraparound. The former is put on (as the name implies) by inserting your foot through the opening of the brace and pulling it up over your leg. This type of brace is normally sized since the fit must be precisely determined in order to get the best support.
Wraparound braces, on the other hand, can be placed either in front of or behind the knee. You then adjust this brace using its Velcro straps. This type of knee splint is well suited for individuals with compromised manual dexterity or strength. Individuals with certain neurological conditions are examples.
Wraparound (also called front closure) knee braces are also a good choice for individuals with unusual knee or leg shapes. They normally use Velcro enclosures that provide the versatility needed to adapt to such shapes.
A closed patella brace will give your kneecap the same support as provided to the rest of your knee.
Open patella knee braces relieve the pressure on the knee cap and are generally more comfortable. They include knee splints with buttresses that provide maximum support for the patella to assist with patella tracking problems. The greater comfort level of these braces can be a great help with patient compliance (making it easier for the patient to wear the brace as much as he/she needs to for it to be effective).
Sizes can be measured in various ways but the correct size is essential if the brace is to function as intended. If the brace is too large, it may not provide the degree of compression and/or support the patient needs. On the other hand, if it is too tight and uncomfortable, the patient may not be able to wear it for extended periods. This would then compromise its therapeutic effectiveness.
One good rule of thumb if you find yourself between sizes is to use the larger size.
Please bear these questions in mind as you browse our selection of knee splints below. For more information, please consult our posts on choosing a knee brace for basket ball, choosing a knee support for running or on choosing the best knee brace for running. Other useful information may be found in our post on choosing a knee brace for a meniscus tear or on how an ACL brace aids recovery from ACL injury.
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The LP 4 Way Stretch Knee Support provides firm support of the knee joint with gentle compression over the kneecap and is designed to conform naturally to the contours of the knee.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Adjustable Knee Support uses a neoprene blend and features a 4 way external adjustment system for better compression. Replaces the MU4531 Adjustable Knee Support
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The Mueller Max Knee Strap is a versatile knee strap designed to apply targeted compression at painful knee areas to relieve discomfort.
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The McDavid Bio-Logix Knee Brace combines a semi rigid lightweight design and bi-lateral aluminium dual axis geared hinges to provide a fluid feel and a natural range of motion.
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With its soft neoprene blend, the Closed Patella Knee Sleeve delivers even compression and soothing warmth. Replaces the 424 Knee Sleeve.
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Optimal support for knee instability with SlimLok ROM hinge
The Bio Skin CrossFire™ ROM protects the MCL, ACL and other knee ligaments, providing extra stability while limiting unwanted twisting and bending of the knee joint. The hinge is very thin, only ½ inch, while providing flexion and extension lockouts needed for rehabilitation. The Bio Skin material is very comfortable with a highly-compressive single-layer portion surrounding the knee. The Cirrus™ material is sewn in a pre-tensioned manner to prevent bunching behind the knee which ensures a comfortable fit throughout vigorous activity. The brace’s comfort continues into the small details of how it is sewn together; featuring the ActiveSeam™ stitch that prevents unwanted chafing in the more sensitive areas of the knee.
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The Mueller Elastic Knee Stabilizer features steel springs for bilateral support and an open patella design. This is a bilingual version of the 427 Elastic Knee Stabilizer.
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Mueller’s Elastic Knee Support combines robust knee support with unrestricted range of motion while featuring a contoured design that prevents bunching in the popliteal area behind the knee.
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The McDavid Elite Engineered Elastic Dual Wrap Knee Brace w/ Support Stays offers high grade engineered elastics, bilateral stabilizing side stays andother features to provide your patients with outstanding support and comfort for their injured or unstable knees.
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Knee ligament protection
The Bio Skin Gladiator uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
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Knee Ligament Protection
The Bio Skin Gladiator – Front Closure uses a rigid hinge to effectively protect knee ligaments, including after reconstruction. The rigid strapping system firmly anchors the Gladiator to the leg, avoiding the need for longer, less comfortable braces. Pins in the hinges may easily be set to limit flexion and/or extension.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Green Adjustable Knee Brace offers maximum support for weak knees, injured knees, and arthritic knees. One size. Fits either knee.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace is made of extremely comfortable fabric with maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees. Mueller-exclusive HydraCinn® fabric, Triaxial Hinges, tibial containment system, inner anti-slip strips, flatlock seams, form-fitting hourglass design, fully adjustable and comfortable fit.
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Supportive steel springs support both sides of the knee, yet still allow leg flexion and extension. So with the Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Knee Brace, you get the support you need without hampering your flexibility. Recommended to help control sublaxating patellas and to help support stiff, sore or unstable knees.
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The Mueller Hg80 Knee Stabilizer features their exclusive HydraCinn fabric, steel springs with bilateral support, an hourglass design and a reinforced lightweight gel buttress. Use it to treat stiff sore or unstable knees or a dislocated patella (kneecap).
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The Mueller Hg80 Knee Support has a lightweight design that allows continued knee flexibility and mobility. The comfort oriented design also includes a permanently bonded anti microbial barrier (to control perspiration and unpleasant odours) and built in moisture management.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Premium Hinged Knee Brace has lightweight and neoprene-free breathable fabric with maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Premium Knee Stabilizer has lightweight and neoprene-free breathable fabric with maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hinged Knee Brace features a triaxial hinge to track your knee’s natural movement. The fitted sleeve slips on and provides maximum medial-lateral support of your weak or injured knee. Fits either knee.
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Lightweight and low profile for comfort
Our Bio Skin Hinged Knee Skin is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
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Structural support for knee instability
Our Bio Skin Hinged Knee Skin – Front Closure is one of the lightest hinged knee braces available. The offset, bicentric hinges conform to the shape of the leg and provide extra support to knees with ligament damage. The Hinged Knee Skin provides excellent compression to control swelling and pain caused from a meniscus tear or an LCL or MCL injury, and to speed up the healing process in a damaged knee joint.
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The LP Hinged Knee Stabilizer is equipped with hinges that offer maximum protection against ligament damage and an EVA ring to prevent patellar displacement. It is the perfect choice if you are looking to pursue a physically active lifestyle while recovering from an old knee injury.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hinged WrapAround Knee Brace features a triaxial hinge to track your knee’s natural movement. The fitted sleeve slips on and provides maximum medial-lateral support of your weak or injured knee. Fits either knee.
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The McDavid Hyperblend Knee Sleeve w/Buttress & Stays uses McDavid’s Hyperblend technology together with bilateral aluminium stays and a foam buttress to produce a knee sleeve that is comfortable, low profile and provides pain relief from arthritis and tendonitis.
