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Choosing the Best Knee Brace

by Juan Lopez April 26, 2022 0 Comments

Choosing The Best Knee Brace

Choosing the best knee brace for your needs isn’t always easy, but should be a top priority when alleviating pain, weakness, or stiffness in the knees. Luckily, our selection of braces offers a comprehensive range of supports, designed to accommodate the most common forms of knee pain. To help you decide, we took the time to explain exactly what to look for based on material, style, sizing, level of support and more. Plus, if you still need help deciding; we’ve included recommendations based on the most common reasons our customers wear knee braces.

The Types of Knee Braces We Offer

What to Consider When Choosing Your Knee Brace

To make sure you’re choosing the right brace to suit your needs, we’ll break down all the crucial factors.

Material

  • Neoprene Blend

    Our standard, hinged & patella knee braces are made from a durable neoprene blend. An industry standard, neoprene is the ideal material for braces because of its superior heat retention, breath-ability, moisture absorption, and resistance to stretching.

  • Bamboo Charcoal

    On the other hand, our knee sleeve supports are made with a bamboo-charcoal blend. The goal of this material is to regulate temperature and provide compression. It’s more lightweight than neoprene and offers only mild support.

  • Nylon Blend

    Our athletic knee sleeves also offer compression, and are perfect for athletes. They are made of a nylon/spandex blend that helps improve blood-flow, paired with an anti-slip silicone band.

  • Aluminum Alloy

    Aluminum Alloy is both lightweight and durable, letting the wearer take advantage of maximum support for long-term recovery. It is also rust-proof, meaning it can stand up to the elements for years without degrading.

Type

  • Wrap Around

    Our wrap around braces are made with multiple Velcro straps on the top and bottom of the brace which allow you to customize the fit and level of support. You can adjust the size, making it easy to manage swelling throughout the recovery process.

  • Hinged

    Constructed with lateral hinges on either side of the knee, a hinged knee brace provides maximum and rigid support by stabilizing the knee and protecting vulnerable ligaments. This option is popular among athletes and those looking to protect the knee post serious injury. .

  • Range of Motion

    Range of motion braces help protect the knee by preventing the wearer from overextending the joint. They feature a rigid aluminum exterior lined with foam padding to maintain comfort. An adjustable dial makes it easy to fine-tune the range of motion, letting you choose when the brace locks. This design is ideal for rehabilitation, surgery and injury recovery.

  • Knee Straps or Bands

    Our patella knee straps are designed to relieve pain by applying targeted pressure to the knee joint. The minimal design adjusts to fit around the knee, just below the kneecap. These braces are popular because they protect the knee and provide additional support, without the full coverage of a standard knee support.

  • Support Sleeves

    These supports are designed to provide lightweight compression and mild support for increased circulation and targeted compression. Support sleeves are a popular option for arthritis, as well as for clicking or popping knee pain. Athletes can benefit too, whether you’re a runner or play basketball. .

  • Compression

    Our compression leg sleeves offer mild support to the knee and lower leg. However this sleeve's main benefit is the compression and heat retention it offers, which improves blood flow. These are a good choice to relieve swelling, as well as for athletes who want to increase stability and stamina with a single product.

    The Compression Knee Ice Wrap allows for customizable compression while cooling sore joints and ligaments. This design utilizes a pump + valve mechanism that can be adjusted to personal preference.

  • Hot and Cold Therapy

    Hot and cold therapy can work wonders at soothing pain from knee injuries. Our Standard Knee Ice Wrap and Compression Knee Ice Wrap are equipped with gel packs that can be either heated or frozen. The brace can be strapped around the knee and provides full coverage around the front, back, and sides. The best part is the brace can be secured so that you can move around while icing or heating. 


    While more commonly used for heat therapy, the heated massaging knee wrap can also function as hot or cold and is designed with an added massaging function to soothe knee pain.

Open or Closed Patella

You may have noticed that some braces are designed with an opening around the kneecap, while others cover it up. An open patella design is one that exposes the kneecap to reduce pressure and provide adequate patellar tracking. This keeps the kneecap aligned and from shifting out of place as the leg bends. A closed patella design covers the kneecap completely to provide even compression across the entire knee. This type of brace does not hold the knee joint in place or prevent against shifting.


If maximum support is what you need, look to our Standard or Hinged knee brace for an open patella design. For a closed patella brace and mild support, our compression sleeves are the better option.

Sizing & Fit

Our adjustable knee braces feature a one-size-fits-most design, perfect for men and women. While our support sleeves are available in S/M and M/L sizes.


When adjusting your brace for proper fit, make sure it’s tight enough to avoid slipping while loose enough that it doesn’t cut off circulation. The adjustable style of our braces make this easy. With any style of support, you should be able to comfortably fit 2 fingers between the brace and your skin.

Level of Support

Try a mild support brace if compression is your top priority, or you are recovering from minor aches or pains. Our bamboo knee sleeves and athletic knee sleeves are both great options, providing adequate support for conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, sprains, and strains.

  • Mild

    Try a mild support brace if compression is your top priority, or you are recovering from minor aches or pains. Our bamboo knee sleeves are a great option, providing adequate support for conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, sprains, and strains.

  • Medium

    Knee braces offering medium support are typically the most versatile option. They help to prevent injuries, provide stability during moderate exercise and relieve Arthritis or tendonitis pain - without restricting movement. Both our Standard and Hinged knee brace can be adjusted properly for medium support.

  • Maximum

    Maximum support braces offer bilateral hinged support and multiple adjustable straps. They are often worn by athletes or those recovering from a serious injury to keep the joint aligned and protect it from overextension. Out of our supports, the hinged ROM knee brace offers the maximum amount of support.

Our Recommendations for...

Still not sure which brace is perfect for you? Here’s what we recommend based on common conditions our customers face.

Knee Brace

Overall Support

If you’re looking for protection you can wear throughout your daily activities, we recommend our standard knee brace for overall support. The open patella design will help keep your knee joint strong and protected. The lightweight and breathable neoprene material is comfortable over the long term while staying durable enough for regular use.

View THIS Knee Brace
Extra Support Patella Knee Straps

Running

If you want to prioritize lightweight flexibility, we recommend our patella support knee straps.They’re designed to keep the patellar tendon aligned and relieve pain with targeted pressure. Their anti-slip, minimal and low profile design, stays in place over long runs and won’t get in the way. Or for coverage over the entire joint, our standard knee brace will do the job.

View thIS Knee Brace
Standard Knee Ice Wrap

Pain Relief

After an injury, recurring pain is a common complaint due to swelling, sore joints or ligaments and both cold and hot therapy are typically recommended during the stages of recovery. Our standard knee ice wrap does both! It’s easy to use and securely straps around the knee for full coverage. The Compression Knee Ice Wrap and Heated Massaging Knee Brace are two other great options for both hot and cold relief + added features for even more pain relief.

View thIS Knee Brace
Knee Brace for ACL or MCL Injury

ACL or MCL Injury

ACL and MCL injuries are serious and need an extra-durable brace. To ensure a safe and fast recovery, choose our ROM knee brace. With a lightweight aluminum body, this brace offers rigid protection and the ability to adjust range of motion at the turn of a dial. It’s the best way to get maximum stability, and minimize the risk of reinjury. For injury prevention, or late-stage recoveries, try our hinged knee brace.

View thIS Knee Brace
Bamboo Knee Sleeves

Arthritis

Arthritis doesn’t take a break, and so finding a brace for everyday wear is crucial. The soft, antimicrobial fabric of our  bamboo knee sleeves stay comfortable while offering firm, all-over compression. It improves blood-flow, reduces swelling and inflammation, and helps stabilize arthritic knees for effective pain management.

View thIS Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace

Sports

Pushing your knees to the limit can take its toll after months or years, which is why a maximum support brace is the only option for athletes. Give our  hinged knee brace a try and see how it’s dual aluminum supports keep your knee joint aligned and ligaments protected throughout quick movements and high intensity. Our leg sleeves can be another good option, providing improved blood flow for enhanced athletic performance.

View thIS Knee Brace
Knee Brace by vive

Working Out

Getting the most out of your workout takes a combination of protective support and firm compression. For the complete package, take a look at our standard knee brace. It will protect you from injury while strength training, and keep the blood pumping with adjustable compression.

View thIS Knee Brace
Patella Knee Straps

Walking or Hiking

Whether you’re a long distance hiker or just trying to get in your daily steps, keeping knees healthy is no easy task. A comfortable and simple solution is our standard patella straps, which attach quickly just below the kneecap and provide continual support to the patellar tendon. Our bamboo knee sleeves are also a good choice, as they ensure added blood flow to your joint.

View thIS Knee Brace
Bamboo Knee Sleeves by Vive

Compression

Our bamboo knee sleeves are an easy choice for compression relief. Designed to promote blood flow, regulate temperature, and reduce swelling; these sleeves are ideal for conditions like arthritis or tendonitis, clicking or popping in the knee. The simple slip-on design can be conveniently worn under or over clothing. For more sedentary compression, try our Compression Knee Ice Wrap with adjustable compression both hot and cold relief.

View thIS Knee Brace
Hinged Knee Brace

Torn Meniscus

A torn meniscus is a serious injury that puts even the toughest athletes out of commission for weeks. Support your recovery with a brace that can stand up to regular wear and tear. Our hinged knee brace is the perfect option, putting support and stability first. Even while keeping the knee fully aligned, it stays lightweight and wearable, so it won’t get in the way of your day to day activities.

View thIS Knee Brace

Try our ice therapy machine for accelerated recovery that is perfect for swelling, stiffness, and inflammation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have lingering questions about buying a new knee brace? See what others like you are asking.

Q: How do I know if I need a knee brace?

A: If you're experiencing consistent knee pain, or are recovering from a condition like and ACL or MCL injury, the hinged knee brace provides more rigid protection and support to the knee joint while playing sports.

Q: Which knee brace is best for all day wear?

A: The standard knee brace is a best for all day wear. It provides comfort and adjustable support for moderate to mild pain.

Q: Can I wear a knee brace to bed?

A: Some customers complain about knee pain while sleeping, but these knee braces were not designed to be worn while sleeping and should be removed before bed.

If you have knee pain at night, consider using a knee pillow for extra support that reduces knee pain (and even back pain) while sleeping.

Q: How do I properly fit my knee brace?

A: When putting on your brace for the first time, try the two finger test for a perfect fit. Start by adjusting the Velcro strap of your brace so it’s snug around your leg. Then, fit two fingers between the strap and your leg. If they don’t fit, the brace is too tight, if you can fit a third finger in the brace, then it’s too loose.

We also recommend taking the brace with you to your next doctor’s or physical therapy appointment to get a professional opinion and see that the knee brace fits properly.

Need More Help Deciding?

If you’re still unsure about which knee brace is right for you, our customer service and product experts are standing by to help! Get in touch via phone between 8:30am and 9pm EST daily at 1-800-487-3808 or email us at service@vivehealth.com

Shop All Knee Braces
Juan Lopez
Juan Lopez

Juan Lopez is part of the product development and improvement team at ViveHealth.com. His understanding of products and vast knowledge of consumer needs makes it easy for him to provide helpful information on choosing the best products.



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