What Knee Brace Should You Choose for Osteoarthritis?

Reviewed for 2024

Braces for Knee Osteoarthritis - Overview

Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of osteoarthritis, affecting millions of people across North America. For many sufferers of this degenerative disease, medical therapy doesn’t bring effective pain relief and surgery may not be the best treatment approach.

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis of the knee-joint is a common degenerative condition that occurs with “wear and tear” of the protective linings on the bone ends.

Damage to the articular cartilage can be caused by natural aging, repetitive impact or previous injuries.

Unfortunately, this degenerative condition can greatly impact your daily lifestyle and often leads to difficulties with simple everyday tasks like walking, going up stairs, running, getting in and out of chairs, or even just getting a good night’s sleep.

How supportive knee braces can help you

Fortunately, there are alternative options for those who don’t want to consider surgery or rely on prescription drugs. Knee braces are a non-invasive support therapy that can greatly enhance your quality of life by reducing osteoarthritis discomfort, improving your overall mobility and slowing down the degenerative process of the affected compartment.

There are three compartments that can be affected with osteoarthritis in the knee joint. Two are weight bearing compartments, and one is behind the kneecap. Some experience wear and tear on all three compartments at the same rate, whereas others have a higher severity of wear and tear on one weight bearing compartment over the other. With a knee brace designed specifically to treat osteoarthritic changes, it’s possible to effectively adjust the mechanical alignment of the knee by unloading the weight-bearing forces onto the less arthritic side, thereby decreasing the bone-on-bone pressures of the damaged area and offering significant pain relief.

When the articular cartilage gradually thins and eventually wears down altogether, bone-on-bone contact can cause severe pain, swelling and joint stiffness.

An 'unloader' knee brace opens up the area of the knee where there is friction and resulting pain. Example using a Breg OA knee brace.

If you’re seriously considering an osteoarthritis knee brace, it’s important to determine the level of stability, function and fit that your orthopaedic brace will require to suit your lifestyle needs. With so many brands and designs available, this can be a tough decision to make.

At OrthoMed, we provide expert fittings and knowledgeable advice, as well as ongoing product care and maintenance services to ensure you always have access to the follow-up care you need.

If you have further questions about osteoarthritis or how custom knee bracing could benefit you, we’d love to help. To learn more about our products or to request a free in-home or in-office consultation and custom fitting, please contact us. Keep reading below for our recommendations on knee braces for osteoarthritis based on severity.

What Knee Brace Should You Select for Osteoarthritis?

Generally, what knee brace you require depends on the severity of your osteoarthritis (OA). Knee osteoarthritis is 'measured' using a scale from stages 0 to 4, with stage 0 being a healthy knee (with no signs of osteoarthritis), and stage 4 being severe. We've summarized recommended knee braces for you into these severity categories. Remember, these are only general recommendations to get you started: You may have 'moderate' OA but a rigid frame knee brace (that we've listed as a recommendation under severe OA) might be the better option for you based on your anatomy. Our team is always available to help you make a final selection if you're unsure, so feel free to contact us!

Stage 1 (Minor OA) & Stage 2 (Mild OA)

Minor pain after walking or running
Area around the knee joint may start to feel stiff and uncomfortable after sitting for extended periods

Recommended Knee Braces for Mild OA

A knee sleeve designed for mild support with compression
Material that offers moisture wicking and breathability to keep the knee cool during wear
Some designs include light weight stays (flexible splint that runs along the side of the brace) to ensure the garment doesn't bunch around the knee
Also can include a built in pad that surrounds the kneecap to provide support

Stage 3 (Moderate OA)

Pain and discomfort while performing daily activities, such as running, walking, kneeling, and bending
There may be early signs of joint inflammation

Recommended Knee Braces for Moderate OA

Soft hinged knee sleeve, wraparound brace with hinges, or rigid hinged knee brace with mild offloading. Hinges or 'splints' on either side of the brace provide stability and/or offloading of the knee joint
Some soft hinged braces include a pad that surrounds the kneecap to provide a secure hold for the kneecap to guide proper patella (kneecap) movement
Some soft hinged braces also include compression (through knitted fabric designs), and strap systems to provide additional support for the knee

Stage 4 (Severe OA)

Constant inflammation. More significant pain and discomfort while moving
Less fluid in the joint causing more friction (sensation of bones rubbing)

Recommended Knee Braces for Severe OA

Rigid frame unloader knee brace to provide the maximum level of support for the knee
Off-the-shelf (OTS) or Custom made
Hinges (or strapping) gently apply pressure to one side of the knee to unload the painful/arthritic compartment of the knee. This increases joint spacing on the impacted side and therefore reduces pain and improves knee joint function