How to choose a knee brace?

Your knee hurts? You’re looking for a solution that could relieve your pain? A knee brace is a must-have! But how to choose a knee brace that is adapted to your morphology and condition? Discover some essential criteria.  

 

What’s a knee brace? 

A knee brace is a medical device that protect, support and/or immobilise the knee joint after a trauma. Depending on the condition you’re suffering from and its intensity, several models exist: knee brace for ligaments, for kneecap or for immobilisation. These knee braces should be worn according to a health professional’s recommendations. They accompany you during daily or sports activities.  

 

Who can wear a knee brace? 

Knee braces are designed to people who present joint, tendon or ligament pain but also to persons overusing their knees. Indeed, this kind of medical device supports the joint to strengthen its natural functions and contributes to pain reduction. So, people with patellar instability or ligament weakness are reassured by the presence of a knee brace. 

 

Why do your knees hurt? 

The knees are part of the most used joints. In the daily life, they support the body weight, absorb the shocks and facilitate movements. Whether we have sports activities or not, corpulence changes as well as the consequences, pain and conditions. In some cases, knee pain can be associated with an accident like a cruciate ligaments rupture. In other cases, repeated microtraumas can contribute to progressive deterioration of the knee joint: this is the case of knee osteoarthritis. To palliate these pains, solutions exist! 

 

Choosing a knee brace to relieve pain  

There are three main types of knee braces designed to relieve different pain: ligament knee braces, patellar knee braces and immobilisation knee braces.  

  • The ligament knee brace is used in the first stage of ligament lesions (strain without tear, pain or significant swelling) or during the transition to an immobilisation knee brace, in addition to physiotherapy (on a physiotherapist’s recommendations). It is ideal for activity recovery after knee sprain or cruciate ligament rupture. It can also be considered as a reassuring presence in the daily life or during sport activities.

  • The patellar knee brace* is intended to relieve pain in the kneecap, the flat bone located in the knee. It aims to hold it in its natural track. Perfectly adapted to daily activities, this type of knee brace is often recommended for people with knee osteoarthritis. The PHYSIOstrap™ MEDICAL knee brace* by EPITACT® is also recommended for people with chronic laxity of the knee, chondromalacia patellae, patellar syndrome or patellar tendinopathy. Its strong points: lightness, flexibility, thinness and joint support along with moderate compression make it an efficient and discreet solution. Also, this knee brace can be worn for prevention (if you’re subject to these conditions) since it does not impede movements! 

  • The brace for immobilisation of the knee can be hinged or not and is often prescribed by a health professional when the trauma is recent. It is used to immobilise the joint while you knee recovers from the injury or after surgery. It is never recommended to wear such a brace daily or during sport practice.  

 

A comfortable brace adapted to activity and age 

To choose the appropriate brace, age as well as the nature and intensity of your activity should be considered. 

Some models are specifically created for adolescents and growth-related conditions for example.  

EPITACT® has also innovated by suggesting the knee brace sport*, created for sportspersons with a tendinopathy or patellar/patellofemoral syndrome. It is designed to relieve, hold and stabilise the knee during practice.   

Moreover, for the elderly, the PHYSIOstrap™ MEDICAL knee brace* combines thinness and lightness for daily comfort and more discretion under clothes. 

 

A knee brace at a fair price 

Knee braces are medical devices. Therefore, the manufacturer offers a suggested retail price to distributors who can accept it or not. This can explain the differences in prices that may be observed between different sales channel or pharmacies. 

In addition, several criteria allow to establish the fair price for a knee brace. One of the first criteria is the work that precedes innovation by the laboratory developing the brace. Then, the quality and origin of the materials that compose the protection are very important. Silicone is a material with many properties but its production cost is higher than other materials like injected plastic. Lastly, performances of the technical fabrics and their origin play a major role in the final price. The mode of production and distribution of the knee brace should also be taken into account. 

 

EPITACT® has chosen to create its devices from technical and thin fabrics to combine relief and comfort, and to offer you quality devices. 

Once you know which type of knee brace is appropriate for you, opt for the correct size by following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Lifespan of these medical devices is estimated at 6 months if you carry out regular maintenance (washing, drying) and follow the aforementioned recommendations. 

Knee braces are medical devices; that is to say they have the CE marking certification, specific to this type of product. If you’re doubting about the device to choose, do not hesitate to consult your health professional (GP, physiotherapist, pharmacist...). 

  

*These products are class I medical devices that bear the CE marking under this regulation. Carefully read the instructions before use. Manufacturer: Millet Innovation. 02/2022