Do You Need a Knee Brace for Knee Pain? (2025)

A knee brace for knee pain is a medical device that supports and stabilizes the knee joint, which can help with knee pain and aid recovery after an injury or surgery. They are made out of a variety of materials and offer a range of support levels.

There are many different types of knee braces, and a healthcare provider will recommend the appropriate one for your condition. While knee braces are generally safe, people with some health conditions (such as poor circulation) should be cautious when using them.

How They Work

Your knee joint includes bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. A knee brace stabilizes these structures, preventing them from moving too much or too suddenly. In addition, some knee braces redistribute the weight on the knee joint, decreasing the amount of force it has to absorb.

Purpose

A knee brace is used after surgery to aid in healing and following an injury, such as:

• Sprain
• Ligament injury
• Patellar (kneecap) dislocation

Knee braces are also used to support the knee and relieve pain from some chronic conditions, including:

• Medial knee osteoarthritis
• Patellofemoral stress syndrome
• Patellar tendinopathy
• Tendonitis
• Chondromalacia patellae (CMP)

Types of Knee Braces

Knee braces differ based on their function and level of support. For example, some braces stabilize the knee while others completely immobilize the joint.

Your healthcare provider and/or physical therapist will tell you what type of support you need and how you should use it. They can also check the fit of your brace and determine if adjustments or a different size are needed.

The most common knee braces include:

• Prophylactic brace: This is a protective knee pad that shields the kneecap from damage due to direct impact. It's used by athletes who play contact sports, such as football.
• Unloader: This type of brace helps shift the pressure and weight on the knee joint to other parts of the leg, which reduces pain. A knee unloader brace is typically used for controlling knee discomfort due to inflammatory conditions like tendonitis and knee osteoarthritis.
• Functional: Used to limit motion in the knee joint, this type of brace is used after an injury or to prevent knee dislocation.
• Bledsoe brace: A Bledsoe brace has straps that wrap around the thigh and shin and metal support brackets on the inside and outside of the knee joint. A small mechanism can lock the knee into full extension or allow the knee to bend a specified amount.
• Knee immobilizer: A knee immobilizer is a long cloth brace that runs the length of the shin and thigh and keeps the knee in one position. The benefit of an immobilizer as compared to a plaster cast is that it can be removed to allow gentle motion during healing.
  

When to Wear It

You may need to wear a knee brace all day or only when doing specific things—it depends on the individual and the condition the brace is used for. Some people only need to wear a knee brace when doing certain activities or during a flare-up of pain.

Wearing a brace for unnecessarily long periods can cause skin abrasion, joint stiffness, and muscle atrophy (shrinking). On the other hand, neglecting to wear it may make you more susceptible to an injury or impair healing.

Ask your healthcare provider about when you should and should not wear your knee brace. Specifically, make sure you're clear on whether you need it when you're:

• Sleeping
• Sitting
• Driving
• Walking
• Stretching

Contraindications

Some medical conditions can make a person susceptible to adverse effects from a knee brace. These include:

• Superficial wounds on the knee
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Poor circulation
• Arterial insufficiency
• Severe varicose veins
• A history of thrombophlebitis in either leg

If you have one of these conditions, your healthcare provider will decide if a knee brace is safe for you.

Summary

Knee braces can provide relief from discomfort and aid healing after an injury or surgery. There are many different types of knee braces, and a healthcare provider or physical therapist can suggest the best kind for you.

It's important to wear a knee brace correctly and for the recommended amount of time. If you're not sure when to wear your knee brace, ask your healthcare provider.