How To Choose the Right Knee Brace for Arthritis

If you have arthritis in your knee, you know that it’s a literal pain. There’s no cure that will reverse the damage to your joints. But a multipronged arthritis treatment plan can go a long way toward helping relieve your symptoms.

One part of that plan may be wearable devices, like knee braces.

“Knee braces can be helpful for managing your pain and increasing the feeling of stability in the joint,” says physical therapist Dawn Lorring, PT. “The location and severity of your symptoms will drive which brace works best for you.”

Lorring walks us through the options.

Types of knee braces for arthritis

If you’ve spent any amount of time researching knee braces, you know there are a bunch of different ones out there.

But in general, there are three main types:

• Sleeve braces provide compression, which can reduce swelling and warm the joint.
• Web braces help stabilize your knee to keep it from buckling or getting wobbly.
• Unloader braces help shift pressure off your knee.

How to pick the best knee brace for your arthritis

The right brace for you depends on a few different factors.

“There’s no one right answer,” Lorring says. “There are so many types of braces out there because people can have such different needs.”

Here’s what to consider.

The severity of your arthritis

Perhaps the first thing to consider is the extent of the damage to your knee.

A breakdown of cartilage — the cushioning material in your joints that acts as a shock absorber between your bones — causes osteoarthritis. As that cartilage wears, it can cause pain and stiffness.

• For mild arthritis, a sleeve brace may be enough to give you some extra support. If you need more stability, choose one with a hinge or plastic pieces around the sides. Lorring recommends sleeve braces with an opening at the kneecap.
• For moderate arthritis, web braces can give you added stability. As you bend and straighten your knee, the webbing tightens in certain areas, which provides extra support for your knee.
• For more severe arthritis (“bone-on-bone”), you may benefit more from an unloader knee brace that redistributes pressure so your knee isn’t taking so much impact.

Not sure where your arthritis rates on the scale? Your pain may be one indication. But for a fuller understanding of the extent of your condition, talk with a healthcare provider. X-rays and other imaging tests (such as CTs and MRIs) can provide a fuller understanding of the severity.

Where your arthritis is in your knee

There are different points in your knee where arthritis can set in. Where your knee hurts can be a sign of where the damage is. But a healthcare provider can tell you, too, based on imaging tests.

Take that into consideration when choosing a knee brace.

• For arthritis under your kneecap, a web brace may be most helpful. “Braces with webbing can provide guidance for how the kneecap moves,” Lorring notes.
• For arthritis on the inside or outside of your knee, an unloader brace may be a better fit. They have a frame that can be adjusted to shift pressure and relieve pain. “If the inside of your knee hurts, the brace can be adjusted to put more force on the outside of your knee — and vice versa,” she explains.

Your budget

Knee braces for arthritis can span a wide range of price points — anywhere from $10 to several hundred.

Sleeve braces are the least expensive type, often in the neighborhood of $15 to $50. But if they don’t work for your needs, they can be money wasted. Web braces typically cost more, around $75 to $100.

Unloader braces are the most expensive, with some models costing several hundred dollars. But they may be covered by insurance if it’s determined to be medically necessary and you have a prescription.

“Talk with a healthcare provider about what your best options are,” Lorring recommends. “They can steer you in the right direction so you don’t potentially waste money trying to find the right one for you.”

Alternatives to knee braces for arthritis

Braces can work well for some people with knee arthritis, but they aren’t your only option for wearable devices.

Managing arthritis in your knee isn’t always just about supporting the joint itself, especially if you have high arches, flat feet or trouble with your gait (how you walk).

In those cases, you may get some relief by choosing more supportive shoes or wearing shoe inserts (orthotics) instead of — or in addition to — a knee brace.

“Orthotics can help to make sure your foot is moving in the best way it can so your knee isn’t getting more force than it should,” Lorring says.

There is a wide variety of shoe inserts you can buy in a drug store or online. You can also get them custom-made.

In addition to wearable devices, a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan may include medications, physical therapy and other strategies. Talk with a healthcare provider about knee braces and other ways to manage your arthritis and stay steady on your feet.