How to Use a Knee Brace

A knee brace is a device that you wear to support your knee, especially if the knee is healing after an injury or surgery. There are several types of knee braces. Some are designed to prevent an injury (prophylactic brace).

These are often worn during sports. Others support an injured knee (functional brace) or keep it still while it heals (rehabilitative brace).

People with severe arthritis of the knee may benefit from a brace that takes some pressure off the knee (unloader brace). Most knee braces are made from a combination of cloth and metal or plastic.

You may need to wear a knee brace to:

• Relieve knee pain.
• Help your knee support your weight (improve stability).
• Help you walk farther (improve mobility).
• Prevent injury.
• Support your knee while it heals from surgery or from an injury.

What are the risks?

Generally, knee braces are very safe to wear. However, problems may occur, including:

• Skin irritation that may lead to infection.
• Making your condition worse if you wear the brace in the wrong way.

How to use a knee brace

Different braces will have different instructions for use. Your health care provider will tell you or show you:

• How to put on your brace.
• How to adjust the brace.
• When and how often to wear the brace.
• How to remove the brace.
• If you will need any assistive devices in addition to the brace, such as crutches or a cane.

In general, your brace should:

• Have the hinge of the brace line up with the bend of your knee.
• Have straps, hooks, or tapes that fasten snugly around your leg.
• Not feel too tight or too loose.

How to care for a knee brace

• Check your brace often for signs of damage, such as loose connections or attachments. Your knee brace may get damaged or wear out during normal use.
• Wash the fabric parts of your brace with soap and water.
• Read the insert that comes with your brace for other specific care instructions.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your knee brace is too loose or too tight and you cannot adjust it.
• Your knee brace causes skin redness, swelling, bruising, or irritation.
• Your knee brace is not helping.
• Your knee brace is making your knee pain worse.