The Forbes Health editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Health site. This compensation comes from two main sources. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles; these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them.

The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. While we work hard to provide accurate and up-to-date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Health does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Knee injuries and chronic pain in the knee can be complicated, but the process of searching for a knee brace shouldn’t be. Picking out the best knee brace for your needs is a crucial part of managing pain effectively and healing—and we’re here to help.

To find the best knee braces for older adults, the Forbes Health editorial team researched over 90 knee braces, analyzing cost, product details, use case, comfort and availability. See which knee braces made the cut below.

Note: All prices are accurate as of publication date.

Bauerfeind’s GenuTrain Knee Brace offers flexible but secure support in this compression sleeve designed to relieve knee swelling and mild instability. Thanks to its contoured fabric designed with the shape of your knee in mind, the company claims this brace targets sensory receptors in the knee by gently massaging the area. It hugs sensitive areas of the knee to relieve pain, reduce swelling and increase circulation to the injured or painful area. Meanwhile, the company’s Omega+ pad protects the kneecap and offers pain relief as you move, while lateral stays help keep your knee secure and in place.

With its soft, textured fabric and Omega+ pad for knee protection, this knee brace allows for a full contact comfortable wear, and is machine washable for easy maintenance.

Made for people with knee instability, ligament injuries, meniscus tears, hyperextension and sprains, the Bioskin Premium Hinged Knee Brace With Gel offers relief and support. The brace’s hinge and compression supports the knee joint while a silicone gel ring surrounds the kneecap, gently massaging it and offering cooling pain relief.

This knee brace’s lightweight, four-way stretch fabric is made for comfortable movement and to keep you going throughout during your day. Plus, its stabilizing straps above and below the knee help ensure it stays in place.

Brace Ability’s Short and Lightweight Patella Tracking Brace is specifically recommended for people with patellar tracking disorder, dislocation, pain, tendon injuries, knee sprains and meniscus injuries. Smaller than some other braces, this knee brace offers support on the inside and outside of the kneecap area. An open front invites airflow through the brace, and the closed back provides additional support and compression. Velcro straps along the top and bottom of the brace offer adjustable support as needed.

Due to its compact design and adjustable support, this knee brace can be used during a variety of activities and while resting. The moisture-wicking material keeps you dry during movement, and because it’s latex-free and made with neoprene, the brace is lightweight, soft and breathable.

Mueller’s Hg80 knee brace provides support for injured or arthritic knee joints by supporting the knee to prevent movement from side to side. The brace can be worn by men and women and can sustain all-day use.

This brace is made with antimicrobial materials and can also be hand-washed with cold water and mild detergent to maintain freshness.

This single pivot hinge (SPH) brace by Thermoskin provides strong support using removable hinges and compression. The hinges create bilateral support on the knee, to offer protection against injuries like hyperextension and helping injured or recovering knees to heal quickly. Additionally, it’s made with Thermoskin’s Trioxon material, a three-dimensional lining that increases air circulation throughout the brace to help prevent moisture buildup and provide insulation. The company also claims this material enhances blood flow, provides compression to counteract swelling, increases muscle and skin temperature and muscle elasticity and response, provides pain relief and supports correct knee positioning.

Thermoskin notes this brace should not be worn within 72 hours of an acute injury due to its synthetic fiber material makeup, which could cause allergic reactions on the skin. With that said, the brace doesn’t contain latex.

Ideal for those wanting a breathable, bariatric knee brace, this option offers strong, adjustable support without overheating the skin or causing discomfort. Suitable for average to plus-size men and women, the brace’s wraparound style is secured through a closure in the front of the brace, and adjustable straps above and below the brace keep your knee secure. Hinges on both sides of the knee also offer strong support and stability during daily activity and can be removed depending on your needs.

This knee brace is latex-free and can be worn directly on the skin and under or over clothing. It’s made with premium-grade neoprene, which provides a slight warmth and compression to help facilitate injury recovery.

This brace’s hinges allow for stability and movement, while its sleeve design offers compression to injured knees. The front of this brace is left open for breathability, but it’s surrounded by a padded buttress for added support, and the back is lined with a perforated back panel that warms the brace while preventing moisture buildup. Reinforced tabs make donning and removing this brace simple, and sewn-in hinges won’t move when you do.

This brace doesn’t contain natural rubber latex. Instead, neoprene offers thermal compression for added recovery.

Designed to help remove excess pressure and pain from the knee, this bariatric knee brace comes with removable hinges on either side of the knee to add stability and adjustable support for the knee. Straps above and below the knee also add support and keep the brace in place while you walk. To help moderate temperature, the brace features an open patella, which allows airflow to the skin. A latex-free, neoprene alternative fabric also adds to this brace’s breathability.

This brace only weighs about one pound, so it shouldn’t weigh you down as you go about your day.

With stash pockets for small item storage, anti-migration technology to prevent slipping, heat retention and reflective stitching for added safety during evening hours, this knee brace offers support and functionality. Recommended for mild to moderate ligament sprains, tendon strains, meniscus injuries, hyperextension and patella support, the DonJoy Bionic Knee Brace features bilateral polycentric hinges to help stop hyperextension and support stability. Its wraparound design and pull tabs makes the brace easy to put on and take off, and its stretch webbing closure ensures a personalized fit.

Perforated neoprene makes this brace breathable while offering added heat retention to help soothe and heal injuries.

Bauerfeind’s GenuTrain A3 Knee Brace offers flexible but secure support in this compression sleeve designed to relieve knee swelling and mild instability—specifically in people experiencing osteoarthritis. Thanks to its contoured fabric designed with the shape of your knee in mind, the brace allows movement while keeping the knee secure and supported. Meanwhile, a viscoelastic pad protects the kneecap, and, the company says, gently massages affected joints and muscles to provide pain relief while enhancing healing.

This brace’s soft, textured fabric offers full contact and a comfortable wear, and its elasticity helps maintain its form-fitting shape.

To determine the best knee braces for older adults, Forbes Health analyzed data on over 90 products across the market, considering factors including price, available sizes, fabric features, adjustability, and if the product was available for customers to purchase directly. Star rankings and superlatives are assigned solely by the editorial team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Just as there are a variety of knee injuries and issues, there are multiple brace types to heal, prevent and manage the pain these conditions cause. Knowing which type of knee brace is right for your needs is the first step. As with any medical decision, it’s best to consult your health care provider before using a knee brace.

Originally made for athletes recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, functional knee braces are used for stability. They are widely used among a range of individuals as a form of support and are typically worn following an ACL surgery. As the name suggests, functional knee braces are effective in returning users to functional activity after a ligament injury.

While functional knee braces can be made custom, there is little evidence that custom braces offer additional advantages compared to pre-sized braces available in stores. Whether you’re considering a custom or in-store functional knee brace, consult your doctor about the most accurate brace size for you, as it will impact the amount of support the brace provides.

Also known as functional rehabilitative knee braces, rehabilitative knee braces are braces that protect and support an injured or surgically repaired knee joint. Similar to functional knee braces, rehabilitative braces assist in healing the knee and allow patients to gain mobility while reducing pain. Rehabilitative braces boast fast and long-lasting results in terms of improved muscle strength and reduced pain for patients with osteoarthritis.

Unloader knee braces help distribute and “unload” weight from the knee joint. These braces are typically used for people suffering from osteoarthritis, a common knee condition in seniors. Unloader braces are often prescribed by doctors to help patients with osteoarthritis with knee pain and alignment while awaiting knee surgery or as a more cost-effective alternative to surgery in some less severe cases.

One study found patients who were able to tolerate wearing an unloader brace for two years decreased their chances of surgery, and any patient who continued brace use longer than two years didn’t have to undergo surgery[1]Mistry DA, Chandratreya A, Lee PYF. An Update on Unloading Knee Braces in the Treatment of Unicompartmental Knee Osteoarthritis from the Last 10 Years: A Literature Review . Surg J (N Y). 2018;4(3):e110–e118. .

Unloader braces can be used on patients with arthritis in a particular side of the knee, says Daphne Scott, M.D., assistant attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in the department of primary sports medicine in New York City and a Forbes Health 2022 Advisory Board member. The unloader brace puts pressure on the opposite side and opens space, she explains. Unloader braces are one of the types of braces she uses most with patients. She doesn’t, however, recommend anyone put themselves in an unloader brace without first consulting their doctor.

“If someone has a big knee injury, it’s swollen, they’re limping or they can’t handle weight bearing, they absolutely need to be evaluated by a doctor,” she says.

Prophylactic knee braces are designed to protect knees from ligament damage. Often used as a preventative measure, prophylactic knee brace benefits require further research, as they have mixed reviews from health professionals.

The braces can reduce the frequency and severity of medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries, but they also risk giving users an overly confident sense of protection, particularly for a knee that suffered previous injury.

“Knee injury is going to be hard to stop,” says Dr. Scott. “If you’re going to have a knee injury, a knee brace is not to stop that. Unless someone knows something is going on with their knee, a knee brace won’t be very helpful.

Prophylactic knee braces are typically recommended for athletes like football players and aren’t intended for daily use.

Knee sleeves are thinner, less structured braces used to reduce knee pain and improve chronic knee conditions. Typically made completely of fabric—often elastic or neoprene materials—knee sleeves can help improve knee pain and functionality in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

“Most people find some form of relief from those [knee sleeves] because they provide compression and sometimes a little warmth to the knee,” says Dr. Scott. “For people with arthritis, that can help with pain.”

You May Also Be Interested In Orthopedic Shoes From Our Featured Partner

Knee injuries can appear in many forms and require different treatments. Identifying your specific knee injury and need will ensure you find the proper knee brace for successful pain relief and recovery. Common knee injuries and issues that require braces include (but aren’t limited to):

Speak to your health care provider to diagnose your knee pain properly and discuss proper knee brace and treatment options.

Fit is one of the most important factors when it comes to finding the right knee brace, says Dr. Scott. “If you have a knee brace that doesn’t fit, you’re not going to use it, which defeats the purpose,” she says. She recommends going to a specialty brace orthosis provider or a medical supply store where specialists can assist you with finding the right size brace. While off-the-shelf braces come in different sizes, purchasing a brace through a drugstore won’t allow you to try it on in the store. Meanwhile, working with a brace specialist ensures a perfect fit.

“What I look for is that the client and physician have had conversations and decisions about the clients best approach to healing and care,” says Sabrena Jo, senior director of science and research at the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and a Forbes Health 2022 Advisory Board member. “The brace has to be comfortable so that the person is going to actually wear it,” she says.

Dr. Scott adds that multiple types of braces may serve the same purpose. She recommends trying two or three braces to see which one feels best. “It’s almost like buying a car,” she says. “You don’t want to just pick one and walk out with it.”

For seniors especially, finding a brace with comfortable materials is essential, due to thinning and sensitive skin. “As we age, our skin gets thinner,” says Dr. Scott. “A poor-fitting brace, or one that’s rough and has a roughened edge, can cause skin breakdown.” Brace material shouldn’t be traumatizing to the skin, and people who have fabric allergies should be aware of material components to avoid allergic reactions, she adds.

Knee braces come in many styles, the most common being hinged braces, compression sleeves, wraparound braces and straps or bands.

Hinged braces typically feature metal on both sides with a hinge in between, says Dr. Scott, and they’re available in soft and rigid forms, depending on the amount of support needed. These braces are most often seen on post-surgical patients or patients suffering from arthritis, she says. Dr. Scott recommends working with your health care provider to decide if a hinged brace is the right treatment for you.

Meanwhile, wraparound braces are typically used for patellar stabilization (keeping the kneecap in place), and compression sleeves provide compression to the knee and can sometimes provide pain relief, says Dr. Scott. Knee straps or bands are smaller than traditional knee braces and are worn around the bottom of the knee. They’re most commonly used to provide stress and pain relief in the knee.

Some knee braces also offer design features, such as open popliteal, meaning there’s a round opening on the back of the knee, or open patella, which indicates a round opening over the kneecap. Both of these features typically allow for heat reduction and reduced irritation to the skin on the knee. However, a 2017 study comparing open and closed patella braces on 108 patients with knee osteoarthritis found knee braces with no opening over the kneecap gave better results in pain reduction, function and walking speed compared to braces with patellar openings[2]Added MAN, Added C, Kasawara KT, Rotta VP, de Freitas DG. Effects of a Knee Brace With a Patellar Hole Versus Without a Patellar Hole in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Eval Health Prof. 2018;41(4):512-523. .

When searching for the right knee brace, having a brace that’s lightweight can impact its effectiveness. “You can walk out of a physician’s office with orders, but if it’s super uncomfortable and cumbersome, a client might ignore the doctor’s recommendations and discontinue use prematurely,” says Jo.

When treating a knee injury or rehabilitation of a prior injury with a brace, Jo recommends users take lifestyle and mobility into consideration.

“Does it disrupt apparel they’re trying to wear? Does it disrupt movement so they can’t be present [with their families]? Those types of things should be continually considered so an ongoing conversation can be had between the client and the client’s physician,” she says.

“The reason for a brace is to limit mobility so the soft tissues and bone have a chance to heal,” adds Jo. Having a knee brace that supports the knee in this way but still allows for healthy movement is key.

Jo recommends being mindful of movements that support and strengthen the muscles around the affected joints while wearing a brace. “[The] purpose of the brace in general, is to support and stabilize affected muscles,” she says. “Having a support or a brace will do its job to stabilize the affected area, but it won’t do anything to strengthen those muscles or the joint.”

Regular physical movement can also help prevent “the vicious cycle that happens with arthritis,” says Jo. “You have a painful joint, so you don’t move it and it becomes more immobile, and then you lose it. If you have arthritis, you must stay mobile.”

Most braces are intended to be worn during activity, with the exception of severe injury cases, such as a broken kneecap, says Dr. Scott.

Knee braces are covered by Medicare for people who need an off-the-shelf brace, but users must purchase the brace through an approved contract supplier in order to have Medicare cover the cost.

“Medicare will only cover one brace for a particular [body] part once every two to three years,” adds Dr. Scott. “They [patients] have to be pretty careful if they’re getting a brace through their insurance,” she says. “They may end up with a brace that’s not very helpful and have to pay cash for another.”

In addition to open and closed popliteal and patella options, some knee braces come with features like cooling packs, heat therapy or vibration technology for additional pain relief. If you’re considering any of these special features in a knee brace, speak with your health care provider to ensure they will benefit your condition.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Caused by the breakdown of joints and changes in bones, osteoarthritis happens most frequently in hands, hips and knees, and it typically affects older populations. Obesity and being overweight can also contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, notes Jo.

One 2019 study found osteoarthritis to be “one of the leading causes of physical disability in the world[3]Parween R, Shriram D, Mohan RE, Lee YHD, Subburaj K. Methods for evaluating effects of unloader knee braces on joint health: a review. Biomed Eng Lett. 2019;9(2):153–168. .” There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis, but doctors have leaned on unloader knee braces as a non-drug therapy for patients awaiting or attempting to avoid surgery, among other treatments.

Anyone over the age of 40 should be evaluated for osteoarthritis, recommends Dr. Scott, adding that initial screenings with weight-bearing and standing X-rays can be done by a primary care provider.

Yes, men and women can wear the same knee braces. Knee braces are not gender specific and usually depend more on sizing, says Dr. Scott.

Knee braces are not meant for use in water. “Most braces are only utilized for weight-bearing activity,” says Dr. Scott. If your knee brace does get wet, Dr. Scott recommends making sure the brace is given adequate time to dry before putting it on again.

Our Forbes Health advisory board members shared their extensive orthopedic knowledge to support our Best Knee Braces for Seniors Of 2022 ranking.

Exercise & Sports Science / Fitness

Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.

Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.

Jessica is a writer, editor and media professional who has spent her career working with some of the most influential names in media. Prior to joining Forbes Health, Jessica was the manager of creative communications at Hearst, where she specialized in high-level production and project management. As a freelance writer, Jessica has written across a range of topics, including entertainment, travel and career. Her work can be found in Variety, Paste Magazine, The Muse and on her personal website (jessicamlester.com).

Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves.