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Best Knee Supports for Arthritis 2024

7 January 2024

Arthritis is one of the most common causes of knee pain, with over 10 million people in the UK being affected. In both mild and severe cases, arthritic knee pain can cause real disruption to one's everyday life, preventing them from doing simple tasks like walking the dog or taking part in their favourite weekend activities.

Here at KneeSupports.com, we've compiled a list of the Best Knee Supports for Arthritis, featuring high-quality braces to help you overcome arthritic knee pain. Whether its a lightweight sleeve for staying active, or a heavy-duty offloader to stave off pain for good, our knee supports let people with arthritis live life on their terms.

What Does This Guide Have In Store?

Looking for something in particular? Here is everything this guide will cover:


Best Overall Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Actimove Arthritis Care Warming Knee Support

Actimove Arthritis Care Warming Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Ceramic fibres provide warming compression
 Warms the joints to prevent arthritic stiffness and pain
 Light compression aids blood circulation and recovery
 Latex and neoprene-free for reduced irritation

Perfect For...

 Mild cases of arthritis
 Mild-to-moderate activity
 Dog walking, city walking, light sports activity

Not the Best For...

 Stability (See our solution)
 Breathability (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Light, compressive, flexible, warm, affordable; its hard to stop listing all the reasons why we picked the Actimove Arthritis Knee Brace as our best arthritis knee support. If you want quick and effective relief from arthritis pain, the ceramic fibres deliver soothing, warm compression to help loosen up stiff joints.

See What Our Customers Say: "This knee support has made walking so much easier, thank you" - Beryl

Runner Up: Donjoy Rotulax Padded Patella Knee Support 


Best Running Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Ultimate Performance Advanced Elastic Compression Knee Support

Ultimate Performance Advanced Elastic Compression Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Graduated neoprene-free compressive action
 Wicking materials prevent overheating during active use
 Tailored to provide precise anatomical support
 Superior in terms of flexibility, freedom and comfort

Perfect For...

 Mild cases of arthritis
 Moderate activity levels
 Running, tennis, hiking and more

Not the Best For...

 Stability (See our solution)
 Warm compression (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: If you're looking for a lighter support to stay active with arthritis, Ultimate Performance Elastic Knee Support is your best choice. Having been made without using neoprene, it provides delicate compression that arrests pain and improves proprioception without taking away your freedom to move.

When We Asked Ultimate Performance, They Said: "This support does everything that neoprene does, but is more comfortable" 

Runner Up: Thuasne Action Reliever Osteoarthritis Knee Brace 


Best Osteoarthritis Knee Support

Winner: Thuasne Action Reliever Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Thuasne Action Reliever Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Offloads pressure away from the area affected by arthritis
 Applies three-way corrective force to maintain true alignment
 Breathable materials and anatomic shape for comfort
 Almost imperceptible when worn underneath clothing 

Perfect For...

 Moderate-to-severe cases of arthritis
 Moderate activity levels
 Tennis, golf, hiking, football, garden boules and more

Not the Best For...

 Affordability (See our solution)
 Massaging (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Thuasne ran a controlled study on how long people could walk pain free while wearing the Action Reliever Knee Brace, and the results speak for themselves. Those who wore the brace found that they could walk an extra 2km a day pain-free after an eight week period. Now that's progress!

When We Asked Thuasne, They Said: "Our study shows that by wearing the brace, the pain on exertion was reduced and the pain-free distance extended. Patients who wore a brace for two years or more did not require surgery at eight years follow-up"

Runner Up: Ultimate Performance Advanced Elastic Compression Knee Support 


Best Arthritis Knee Support for Knee Replacement

Winner: Donjoy OA Nano Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Donjoy OA Nano Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Offloads pressure from the area affected by arthritis
 Helps the user avoid undergoing knee surgery
 Clinically proven three-point offloading technology
 Four-points-of-leverage system protects the ligaments

Perfect For...

 Severe cases of arthritis
 Moderate activity levels
 Hiking, running, golf, garden boules and more

Not the Best For...

 Compression (See our solution)
 Patella support (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Sometimes arthritis can get so severe that simply walking up the stairs becomes an insurmountable challenge, and knee replacement surgery becomes inevitable. For these serious cases, the Donjoy OA Nano uses the best offloading technology to shift all the pressure away from the affected area. This makes the pain almost seem to disappear, which can postpone surgery and keep you supported for a long time afterwards.

When We Asked Donjoy, They Said:  "This knee brace is ideal for people who need a knee replacement, and can be worn right up until the day of surgery"

Runner Up: Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Best Knee Brace for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Winner: Bauerfeind GenuTrain A3 Active Knee Brace

Bauerfeind GenuTrain A3 Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Stimulating nubs create a soothing massage for swelling
 Integral corrective guide improves patella tracking
 3D "train active" knit for optimal neuromuscular joint stability
  Anatomical design with breathable material for comfort

Perfect For...

 Moderate cases of arthritis
 Moderate activity levels
 Pain relief, walking, hiking

Not the Best For...

 Offloading (See our solution)
 Warmth (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can affect people of all ages, and unlike osteoarthritis, the pain can't be managed by staying active. Instead, the GenuTrain Knee Brace helps people with rheumatism relieve pain thanks to a nubbed patella insert that massages the area as you move.

Runner Up: Thuasne Patella Reliever Hinged Knee Brace

 

Best Knee Brace for Uni-Compartmental Arthritis

Winner: Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Rigid frame gives the best support for intense activity
 Pain-relieving four-points-of-leverage system
 Shifts weight towards the healthy tissue
  Lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminium frame

Perfect For...

 Moderate to severe cases of arthritis
 Moderate to high activity levels
 Running, hiking, tennis, skiing and more

Not the Best For...

 Compression (See our solution)
 Flexibility (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Uni-compartmental osteoarthritis is where the degenerative area only affects one side of the knee. The ingenious design of the Donjoy OA Adjuster 3 effectively shifts weight away from the degenerative joint onto the healthy side, allowing your legs to move naturally without any associated pain.

See What Our Customers Say: "This knee brace gives me valuable support whilst carrying out everyday tasks and stops my arthritic knee from swelling. It feels like it holds the knee 'together' which gives me a lot of confidence with mobilising and exercising" - Eva

Runner Up: Donjoy OA Nano Offloading Osteoarthritis Knee Brace

Best Compression Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Ossur Neoprene Wraparound Hinged Patella Knee Support

Ossur Neoprene Wraparound Hinged Patella Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Offers warm compression to reduce inflammation
 Hinged wraparound design helps stabilise the patella
 Improves proprioceptive awareness to avoid pain
  Hassle free application and adjustment

Perfect For...

 Mild-to-moderate cases of arthritis
 Mild-to-moderate activity levels
 Dog walking, light exercise, walking to the shops

Not the Best For...

 Flexibility (See our solution)
 Wearing in warm weather (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Improving your proprioceptive awareness is key to avoiding sharp pains when out walking the dog or standing up to get off the bus. By providing firm compression using dual-action hinges, the Ossur Hinged Knee Support makes you more aware of your movements, so you can prevent causing yourself unnecessary harm.

When We Asked Ossur, They Said: "The hinges provide more stability so you can feel safer when you move"

Runner Up: Donjoy Stabilax Padded Knee Support with Removable Hinges

Best Patella Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Donjoy OA Reaction Web Knee Brace

Donjoy OA Reaction Web Left Medial/Right Lateral Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Offloads pressure onto the healthy side of the joint
 Web-shaped design absorbs impacts to mitigate strain
 Silicone material is dynamic and flexible
 Open top design offers unmatched breathability

Perfect For...

 Mild-to-moderate cases of arthritis
 Moderate activity levels
 Golf, walking, and more

Not the Best For...

 Wearing beneath clothes (See our solution)
 Warm compression (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: This unique looking knee brace features the same effective offloading technology that Donjoy is known for, but provides extra flexibility thanks to its open top design. The Donjoy OA Reaction is also great for people with patellofemoral arthritis, as the web mesh is specially designed to disperse forceful impacts.

When We Asked Donjoy, They Said: "Excellent OA support that also keeps the patella in place"

Runner Up: Bauerfeind GenuTrain A3 Knee Brace


Best Thermal Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Ultimate Performance Adjustable Open Patella Knee Support with Straps

Ultimate Performance Adjustable Open Patella Knee Support with Straps

Why We Love It...

 Neoprene material provides soothing compression
 Warming properties help alleviate stiffness and pain
 Open-patella and popliteal for extra breathability
 Easy to fit and adjust with a no-fuss design

Perfect For...

 Mild osteoarthritis
 Mild-to-moderate activity
 Pain relief, light exercise

Not the Best For...

 Those sensitive to neoprene (See our solution)
 Wearing in warm weather (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: Warm compression has long been recognised as an effective method for loosening stiff arthritic joints and relieving muscle ache. This Ultimate Performance Adjustable Knee Support is made from neoprene material, which has warming properties that help ease stiffness throughout the day.

See What Our Customers Say: "Today I did an 8-mile walk in comfort whilst wearing this support" - Brian

Runner Up: Actimove Arthritis Care Warming Knee Support


Best Value Knee Support for Arthritis

Winner: Donjoy Fortilax Elastic Everyday Knee Support

Donjoy Fortilax Elastic Everyday Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Elastic compression to improve proprioception
 Improves proprioceptive awareness to avoid pain
 Stretch zones give you the freedom to move
 Compression helps reduce pain and swelling

Perfect For...

 Mild cases of arthritis
 Mild levels of activity
 Affordability

Not the Best For...

 Offloading (See our solution)
 Stability (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: You don't have to go out and spend a fortune in order to get relief for arthritis. Most of the time, a simple compressive sleeve can help ease the tension and reduce pain and swelling. the Donjoy Fortilax Knee Support is the most affordable on this list, and does an excellent job of keeping pain at bay.

Runner Up: Actimove Arthritis Care Warming Knee Support

Best Knee Ice Pack for Knee Replacment

Winner: The Aircast Knee Cold Therapy Cryo Cuff and Cooler Bundle

Thuasne Sport Light Open Patella Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Provides ice cold targeted compression for up to 8 hours
 Uses a gravity-fed system to continually recirculate the water
 Anatomically shaped cuff offers complete knee coverage
✔ Safe to use and easy to setup

Perfect For...

 Knee replacements
 Post-workout recovery
 Arthritis and tendonitis

Try an Upgrade: Enjoy automatic compression with the Aircast Cryo/Cuff with Automatic Therapcy IC Cooler

 

Editor's Verdict: For people with severe cases of arthritis, knee replacement surgery may be unavoidable. Recovering from surgery can be a long, hard process, but icing the knees makes all the difference, with Doctors recommending ice-pack therapy 3-4 times per day for the first few weeks. That's where the Aircast Cryo/Cuff Cooler Bundle comes in, this premium ice pack re-circulates ice cold water around the knee to ensure lasting, hassle-free relief.

See What Our Customers Say: "My wife had a second knee replacement - the Aircast system has been brilliant in reducing swelling and lowering pain - she just wishes she had purchased when she had her first knee replaced!"

Runner Up: Dura Soft Knee Sleeve Knee Ice Pack Wrap

Free Yourself From Knee Pain

Living with arthritis is a never ending battle, but steps can be taken to ensure you live a happy and fulfilling life. This guide has presented you with the top 10 best knee braces for arthritis, so hopefully we've covered all bases. However, if none of them are right for you, feel free to explore the rest of our Arthritis Knee Supports range.

Have any specific questions about any of our knee supports? Let us know in the comments and we'd be more than happy to help.