| Best Knee Supports for Football 20243 January 2024 Quick movements, bursts of energy. and constant twisting and turning are all part of a fast-paced game of football, but after 90 minutes this can have a detrimental impact on your knees. It's no surprise then that knee injuries are one of the most common among footballers, taking them out of action for an excruciatingly long period of time. Rest is important to allow the injury to heal properly, but once you feel ready, a knee support will give you added confidence and safety when making your return. To help you find the right support for the job, we took the time to research the Best Knee Supports for Football, and compiled what we found here in an easy-to-read format. What Will This Guide Cover?The brace you need will ultimately depend on which condition or injury you have. This guide covers all the main conditions that affect both competitive and casual footballers, including arthritis, tendonitis and ACL injuries. We've also included a value option, the best all-rounder and an ice pack for treating knee pain at the end of each game. Follow the quick-links below to skip straight to what you're looking for!
Best All-Round Knee Support for FootballWinner: Ultimate Performance Wraparound Runner's Knee Support StrapWhy We Love It... ✔ Three compartments protect each part of the knee Perfect For... ✔ Moderate patella instabilities Not the Best For... ✗ Arthritis (See our solution) Our Verdict: With a clever design that's both supportive and discreet, the Ultimate Performance Support Strap takes our spot for the best all-round knee support for football. Giving your knees plenty of room to breathe and move freely, this innovative brace provides support for multiple conditions, and never disrupts your stride. See What Our Customers Say: "I have used the Runner's Knee Strap for a few weeks and the knee is feeling better. It has given me more confidence to slowly increase my running distance" - Neil Runner Up: Thuasne Genuaction Elastic Knee Support Best ACL Knee Support for FootballWinner: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with FourcePoint HingeWhy We Love It... ✔ Four-Points-of-Leverage system reduces load on the ACL Perfect For... ✔ ACL, PCL and LCL instabilities Not the Best For... ✗ Affordability (See our solution) Our Verdict: ACL injuries are probably the most common for high-level footballers, mainly due to the impact all the twisting and turning has on the knees. Designed specifically for this issue, the Donjoy Armor Knee Brace offloads pressure away from the injured ligament to let you move with barely a hint of pain. However, you may also need to buy a sports cover to prevent harming other players in a one-on-one. When We Asked Donjoy, They Said: "The Donjoy Armor is great for sports because of what it's made of; the flexible steel hinge and aluminium frame makes it lightweight but strong" Runner Up: Donjoy Full Force ACL Protection Knee Brace with FourcePoint Best Arthritis Knee Support for FootballWinner: Donjoy Reaction Web Knee BraceWhy We Love It... ✔ Unique web design disperses impacts to mitigate strain Perfect For... ✔ Osteoarthritis and rheumatism Not the Best For... ✗ Compression (See our solution) Our Verdict: When it comes to arthritis, you'll need a brace that absorbs vibrations in order to counter the high impact movements that the game demands. That's why the Donjoy Reaction is the best option. With its unique web design, the Reaction absorbs impact shock to prevent strain on joints that have been weakened by arthritis. When We Asked Donjoy, They Said: "Perfect for running, jumping and kicking thanks to its ability to absorb shock energy on impact" Runner Up: Donjoy Playmaker II Pull-On Knee Brace Best Tendonitis Knee Support for FootballWinner: Neo G Patella Knee Support StrapWhy We Love It... ✔ Low-profile patella strap offers minimal restriction Perfect For... ✔ Tendonitis and tendinosis Not the Best For... ✗ Osteoarthritis (See our solution) Our Verdict: Providing compression directly across the patella tendon, the Neo G Strap wastes no time in treating tendonitis. The adjustable strap lets you customise compression so that you get the exact level of support you need, and its unobtrusive design won't hold your performance back. See What Our Customers Say: "Very comfortable and has really helped me when playing on Astroturf. About to buy another one." - Chris Runner Up: Ultimate Performance Advanced Patella Tendon Knee Strap Best Goalkeeper Knee Pads for FootballWinner: Rehband PRN Speed Neoprene Knee Pad Support (5mm)Why We Love It... ✔ Knee support with extra padding to cushion ground impacts Perfect For... ✔ Goalkeepers Not the Best For... ✗ Osgood-Schlatter disease (See our solution) Our Verdict: Goalkeepers have the hardest job in football, putting their body on the line for the sake of the team. But all that diving around can have a damaging impact on the knees if precaution isn't taken. That's where the Rehband PRN Knee Pad makes its mark. This dual-purpose support provides premium heat compression while protecting against impacts at the same time. Runner Up: LP Deluxe Neoprene Knee Pad Best Value Knee Support for FootballWinner: Oppo Pull-On Elastic Knee SupportWhy We Love It... ✔ Elasticated support provides gentle knee compression Perfect For... ✔ Budget restraints Not the Best For... ✗ Impact protection (See our solution) Our Verdict: If your budget is stretched, the LP Elastic Knee Support does a great job of keeping you supported without leaving a dent in your bank balance. Its elasticated material provides gentle compression throughout the knee, and a special four-way stretch design gives you freedom to move. See What Our Customers Say: "Does what it says. Great support without the bulk. No seams so no digging into the skin. Well worth the cost which is less than high street retailers." - Eileen Runner Up: LP Elastic Knee Support Best Knee Pain Ice Pack for FootballWinner: Dura Soft Knee Sleeve Knee Ice Pack WrapWhy We Love It... ✔ Advanced hands-free ice pack wrap to ease pain and swelling Perfect For... ✔ Pre-match warmup Not the Best For... ✗ Mobility (See our solution) Our Verdict: Trusted by thousands of athletes around the world, the Dura Soft Ice Pack Wrap is the perfect way to ease pain, swelling and tension after a match. The brace administers either hot or cold therapy, with strong Velcro straps that keep the brace secure around the knee – far less hassle then holding a bag of frozen peas! See What Our Customers Say: "This product is much better than a homemade ice pack. The gel moulds around your knee, and the compression helps. Once removed your knee stays cold. I wish I bought it sooner." - Palbinder Runner Up: LP Hot and Cold Compression Pack Show Knee Pain the Red CardReturning from a knee injury can take a long time, but our expert-recommended knee braces will help you get back in action sooner. We hope you've found the knee support that's right for you, but if not, there's plenty more to choose from in our full range of knee supports. Follow the links below to find a brace for your favourite sport.
If you've got any burning questions about any of our supports or braces, don't hesitate to ask! Let us know in the comments down below, and we'd be more than happy to help. |