How To Correctly Size and Fit Your Donjoy Knee Brace

When it comes to sports knee braces, Donjoy Armor are the at the top of the game, providing high-quality support and protection for athletes with a hunger for victory. They're designed to enhance the users' safety and give them the confidence to perform without risking injury, but if the supports aren't properly fitted with accurate sizing, their protective benefits won't work as intended. That's why its crucial to ensure you have the right size before buying, and that you know exactly how to fit the brace once it arrives at your door.

At KneeSupports.com, we want to make sure you're getting the level of protection you deserve, so we made this step-by-step guide on How To Correctly Size and Fit Your Donjoy Knee Brace.

Which Knee Braces Are These Instructions Made For?

These sizing and application instructions apply to the following Donjoy Knee Braces:

• Donjoy Armor Bilateral Knee Brace
• Donjoy Armor Bilateral Knee Brace with Fourcepoint
• Donjoy Armor Full Force Knee Brace with Fourcepoint

Sizing Your Knee Brace

It's quick and easy to size the Donjoy Armor brace, with three measurements to be taken from the thigh, knee and calf. The three necessary measurements are described in more detail below.

• Thigh (Measurement 1) - This measurement should be taken 15cm (6 inches) above the knee. Measure the circumference of your thigh at this point and make a note of the measurement. Please see the image below for an indication of where to measure.

• Knee (Measurement 2) - This measurement is taken at the centre of your knee, directly over the centre of your patella (kneecap). Wrap the measuring tape around your kneecap and across the back of your knee, then record the circumference.

• Calf (Measurement 3) - For this final measurement, wrap the measuring tape around your calf, 15cm (6 inches) below the knee. Again, record the circumference, and the measuring process is complete.

Find Your Size

Once you've got all three measurements, its time to find exactly which brace is right for you. Match your measurements to the corresponding sizes below, and follow our extra sizing tips to guarantee you pick the right size.

Extra Tips For Sizing

• If the measurements don't line up (i.e. Large Thigh and Medium Knee): We recommend choosing the the size associated with your largest measurement

• If you don't own a measuring tape: Wrap a piece of string around your leg, cut it down to size then measure the string with a ruler

• If your joints tend to swell: Please take this into account before choosing, as this may affect the integrity of the support

Before Fitting

Once you've properly measured your leg at the thigh, knee and calf, and have ordered the right size for you, you're ready to try your brace on and feel the support for yourself. But before you begin, we've compiled a few key tips to help your application go as smoothly as possible:

• Sit on a firm surface: When applying your knee brace, always sit on a stable, firm chair or bench, sitting near the edge for the most freedom and best results. Do not sit on a soft bed or sofa, as the sagging effect can decrease accuracy of your fit when applied. Sitting on a firm surface allows the brace to be placed higher up the leg for a better fit.

• Hold the hinges: To get the perfect positioning for your knee brace, hold it by the hinges. This allows you to accurately place the centre of the brace around your knee, ensuring the best possible protection.

• Don't over-tighten: Never over-tighten the top straps on the thigh (straps #2 and #3), as this will push the brace further down your leg. Don't worry if the brace doesn't feel perfect with only the top straps fastened, as the lower calf straps will secure the brace in place on your leg once tightened.

• Apply directly to skin: Make sure you apply your knee brace directly to your skin, and not over your trousers. A thin undergarment sleeve can be worn under the brace as long as it doesn't significantly increase the circumference of your leg.

• Make sure that you are familiar with the straps: Throughout this guide, we will refer to the straps by their number or name. The straps on your Donjoy Armor should be numbered, however you can refer to the image below for clarity

Step-By-Step Knee Brace Application Instructions

Now that you're prepared for proper application of your knee brace, we've prepared a step-by-step guide to ensure the perfect application, every time.

Step 1: Initial Preparation

A. To start off the application, sit on the edge of your firm surface in a stable position.

B. Ensure that your knee is slightly bent (45°), and your foot is placed flat on the floor (Figure 1).

Step 2: Brace and Hinge Placement

A. Now that you're seated in the proper position, undo the straps and step through the brace (Figure 2A).

B. Holding the brace by the hinges, centre the hinges 1 inch above the top of your knee cap.

C. Then, push the hinges slightly back behind the midline of the knee (Figure 2B).

Step 3: Anti-Migration Band Placement

A. Secure the anti-migration calf band around the leg with a snug fit. Make sure this band is in full contact with the leg and does not wrap around the outside of the brace (Figure 3). Please note that the anti-migration band is not designed to be threaded through any plastic buckle and should wrap directly around your leg.

B. Please note that the anti-migration band is connected to both Strap #4 and Strap #5. Neither of these straps should be fastened until later on in the fitting process.

Step 4: Secure Straps #1 and #2

A. Secure the strap #1 (which is the lowest strap on the calf) until it has a snug fit (Figure 4A).

B. Secure the top thigh strap #2, but not too tightly, as that can cause the brace to slip down your leg (Figure 4B).

C. Again, following this step, push the hinges slightly back behind the midline of your knee.

Step 5: Secure Straps #3 and #4

A. Secure the lower thigh strap #3 until you feel a snug fit (Figure 5A).

B. Secure upper front calf strap #4 until it is very snug. (Figure 5B). Strap #4 can be found at the front of the anti-migration band and should be threaded through the loops on the band. This step is especially critical for patients with ACL injuries.

Step 6: Securing Strap #5

A. Secure the back calf strap #5, which again is connected to the anti-migration band, until is has a comfortable fit (Figure 6).

B. After the initial fitted of this strap, you do not need to undo it. It will work to keep the anti-migration band in place.

Step 7: Check your Fit and Re-Tighten

A. At this point, your brace should fit snugly to your leg. OA patients should feel a slight push on one side of the knee. If you have done this correctly, your brace should now be fully fitted (Figure 7).

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

If you've followed these instructions and still find that your knee brace doesn't fit as well as it should, here are some extra tips to help you out.

1: Ensure Proper Hinge Placement

A. In a perfectly-fit knee brace, the hinges will be at the midline of your knee. The pads will be making full contact with your leg.

B. If the hinges of your knee brace are too far forward, you should loosen all the straps to allow for adjustment. Then, you can push the hinges back while raising them slightly up. After you've done this, retighten all the straps and re-evaluate your fit.

2: Ensure Proper Alignment

A. On a well-fit knee brace, the hinges should be slightly higher than your knee cap. The pads will be making full contact with your leg.

B. If the brace is too low down your leg, loosen all the straps. Then, raise the hinges up your leg, re-tighten the straps and re-evaluate your fit.

3: Ensure Proper Fit

A. If no mistakes have occurred during the sizing process and your knee brace fits correctly, there will be no major gaps between the brace and your leg. The pads will be making full contact with your leg.

B. If the brace you have selected is too large, you can add extra condyle pads to improve your fit. Alternately, you can call us at KneeSupports.com to discuss a replacement with a more appropriate size.

4: Try Again

The Donjoy Armor Knee Braces are highly technical, meaning it can take some time getting used to application. If you've followed this guide and found the brace ill-fitting, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have purchased the wrong size. Go back to step one and try fitting the brace a few more times to make sure you have a good grasp of the application process.

Check out our full range of Donjoy Knee Braces today at KneeSupports.com, with free UK delivery on orders over £40. Have any questions or anything to add? Tell us in the comments below!