Knee Supports & Braces

Choosing knee supports

We grade our knee supports 1 to 4 depending on the support level they provide. The right one for you depends on whether you have a particular injury, the level of support you need and activity or sport.

Knee braces for specific sports & activities

If you have significant knee pain when running or walking, stop and seek professional advice. If you had a specific injury then choose a brace or support designed for that. We recommend the following for specific activities and sports:

Knee supports for running

For mild pain, previous injuries or extra support during running, a knee support can improve stability and confidence without significantly restricting movement.

For most runners, the Ultimate Elastic Compression Knee Support is the best choice. It is lightweight, breathable and provides comfortable compression whilst allowing a full range of movement.

If you need additional support due to previous ligament injuries or greater knee instability, the Advanced Compression Knee Support provides a higher level of support whilst still allowing you to run comfortably.

For long-term tendon injuries or knees that benefit from warmth, the Adjustable Knee Support with Straps offers moderate support, compression and heat retention to improve comfort during running.

Knee sleeves

A knee sleeve provides gentle compression and support without restricting normal movement. It is ideal for:

• Mild knee pain or swelling
• Recent sprains and strains
• Arthritis
• Tendon injuries
• Returning to sport after injury

Elastic knee sleeves provide lightweight, breathable compression, making them ideal for reducing swelling, supporting mild injuries and providing confidence during everyday activities or exercise.

Neoprene knee sleeves offer a higher level of support whilst retaining body heat, making them particularly suitable for arthritis, long-term tendon injuries and stiff joints that benefit from warmth.

If you require greater stability following a ligament injury or significant knee instability, consider a knee support with adjustable straps or a hinged knee brace instead.

Stabilised knee supports

These offer a higher level of support with additional straps or springs at the sides. They offer excellent support to the joint, without being as restrictive as a full hinged brace. They are ideal for mild knee ligament injuries, or for returning back to training following a knee injury.

As they do not have any solid or exposed metal inserts they are suitable for contact sports such as football.

Hinged knee braces

Hinged knee braces offer the highest level of support. They have solid metal supports down the sides which are hinged at the knee joint to allow movement. Whilst they give the greatest support, they are a little more restrictive than stabilised knee supports or simple elastic/neoprene knee sleeves.

They are recommended following more severe knee ligament injuries, especially to help prevent sideways or lateral movement of the knee.

Wrap around vs specific size knee supports

Whether to go for a wrap around or a sized support is often down to personal preference. With a good wrap around support you can adjust the level of compression to suit. This might be useful if you have significant swelling which is likely to go down.

If you want maximum support and you know your size then a size specific brace might be the one for you.

Patella tendon straps

These specialist supports are designed specifically to help treat patella tendon injuries such as Jumper’s knee (also known as Patella tenonitis/tendinopathy) and Osgood Schlatter disease.

They apply compression to the patella tendon which changes how the forces transmit through the tendon, therefore reducing the strain on the injured part. Higher quality patella tendon straps have plenty of padding around the back of the strap making them more comfortable.

Iliotibial band strap

These apply pressure above the knee, across the iliotibial band at the side. They work in the same way as a patella tendon strap, applying pressure to the tendon, reducing the strain.

Patella tracking knee braces

These aid the natural tracking of the patella (kneecap). This occurs if you develop a quadriceps muscle imbalance. The patella moves out of its natural groove. As a result it rubs on the bone underneath causing pain, swelling and inflammation.

The patella tracking brace is padded at the sides of the patella. Therefore, when pulled tight they help exert a lateral (sideways) force to encourage the patella to drift back in its correct position.

Knee supports for specific injuries

View products we recommend for specific injuries:

• Jumper's knee/patella tendinopathy
• Osgood Schlatter Disease
• Iliotibial band syndrome
• Knee ligament sprains
• Arthritis

Class 1 medical devices

All Ultimate Performance knee supports are classified as Class 1 Medical Devices. This means the Medical & Healthcare products Regulation Agency (MHRA) registers them. As a result, they confirm our products meet strict criteria. Specifically thorough testing, with evidence based research proves they are safe and effective.