Episode 21 | Ask the Expert | Guest: Dr Ajai Seth MBBS, BSc, MSc, MRCS, MRCGP, FFSEM – Consultant in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Founder and Medical Director, LBSM
Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people turn to an online shop for a quick fix. A swollen knee, a wobbly feeling after a fall, a niggle that won’t settle – and within minutes there’s an Amazon best-seller in the basket. The problem, as Dr Ajai Seth sees regularly in clinic, is that most people end up wearing completely the wrong brace for their condition. And sometimes that makes things worse.
In this episode of the London Bridge Sports Medicine podcast, Dr Seth cuts through the noise to explain what knee braces are actually for, how to think about the different types, and when it’s genuinely worth investing in one.
Start with the right question: what are you trying to achieve?
Before thinking about which brace to buy, Dr Seth asks two questions: what is wrong with the knee, and what is the brace supposed to do about it? These sound obvious but are frequently skipped. A brace that feels supportive is not necessarily providing the right type or amount of support for a specific injury – and the sensation of compression around a sore knee can create a false sense of security.
Broadly, knee braces fall into three categories based on purpose:
- Injury support – managing an acute injury while healing takes place
- Long-term condition management – modifying how load is distributed through a knee affected by arthritis or cartilage wear
- Post-surgical rehabilitation – protecting the knee and controlling range of motion while recovery progresses
Acute injuries: when a brace provides stability or protection
For short-term injuries, the type of brace is determined by the anatomy of the injury. Key examples:
- Ligament injuries (MCL, ACL) – a sprained or torn ligament leaves the knee without its normal structural stability. A fitted brace can compensate while the ligament heals, holding the joint in a controlled position. These braces typically require professional fitting and specific settings.
- Meniscal injuries – a tear in the meniscus (the knee’s shock absorber) often benefits from a brace that restricts range of motion, preventing deep flexion that would aggravate the tear. The brace can be set to a defined range – for example, 10 to 90 degrees – protecting the injury while allowing functional movement.
- Fractures – certain knee fractures are managed with a brace as a transition out of plaster. After four to six weeks in cast, a hinged brace allows gradual reintroduction of controlled movement.
Dr Seth’s note of caution on off-the-shelf options: a basic neoprene sleeve or tubigrip bandage might offer some comfort for a mild acute sprain, but it is not providing meaningful structural support. Wearing it as a long-term habit – on the golf course, on the tennis court, month after month – is not addressing the underlying problem and can mask symptoms that need proper attention.
Chronic conditions: changing the biomechanics of the knee
For longer-term conditions such as osteoarthritis or cartilage damage affecting one side of the knee, a more sophisticated category of brace becomes relevant: the offloading brace. These are designed to shift the body’s centre of gravity and redistribute force away from the damaged compartment – moving load from the inside of the knee to the outside, or vice versa.
This is a meaningful clinical intervention. Used alongside rehabilitation and physiotherapy, offloading braces have become sufficiently effective that many patients who would previously have been referred for knee replacement surgery can instead manage their condition conservatively. It is not a cure, but it can significantly extend the period before surgery becomes necessary – and for some patients, indefinitely.
How to go about getting the right brace
Dr Seth’s practical guidance is straightforward: speak to someone who knows the knee before spending money. A brief online purchase at the lower end of the market is low-risk. But quality braces – the kind that genuinely do the job – represent a more significant investment, typically in the £150–£300 range. Spending that on the wrong brace, or the wrong size, is a frustrating and avoidable outcome.
A proper brace, correctly fitted for the right condition, is a long-term asset. It will be there for skiing, for long walks, for the activities that currently feel risky. The investment is in the fitting and the knowledge, not just the product.
The same principles, Dr Seth notes, apply to braces for other joints – ankles, wrists, elbows – but the knee is by far the most common presentation and the most complex to navigate.
The bottom line
Knee braces are a genuinely useful tool – but only when matched to the right condition, fitted correctly, and used with a clear purpose. The wide variety of options on the market, from basic sleeves to custom hinged offloaders, reflects the wide variety of knee conditions they are designed to address. Buying without understanding which category you fall into is a common and costly mistake.
If you’re unsure whether you need a brace, what type is appropriate, or whether your current brace is actually helping, a clinical assessment is the right starting point.
Dr Ajai Seth (MBBS, BSc, MSc, MRCS, MRCGP, FFSEM) is a Consultant in Sports and Exercise Medicine and the Founder and Medical Director of London Bridge Sports Medicine.
To book an appointment with Dr Seth or another member of the LBSM team, visit lbsm.co.uk/booking
Listen to the full episode below ↓
