Did you know that 23% of the general population have patellofemoral pain? Overuse is the primary cause, but the good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented or managed with the best patellofemoral knee braces. (1)
I, along with our team of physical therapists, tested dozens of these knee braces to round up the ones that we thought were the most beneficial to patellofemoral pain and other complications that come with it.
We wrote down summaries of our reviews of each of these products below. We even included a buyer’s guide to help you out if in case none of the knee braces we’re recommending suit your taste. So, without further ado, here are our picks for the top patellofemoral knee braces!
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: Cocoon Knee Flex Pro Hot & Cold Compression Sleeve
All the benefits of traditional knee sleeve with the addition of warm and cold therapy. Perfect for anyone recovering from an injury.
Best for Daily Use: ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
These knee sleeves are extremely comfortable and breathable – perfect for wearing all day. It’s also thin enough to fit under pants.
Most Comfortable Knee Strap: Braceability Patellar Tendon Strap
Targeted compression to your patellar tendon in a (wide) variety of sizes. Forget the standard one-size-fits-all of most straps, this will actually fit!
IN THIS ARTICLE
Top 8 Patellofemoral Knee Braces
1. Cocoon Knee Flex Pro Hot and Cold Compression Sleeve
Pros
- Lycra offers superior comfort
- Highly durable because of its materials and double-stitching
- Great for dealing with pain and swelling
- Weighted compression + heat/cold = On-the-go therapy
- Can be used on other parts of your body
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than average
- No other color except black
The Cocoon Knee Flex Pro caters to almost any knee injury, including patellofemoral pain syndrome.
First of all, the cocoon knee flex pros are made with lycra and hydrogel. Hydrogel, in particular, gives them the ability to be both heated and cooled. Moreover, it makes the knee sleeves heavier than most.
The weighted compression and the therapeutic temperature that comes with heat or cold makes it great for almost all types of knee injuries, including patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee).
In physical therapy, cold and compression are great for regulating inflammation and pain after activity while heat and compression work best to warm up your knee joint and muscle for injury prevention.
However, I wouldn’t recommend wearing this during activity. Lycra, although still effective and feels incredibly comfortable, makes these knee knee sleeves slide down more often than I like.
- Material: Lycra, hydrogel
- Size options: S, M, L.
- Color options: Blue
Recommended: Is heat or ice better for knee pain?
2. ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Pros
- Fits under pants.
- Stays in place.
- Uniform compression.
- Breathable fabric.
- Doesn’t limit range of motion.
Cons
- Closed kneecap.
- No side stabilizers.
The compression from this knee sleeve keeps your joint warm, which helps (a lot) with daily patellofemoral pain.
For some people, patellofemoral pain syndrome appears while moving your knee – walking, climbing stairs, running. For others, it’s at its worst while sitting or standing for long periods.
ArmaJoint’s knee sleeve can help in those scenarios because of the compression it provides. This simple feature keeps your joint warm, which in turn can bring relief from daily activities.
It’s also thin enough to wear under your pants, and latex-free to prevent allergies. However, it doesn’t provide targeted pressure on the patellar tendon.
- Size: S-XL.
- Material: 60% nylon, 30% Elastic, 10% spandex.
- Color options: Black
3. Braceability Patellar Tendon Strap
Pros
- Targeted compression on tendon.
- Stays in place.
- Plus-size available.
- More durable than average.
- Customizable.
Cons
- Velcro can pinch a little.
- 1 strap per pack.
Braceability offers a classic knee strap…on “steroids.”
Most straps are made of flimsy fabrics that stretch after a few uses, and velcros that wear off sooner than they should.
But Braceability designed this one with neoprene – an extremely durable material that also helps keep the strap in place. This also means the strap is latex-free.
The velcro is extremely strong as well. And the variety of sizes will ensure you’ll have the right fit, regardless of your knee joint circumference.
The downside is that the velcro can pinch a little behind the knee. But that’s true for most knee straps.
- Size: XS-XL.
- Material: Neoprene, velcro.
- Color options: Black.
4. McDavid Knee Support Strap
Pros
- Comes in four colors
- Non-slip buttress
- Features a hook-and-loop closure for a more improved fit
- Provides uniform compression
Cons
- Latex material could cause skin irritation
- Sizing runs small
With a tubular design and a buttress, the McDavid Knee Support Strap applies uniform compression and will not slip.
The uniform and constant compression on your patellar tendon will help minimize the pain resulting from patellar tendonitis, as well as the Osgood-Schlatter disease.
The back is Velcro and the rest of the knee strap is the opposite texture which means you can tighten or loosen it to fit you best.
This knee strap from McDavid is exceptionally comfortable to wear. However, the buttress is made from latex and this could irritate some people who are allergic.
Another minor drawback is that the sizing tends to be smaller compared to other brands, so bear that mind when picking the size.
- Material: Neoprene
- Size options: Large, regular
- Color options: black
5. DonJoy Performance Webtech Patella Knee Strap
Pros
- Anti-slip design
- Comes with a built-in stash pocket
- Equipped with dual-axis hinges allowing for a better fit
- Features silicone web technology, which offers enhanced shock absorption
Cons
- Expensive
- The silicone web may feel uncomfortable
The DonJoy Performance Webtech Patella Knee Strap is both unique and effective.
This innovative patellofemoral knee brace comes with amazing features, such as its dual knot design that can help to improve comfort and fit.
But, what truly sets it apart from its competition is the silicone web that takes the place of what usually is just padded neoprene. I find the web effective at evenly distributing pressure on and around the patellar tendon because it helps improve absorption.
I could tell just by feeling and using it that it’s a high quality knee strap made from excellent quality materials. So, I’m confident it’s going to last you a long time.
All this comes with a steep price, though, but it’s totally worth it.
- Material: Nylon, silicone
- Size options: S/M, L/XL
- Color options: Black
6. EXOUS Knee Brace Support Protector
Pros
- Comes with a 4-way adjustable strap system
- Made of breathable and lightweight neoprene material
- Doesn’t slip when you use it during workouts
Cons
- The Velcro strap has the tendency to get worn out easily
- No size and color options
The EXOUS Knee Brace Support is ideal for athletes and those who live an active lifestyle.
The Exous Knee Brace is made from breathable and lightweight neoprene. It also comes with an open patella design. These features make this knee brace comfortable to wear while adding more stability to your knee cap.
What truly sets the Exous Patellofemoral knee brace apart from its competition is its unique 4-point compression system. This system uses 2 large straps to help make sure the knee brace stays in place and 2 smaller ones in between to o further relieve pressure around your patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon.
Overall, it works great for dealing with the quadriceps tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee) that plagues highly active people.
The biggest reason it’s not higher on our list as the best patellofemoral knee brace is that the straps that make it unique also aren’t that durable.
- Material: Neoprene
- Size options: One size only
- Color options: Black only
7. McDavid Knee Support Wrap
Pros
- Easy to adjust
- Features a micro-cell technology that offers superior stretch and heat insulation
- Flexible and lightweight
Cons
- Won’t stay in place
- Too bulky when worn under the garments
This next knee brace from McDavid comes with double wraps so you can adjust the compression to your liking.
Don’t be surprised that there’s another McDavid knee brace on our list. The brand is simply good at making knee supports for patellofemoral knee pain.
This one, in particular, comes with an open patella design and a double wrap adjustment system. The system is what makes this knee brace unique as it allows you to customize the level of compression. Tighten or loosen it up to what works best, according to you.
It’s also comfortable and does not limit your movement in any way because it’s made with thin neoprene with micro-cell structure.
For a knee brace that’s supposed to have double wraps, however, it surprisingly slides down more often than I’d like it to. The wraps also make it bulky, so you won’t be able to wear it under tight jeans.
- Material: Neoprene
- Size options: S-L
- Color options: Black only
8. Shock Doctor Hinged Knee Brace
Pros
- 4-point leverage system
- Adjustable straps
- Anti-slip design
- Available in a variety of sizes
- Made from breathable and antimicrobial materials
Cons
- Sizing tends to be smaller
The Shock Doctor 875 is the best patellofemoral knee brace if patellofemoral knee knee pain and instability.
This knee braces features durable hinges on both sides to bolster the support your knees are getting. Despite this high level of support, however, the Shock Doctor 875 does not limit your range of motion, so it works great for sports and activity.
What makes it good for patellofemoral knee pain, you ask? Simple: its padded open patella design. The added cushion helps relieve pressure off of your patella while the opening helps stabilize your knee cap. Most of the time, that’s all you really need to play through and prevent overuse injuries.
That being said, I would have loved to say it’s the perfect knee brace but, lo and behold, its sizing isn’t all that accurate. A couple of us from our team had to re-order a larger size because the ones that we got in the mail were a bit too tight.
- Material: Spandex, aluminum
- Size options: S-3XL
- Color options: Black only
Factors to consider when choosing the best knee brace for patellofemoral knee pain
Comfort and Stability
The fact of the matter is that you’re already experience knee pain. Add any kind of discomfort to that and that pain would feel much, much worse.
So, whenever you’re in the market for a patellofemoral knee brace, make sure to check if you find it comfortable.
In terms of stability, patellofemoral knee braces generally come in the form of knee straps or compression sleeves so there isn’t a lot of support.
However, if you have instability paired with your patellofemoral pain, consider knee braces with side stabilizers or hinges for added support.
For further reading:
- How tight a knee compression sleeve should be
- How to measure your knees to get the right size sleeve
Durability and Quality
Regardless of what type of knee brace you’re getting, they have to at least last through your entire recovery. Even better if they last well beyond that.
That being said, consider durability when choosing a patellofemoral knee brace. Sturdy knee braces are those that use high quality materials. Check the fabric, stitching, velcro, hinges, and everything else that’s applicable.
Cost and Value
Most of the time, the highest quality patellofemoral knee brace will also come with a steep price. However, there are a number of exceptions that do a wonderful job of balancing cost and effectiveness.
Regardless, make sure to get the best brace that you can afford.
There are knee braces, knee straps, and knee sleeves on this list that span a wide price range, so be sure to check them out.
Why you should trust KneeForce
Kris is a physical therapist who specializes in sports rehab and sustainable fitness. His expertise has led him to treat athletes from a wide variety of sports with an even wider array of joint injuries, including the overuse that leads to patellofemoral knee pain.
He also has his fair share of knee ailments – from full-grade ACL tears, torn menisci, and sprains on other knee ligaments. He’s also had to use a knee brace during his recovery from knee surgery and when he was getting back into his sport.
Hence, he draws his medical opinions from both evidence-based knowledge of physical therapy and experience.
For this article, he and our team of physical therapists tested dozens of knee braces, took note of important features, and compared his own findings with other people’s experiences. Finally, he chose what he found were the best ones.
Conclusion
The right knee brace can help you treat your patellofemoral pain. Some provide general compression, while others help by giving targeted pressure on the tendon.
However, if you’re not sure which knee brace will be best for your needs, please consult with a physical therapist.
