As any dancer knows, knee injuries can be debilitating. Not only do they impede your ability to move freely, but they can also cause a lot of pain.
While there are many different types of knee braces on the market, not all of them are equally well-suited for dancing.
The best knee brace for dancing is one that provides support without sacrificing range of motion.
It should also be comfortable to wear and easy to adjust. With so many different products on the market, choosing the best knee brace for dancers can be a challenge.
To help you make the best decision, our team of physical therapists compiled a list of the seven best knee braces for dancers. This list will help you find the perfect knee brace to keep you dancing pain-free.
Top 3 Picks
Best Overall: ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Best minor-medium compression sleeve. Excellent for most dancers.
Best Recovery: Cocoon Knee Flex Pro
One-of-a-kind hot-cold recovery knee sleeve. Nothing else like it on the market.
Best Support: Braceability Patella Stabilizing
Ultimate knee protection through stabilizing support.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Updated Rankings: Best Knee Brace For Dancing
1. ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Pros
- Stabilizing mechanism
- Excellent never-weakening compression
- Gel pad design for extra protection
- Breathable and relaxing fabric
- Money-back guarantee
Cons
- For general use. Not recommended for severe injuries
When recovering from an injury to the knee, dancers need to retain their flexibility, while also having the support to encourage healing. Bulky and stiff knee braces simply won’t cut it. Those types of braces will be uncomfortable and sweaty and hinder practice or performance.
The design of the ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve provides exceptional support to the knee but does not reduce the range of movement. It is also lightweight and thin; it won’t show underneath clothing, which dancers everywhere will appreciate.
Due to its thin and latex-free design, the knee brace is soft and comfortable. Dancers won’t have to worry about sweating underneath the brace or be concerned that it will rub uncomfortably. It also slides across the ground well. Ensuring you do not catch it while performing on the ground.
It is easy to put on, just like slipping on a sock. These braces are also designed to be worn on either knee.
The only way to truly appreciate how wonderful this brace is for dancers is to try it out. You won’t be disappointed. Enjoy a long-lasting product, ease of movement, comfort, and the knowledge that you can continue dancing while healing.
2. My Cocoon Knee Flex Pro
Pros
- Effective pain relief. With hot-cold recovery relief
- Durable compound materials.
- Exceptional freedom of motion.
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
Cons
- Bulky – can’t be worn under pant
The My Cocoon is like nothing we have ever seen from a knee sleeve. It takes the second spot for the top knee support for dancers because the hydrogel filling retains hot and cold temperatures, making it perfect for soothing sore muscles before and after.
All you do is leave the sleeve in the freezer for 2 hours and after your performance, slip it on for instant relief. You can also put it in the microwave to heat it.
The neoprene sleeve is lined with a layer of hydrogel that feels cool to the touch, providing instant relief from inflammation and pain. And, unlike other ice packs that can cause skin irritation, the hydrogel is gentle on the skin and won’t cause any discomfort.
Plus, the cocoon design provides targeted compression and support to the knee joint, helping to stabilize the joint and prevent further injury. As a result, this cocoon is an essential tool for any dancer who wants to maintain peak performance while minimizing the risk of injury.
3. Braceability Patella Stabilizing Brace
Pros
- Prevents injuries and protects against new ones
- Moisture wicking ventilation system
- Boosted movement
- Premium materials
- Patented hinge technology
- Stabilizes your knee complete
- Warranty
Cons
- Back of the straps feel like they dig into the back of your leg after a while
This is a knee brace that is recommended if you have a serious knee injury. With hinged knee support, you are going to get next-level protection and recovery.
This will prevent any sudden shocks or impacts to the front of the knee. It also has wrap-around straps that will hold the knee brace in position and prevent it from slipping.
The knee brace will protect your knee from the front while leaving the back of your knee empty for unrestricted movement.
While it looks bulky, it is lightweight and has an ergonomic design. It would be a great brace for a dancer who’s got relatively severe problems in the knee and suffer from instability.
The knee brace is made from breathable high-end fabric and has foam lining across the inner side to have a soft touch on your skin.
4. Physix Gear Knee Support Brace
Pros
- Improves blood circulation
- Quick impact
- Protects and recovers from most common ailments
- Stylish design
- Multiple sizing and colors
- 4-way stretchable Lycra fabric
- Anti-slip
- Smart compression
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Come with a chemical smell
If you are in the market for a reliable but cheap neoprene knee wrap, then this model by Physix may be worth looking into.
It is a very reliable knee brace that will help you recover from injuries such as meniscus tear, ACL, arthritis, etc.
Now, as a dancer, you would be happy to know that this knee brace provides you with high end compression, without limiting your mobility.
It provides you with a snug support that will keep your knee in position, while warming your muscles for improving performance and decreasing occurrences of cramps or fatigue.
You will immediately notice the improvement in your movement once you slip this knee brace on. At the moment, you can get the knee brace in multiple sizing and various colorways.
Comfort and Stability
The knee brace is made from a light and breathable compound fabric, which will provide you with smooth compression throughout your dancing routine. It fits as expected and due to the slim profile of this product, you can wear it under your dancing trousers if you need to.
Durability and Quality
Physix has manufactured this knee brace using a new 4-way stretch Lycra compound fabric. This fabric is very resilient and will not wear away from sweat or prolong usage.
5. Copper Compression Knee Sleeves
Pros
- Highest copper content infusion
- Strong compression and very effective
- Double strength anti-slip grips
- Compound nylon fabric that doesn’t wear
- Prevents ACL, PCL and other ligament injuries
- For all ages, genders and sizes
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Complaints about quality control
We are starting our review with a knee brace from Copper Compression. If you have read other articles on our website, then you would know that this is one of our preferred brands.
We recommend you to have one if you are recovering from a mild injury or want a knee brace for protection from minor injuries, scratches and rashes. This knee brace is made from high performance compound fabric, which has been infused with copper.
The former helps to maintain excellent compression on your knee, without losing grip; while the latter ensures that your knee skin is bacteria free.
This knee brace is effective against muscle stiffness and soreness, which is a common problem for dancers. You can wear it discreetly under your dancing pant, without having to feel any extra weight on your leg.
Comfort and Stability
Being one of the best knee brace for dancers, you expect this model to be comfortable and stable. In fact, Copper Compression’s nylon fabric feels light to the skin and is moisture wicking, which keeps your knee skin fresh all day long.
Durability and Quality
Made from high quality nylon and with reinforced grips at the end, this knee brace is not going to lose its compression over time. You can wear it with full confidence in all your dancing sessions.
6. Bauerfeind Sports Knee Support
Pros
- Anatomically fit and sizing
- Special sensor based knee stabilization
- Targeted recovery
- Incomparable comfort and ease of use
- Alleviates all knee ailments
- Useful with other sports
- 30 day satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Not for sensitive skin
Bauerfeind offers you a great option for a premium range knee brace.
It’s a German designed product that has a patented design. This design allows the knee brace to focus on six critical points on your knee and effectively help you recover faster.
Designed to perfectly adjust to your anatomical structure, this knee brace offers personalized compression. Its sensorimotor system detects where it needs to provide most compression and adjusts accordingly.
There are innovative pads embedded within the brace to absorb moisture, while allowing a transfusion of air to keep the knee skin fresh and healthy.
The brace offers maximum mobility and an optimal recovery from any knee related injuries from dancing.
Comfort and Stability
Bauerfeind has eight decades of experience in making its product user friendly. This knee brace is light and very flexible, that allows you to comfortably wear it without feeling it weighing down on your leg.
Durability and Quality
The knee brace comes with special Air Knit fabric that is very resilient and will be able to absorb stress without coming apart. The manufacturer has done extreme quality tests to ensure that it provides maximum performance to professional athletes.
Bauerfeind Sports Knee Support
7. SB SOX Compression Knee Brace
Pros
- High performance
- Can be worn when sleeping
- Compresses knees and joints
- Improves blood circulation
- Prevents ACL, PCL and other ligament injuries
- Great for all ages
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Long usage may result in brace bunching up on the knee
SB SOX has made its name in the market by over delivering and under charging.
This knee brace has quickly become one of the best knee braces for dancers, mainly because of its slim profile and quick effectiveness. The knee brace comes in multiple sizing and colors, which allows you to match a design to your style.
It slips on your knee and wraps itself snugly, ensuring that any impacts that come towards your knee are absorbed by the sleeve, while leaving the knee untouched.
The warmth from the snug wrap gives your muscles an increased blood flow, which will boost your dancing performance. The knee brace is flexible and will help you in recovering from muscle stiffness, soreness, arthritis, etc.
You can wear it without even feeling like you have a supporting aid on your body.
Comfort and Stability
The knee brace is made from soft breathable fabric and has an ergonomic fit. Over 2000 consumers have reported that this is one of the most comfortable knee brace they have used.
Durability and Quality
It has a premium construction and has been carefully designed under the supervision of doctors and trainers. It has been built to provide long term compression, without compromising on the integrity of the fabric. The fabric used is going to take on the wear and tear of daily usage.
8. Mava Sports Knee Compression
Pros
- Anatomically fit and sizing
- Instant impact and quick recovery
- Heating effect
- Targeted recovery
- Moisture wicking and breathable
- Warranty
Cons
- Logo wears off quickly
MAVA is a trusted brand and has served thousands of customers globally. This knee brace model from MAVA is listed as Amazon’s Choice for the preferred option for dancers.
It is an excellent knee brace, which is designed to tackle minor to medium knee injuries. It is made from lightweight and innovative bamboo fabric that is skin friendly and anti-microbial.
The charcoal fabric is not just for aesthetic purposes, as it provides high level compression that is comparable to any nylon or neoprene knee brace.
You can use it under your dancing pants and enjoy complete flexibility to pull off all of your dance moves, without fearing any injury.
Comfort and Stability
The knee brace is flexible, hypo-allergenic and non-slip. This allows you to wear it for long hours without any skin irritation.
Durability and Quality
The charcoal bamboo fabric has been created after stringent testing. It is an excellent choice since the fabric does not break under stress or sweat. Moreover, it also does not lose its compression over time.
9. EXOUS Knee Brace Support
Pros
- Used by professional dancers
- Amazon’s choice
- Special stabilizing system
- No restriction on leg extension
- 360 degree compression
- Utmost comfort
- Money back guarantee
Cons
- Cannot be washed in laundry
Exous is another knee brace company that is popular amongst various athletes.
However, the features it offers make it a particularly useful knee support for dancers. It comes with a lateral stabilization system that is going to keep your knee in a healthy position, no matter how tough your dance is.
There is a special 4-way compression system integrated in this knee support that is going to help absorb the sudden stresses that your knees will encounter and ensure that your knee remains safe.
Moreover, the gap behind the knee brace will allow you to enjoy a full range of motion and not have your dance get affected in any way.
The latter feature is an important one in our consideration for this product as one of the best knee sleeves for dancing.
Comfort and Stability
As aforementioned, this knee brace has been designed to be used by professionals and hence, it does not compromise on stability. Neither does it compromise on the comfort of the product, while you have it on.
Durability and Quality
This is a very durable product and comes with strong Velcro grips that will keep the brace on your knee throughout your dance session.
Cost and Value
This is honestly a bit expensive. However, with all of its bells and whistles, I say it’s one the best knee support for dancers despite its premium price range.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Knee Brace for Dancers
Comfort and Stability
This is the first thing that you should care about when considering the best knee brace for dancers. Your recovery will be dependent on the comfort and stability of your knee brace.
If it is not comfortable, you are not going to wear it for long periods.
Similarly, if the knee brace does not offer stable compression, then there is no difference between wearing one and not wearing one.
Durability and Quality
When shopping for the best knee brace for dancing, you need to make sure that the product you are getting is durable. What this means is checking the fabric of the knee sleeve, the grip of the knee sleeve and the manufacturer’s warranty that comes with the product.
Cost and Value
A knee brace listed in our article can be expensive or cheap for you, depending upon your budget. What we have done while researching is to ensure that we list the best knee brace for dancing, while ensuring that there is a product for every budget range.
Conclusion
This concludes our review of the best knee sleeves for dancing. We have honestly listed out the trending products in the market, after researching the online stores and going over customer feedback.
Our intention with this review is to save you the time on research and let you avoid any confusion about product selection.
Let us know if we missed a product or if you require any more information from us through the contact form. Happy dancing!
