These limit harmful knee movement while a knee is healing after an injury or surgery. These help the kneecap move smoothly over the knee joint. Companies that make knee braces claim that their products work well. Scientific studies have not completely agreed. It's not clear what the knee braces actually do.
Braces often work better in the laboratory than they do in normal use.
In general, functional braces and rehabilitative braces are the most effective. Braces help some people more than others. Some people are afraid that knee braces may actually increase the number of knee injuries in athletes. In general, most people who wear knee braces feel that they help. Remember, the need for a brace should be determined by your doctor.