There is no rule of thumb for how long you can wear a knee brace before it needs to be replaced. So instead of looking for a timeframe, pay attention to what your knee brace looks like—and whether it’s still offering the support you need. “Braces should be replaced if there is excessive wear and tear where the lining is, or if other features are beginning to lose their usefulness,” Jonathan Gelber, MD, Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon at Olmsted Medical Center, says. He notes that you may also want to check with your insurance provider to see when they will cover a new knee brace for you.