Best Hinged Knee Brace Options for Walking

What Is a Hinged Knee Brace?

A hinged knee brace has a rigid hinge on the inner side, the outer side or both sides of the knee. The hinge bends with your knee, while the rigid frame and straps are designed to limit side-to-side movement. That firm side support sets it apart from a plain knee sleeve. Brace labels often call the inner side medial and the outer side lateral.

What are the types of knee braces?

A knee brace is a support worn over the knee to steady it, allow controlled movement while it heals, or ease pain. American Family Physician, citing the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), sorts knee braces into four types, and hinges show up on more than one of them:

• Preventive braces aim to reduce knee injuries in contact sports, though the evidence for this is weak.
• Functional braces are designed to steady a knee that feels unstable.
• Rehabilitative braces allow protected, controlled motion during recovery.
• Kneecap (patellofemoral) braces are designed to help the kneecap track smoothly.

How a Hinged Knee Brace Works

Two collateral ligaments run along the sides of your knee and control its side-to-side motion: the MCL (medial collateral ligament) on the inner side and the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) on the outer side. The AAOS says the knee “is not designed to withstand forces from either side.”

A hinged brace adds rigid support along those sides. The hinge follows your knee as it bends, and the frame is designed to resist sideways movement. That is the design idea. How well it works in daily life is a separate question.

What the medical evidence says

The independent evidence is more mixed than most brace ads suggest. Here is what professional bodies say:

• Ligament sprains: The AAOS says that with a low-grade MCL injury and no other injuries, you can stay active in a hinged brace alongside physical therapy. For a stable LCL injury that is not severe, a hinged brace steadies the knee during recovery.
• Knee arthritis: The 2019 American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation strongly recommends a brace for the main knee joint (a tibiofemoral brace) for some people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), the wear-related form of arthritis. It applies when the condition affects walking, stability or pain enough to need an assistive device and the person can put up with wearing one. The American Family Physician says these braces “reduce pain and improve walking speed.”
• Kneecap braces: The same guideline only conditionally recommends them for OA behind the kneecap, because results vary and some people find them hard to wear.
• Real-world support: This review found few controlled studies on functional braces. In the lab, their support weakened under real-life loads, though wearers often said they felt better. Braces add to rehab. They do not replace it. See also this more recent 2018 review.

For walkers, a hinged brace may help some people feel steadier, but how much it helps depends on your knee, your diagnosis and the fit. If arthritis is behind your knee pain, our guide to shoes for arthritis relief covers the footwear side.

Key Features to Look for When You Will Be Walking With a Brace

These features describe how a brace is built, not what it will do for your knee. For long walks, look at:

• Hinge placement: a hinge on one side, or hinges on both the inner and outer sides.
• Straps that hold: the 2000 AAFP review says straps need regular re-tightening, so look for closures that stay put.
• Left or right fit: some braces, such as the Mueller 2333X below, fit either knee.
• All-day comfort: a brace you can wear for hours under clothes.

Walking shoes matter too; see our best shoes for knee pain.

Hinged Knee Brace Options for Walking

These three braces show the hinged designs above. Details come from each maker’s product page, and the right brace depends on your knee, your fit and your care team’s advice.

Mueller Hinged Knee Brace (2333X)

Mueller says the hinge on its Hinged Knee Brace (2333X) tracks the knee’s natural movement and helps prevent side-to-side movement, and that it fits either knee. That is the brand’s description, not independent proof.

Mueller Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace

Mueller describes the Hg80 Hinged Knee Brace as giving “maximum medial-lateral support to help protect weak or injured knees.” That is the maker’s marketing language; the independent evidence above is more cautious.

Breg Performance Knit Hinged Knee Brace

Breg says its Performance Knit Hinged Knee Brace has hinges on both sides of the knee for extra stability, built into a knit brace.

How to Measure for the Right Fit

Use a soft tape measure and the size chart for the exact brace you plan to buy, since brands measure in different places:

Once it is on, line the hinges up with the bend of your knee, as the AAFP review advises. The brace should feel snug but never painful, according to Summit Orthopedics.

Tips for Wearing Your Brace Comfortably

Your doctor’s or physical therapist’s instructions come first. For general guidance, Summit Orthopedics, an orthopedic clinic, suggests:

• Build up slowly: two to three hours on day one, then about an hour more each day as you can tolerate it.
• Wear a thin, wrinkle-free cotton sleeve underneath, and keep lotions and oils off that skin.
• Check your skin after each wear, especially if you have diabetes or less feeling in your legs. Redness should fade within 15 minutes of taking the brace off.
• Re-tighten the straps during the day, as the AAFP review also advises.

How to Care for Your Knee Brace

Follow your brace’s own care instructions first, since materials differ. For general care, Summit Orthopedics suggests wiping the brace with a cloth and mild soapy water, and hand-washing removable pads in mild detergent, then rinsing and air-drying them.

Let everything dry completely before you wear it, keep the brace away from extreme heat or cold, and use a dry lubricant on a squeaky hinge. When straps or Velcro stop holding, the clinic says to contact your provider about a repair or replacement.

Next Steps to Support Your Knee Health

See a doctor or physical therapist if your knee pain is severe, lasts or keeps getting worse, or if your knee feels unstable or stays swollen. The AAOS lists these signs of a possible side ligament injury and advises seeing an orthopedic surgeon:

• A pop at the time of injury, with the knee giving out
• Pain along the inner or outer side of the knee
• Swelling and tenderness
• A knee that feels unstable
• Stiffness, such as not being able to fully straighten or bend the knee

If you already wear a brace, Summit Orthopedics says to contact your provider about red areas or pressure sores, new knee, hip or back pain, or a big weight change that affects the fit.

We focus on footwear, and these guides pick up where a brace leaves off:

• Best shoes for knee pain, chosen with sore knees in mind
• Why feet, knees and hips hurt when walking or running
• Best shoes for arthritis relief
• Our free Shoe Finder for a shoe matched to your feet and routine

Frequently Asked Questions About Hinged Knee Braces