Knee

"I'm a skateboarder and I recently messed up my ACL. As soon as I put the Old Bones sleeve with hinges on I immediately could feel the difference. Full mobility back. Thanks for helping me get back to doing what I love."

Bryan S.

"Went through several knee braces and the pain never left. Once my Old Bones brace came, the pain seemed to settle down and then dissolve. By day 3, I spent several hours on my feet and 7 miles of dog training: no pain."

Pam, Age 72

"I work as a car mechanic... lifting heavy tires onto cars, kneeling down on my knees and standing on concrete floors all day. I enjoyed the soft, but firm, ring on the front of the knee and the overall breathability of the fabric. Other compression sleeves I've used always began irritating my skin, but no issues with the Old Bones brand!"

Michael T.

Knee Support: Sleeves, Braces and Straps

Knees carry you up stairs, down off a board and through a full shift on concrete, so they're where most aches settle. For some it's stiffness and a dull ache from arthritis, worst first thing in the morning and on the stairs. For others it's soreness just below the kneecap after running and jumping, swelling after a long session, or a knee that feels loose or gives way after an old ligament injury. Our knee lineup is our deepest, so start with what your knee is doing and go from there.

How to Choose

Start with the sleeve. Our knee compression sleeve is knitted compression with a silicone gel ring around the kneecap. It's slim enough to wear under jeans, stays up through a shift or a session, and it's what most people with sore, stiff or tired knees need. Start here, and only step up if your knee still feels unstable in it.

Pain just below the kneecap? The Patella Knee Strap is an adjustable band worn just below the kneecap, with a cushioned pad over the patellar tendon. It's made for the tendon soreness that flares when you run, jump, squat or climb. It's one size, fits either knee and goes under pants.

Knee feels loose side to side? The knee brace with springs is the same sleeve with flexible spring supports on both sides. For the most side support we make, the hinged knee brace adds rigid hinges you can take out as you get back to normal. If you're recovering from a ligament injury or surgery, ask your provider which level of support they want you in.

Thighs 23 inches and up? The Big Bones Knee Brace is our plus size knee brace: a wider, flared top with side springs and stays that run to the upper edge, so it stays up without rolling. It's a fit choice with spring support, not hinges.

After a session, the Ice Sleeve wraps the whole knee in cold, or heat if you warm it, for 15 to 20 minutes, hands-free. Compare everything side by side on our knee braces page.

Sizing

Measure around your leg 4 inches above the top of your kneecap. For the sleeve: Y is 13 inches or less, S 13 to 15, M 15 to 17, L 17 to 19, XL 19 to 21 and XXL 21 to 23. The braces with springs and hinges use the same chart from S to XXL. Right on a boundary, both sizes fit: size down for firmer support or up for an easier fit. Over 23 inches, choose Big Bones, which comes in one size, 3XL. The Patella Knee Strap is one size and adjusts with its buckle, and the Ice Sleeve runs from 12 to 20 inches across four sizes.

When to See a Provider

Get your knee checked if it swelled up fast after an injury, you can't put weight on it, it locks, catches or gives way, or it's red, hot and swollen without an injury. After surgery, your surgeon's plan comes first, including when to wear a brace and which one.

Shop by Style

Hinged Knee Braces | Spring Knee Braces

Shop by Injury

Shop by Sport

Want support that moves with you? OG Tape kinesiology tape backs up knees through training and recovery without locking them down. Working down the leg? See our shin sleeves and calf support, or start at shop by body part.

Knees that bend back or slip because your joints are naturally loose? See our knee support for hypermobility.

FAQs

Which knee product is right for me?

Start with the Compression Knee Sleeve: it's what most people with sore, stiff or tired knees need. If the pain sits just below the kneecap when you run or jump, try the Patella Knee Strap. If the knee still feels loose side to side, step up to the Knee Brace with Springs, and for the most side support, the Knee Brace with Hinges. For thighs over 23 inches, the Big Bones Knee Brace. For cold or heat afterward, the Ice Sleeve.

Knee sleeve or patella strap: what's the difference?

The sleeve wraps the whole knee in compression, with a gel ring around the kneecap, for general aches, stiffness and long days on your feet. The strap is a narrow band that presses only on the tendon just below the kneecap, for the soreness that comes with running and jumping. If your soreness sits in one spot just below the kneecap, the strap is worth a try.

Can I wear a knee sleeve under jeans?

Yes. Our compression knee sleeves are slim enough to fit under jeans and most pants. Several customers specifically mention wearing them comfortably under jeans all day.

Do your knee products help with arthritis?

Plenty of people with arthritis, including osteoarthritis, wear our knee sleeves. Knitted compression and a gel ring around the kneecap give the joint a snug, supported feel that many find makes walking, stairs and getting up from a chair more comfortable on stiff, achy days. If the knee also feels loose side to side, the Knee Brace with Springs or the Knee Brace with Hinges adds more support. Our products may be HSA/FSA eligible if you qualify. Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary.

How do I measure for a knee sleeve or brace?

Measure around your leg 4 inches above the top of your kneecap and match it to the chart on the product page. The sleeve runs from Y (13 inches or less) to XXL (21 to 23 inches), and the braces with springs and hinges from S to XXL. On a boundary, size down for firmer support or up for an easier fit. Over 23 inches, choose Big Bones.

Can I wear a knee brace after surgery?

Follow your surgeon's plan first: they'll say when and which brace. Once you're cleared, many people use the Knee Brace with Hinges as they get back to activity, then take the hinges out or move to the sleeve as the knee gets stronger.