A physical therapist's 3 rules for a knee brace
Physical therapist Lou Fratto is in his late 50s and still does jiu-jitsu. When a knee injury kept him off the mats for three and a half months, he did his own rehab and went looking for a brace. It had to pass three tests. Here they are, in his words, and the brace he bought.
Knee Brace with Hinges
Passes all 3 of Lou's rules:
- Bright enough to see
- Safe for your partner
- Stays on through training
Lou Fratto, MSPT, MTC. Physical therapist, 27+ years. Founder, Delray Care Physical Therapy.
Bright enough to see
“In the heat of battle it's easy to forget on your own body which part is injured, let alone your partner's.” So Lou wanted a brace that works like a beacon: this is the knee, leave it be. He picked the red. It comes in black too, if you'd rather nobody notice.
Safe for your partner
“The last thing you want is their finger getting caught in some kind of metal joint.” The hinges ride in padded pockets on both sides, so no metal is exposed. And when you don't need them, they slide out and you have a compression sleeve. In Lou's words: “Super flexible in that manner.”
It has to stay on
“It's not going to do me much good if it comes off the first minute of training.” The knit is shaped like a leg, a little wider at the top for your thigh, with a silicone grip inside that holds without bugging your skin. His verdict: “It did the job.”
A little squeeze, a lot more confidence
Our founder asked Lou why a compression sleeve just feels better. His answer: “Having that little bit of squeeze around the joint gives your nervous system more information, and it makes your body part feel more secure.” Physical therapists call it proprioception, your sense of where the joint is. For Lou, the brace gave just enough support, and “probably 90% of it was just gave me the confidence to go back.”
“I'm going to recommend it to my patients”
After a few sessions, Lou wrote in to ask how to wash it, and had an answer within the hour. His reply: “By the way, I'm a physical therapist. I do jiu-jitsu, and your brace was awesome. I love it. I'm going to recommend it to my patients and my clients.”
What Lou noticed
The Knee Brace with Hinges is the same breathable knit and silicone gel pad as our original sleeve, with padded hinges on both sides. Supportive wear, made for people who actually train.
Padded Hinges
Hinges ride in padded pockets on both sides. No exposed metal.
Hinges Come Out
Slide them out for a compression-only sleeve on lighter days.
Stays Put
Non-slip silicone lining and a knit shaped like a leg.
HSA/FSA Friendly
May be HSA/FSA eligible if you qualify. Pay with pre-tax dollars at checkout.
Lou's road back to the mats
- The injury
Off the mats
A pretty significant knee injury kept him off the mats for three and a half months.
- The rehab
His own PT
“Being a physical therapist, I did my own rehab.”
- The brace
Three rules
Bright enough to see, safe for his partner, and it had to stay on. He bought the red one.
- Back on
Back to training
“It gave me the confidence to go back.”
"I have been doing jiu jitsu for 8 years and I've had old volleyball kneepads that I was using. ... The protection around the patella is a game changer as I am able to put my knee down on the mats with limiting impact."
"The hinges add stability without feeling like a robot. They flex and bend as you ride. ... I've ridden two full 7 hour days and never once I feel pinched or have the slip or twist."
"It doesn't slide down, or bunch up behind my knee.. Quality made, top notch brace.. I highly recommend.."
Lou's story, in his words. Individual results vary. Supportive wear, not a medical device.
Get the brace Lou wears
This is the Knee Brace with Hinges. Lou's is red, and it comes in black too. Compression fits differently than clothing, so measure around your leg 4 inches above the top of your kneecap and match the size chart. If you land between two sizes, lean toward the smaller one so the hinges stay seated against the joint. Not sure? Tap the sizing guide. And if the fit isn't right, exchanges are always free.
Real People. Same Brace.
Join 100,000+ customers who trust Old Bones Therapy
“This one does not bunch behind your knee when sitting on a lift. It doesn't drop down to my boot. It doesn't create any pinch spots or hotspots. ... I actually forget I'm even wearing it because it's so comfortable.”
“As soon as I put them on I couldn't believe how good they felt and how well they supported my knees. ... They are also very good about keeping knee pads from sliding.”
“Wore it every day on a recent snowboard trip out west and boy am I glad I did. ... These literally kept me on my board all week, and I will never ride without them.”
Common questions
Who is Lou Fratto?
How did Lou end up on this page?
Is Lou paid to say this?
Did you write what he says?
Is this medical advice?
Does it stay on through training?
Can I take the hinges out?
How do I pick a size?
How do I wash it?
Bright enough to see. Safe for your partner. Stays on.
Get my bracePhysical therapist Lou Fratto co-founded and hosts Thrive A/F, where he interviewed our founder. He bought his brace before that. His words are his own experience, not medical advice: ask your own provider what's right for your knee.
Old Bones Therapy makes supportive wear, not medical devices. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider.
Go see Lou.
Lou runs Delray Care Physical Therapy in Delray Beach, Florida, and has been treating patients for 27+ years. If you're nearby and want a physical therapist who still trains, meet Lou. And if you want the whole conversation, here's the full episode of Thrive A/F with our founder. Lou: thank you.
Or grab the brace he wears