Most people are always skeptical about the type of knee brace they should get. There are various types of knee brace out there and we will be focusing on hinged knee brace in this article. The best hinged knee brace is needed when you need more protection and support for the knee which other types of brace cannot provide.
Quick List – Top 5
| 1 | Vive Hinged Knee Brace | Check Price |
| 2 | Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace | Check Price |
| 3 | Mcdavid Knee Brace, Knee Support & Compression for Knee Stability | Check Price |
| 4 | DonJoy Performance Bionic Knee Brace | Check Price |
| 5 | Hinged Knee Brace Plus Size – Newly Engineered Knee Braces | Check Price |
What are hinged knee brace?
Hinged knee braces are those brace specifically meant to support and protect the knee against injury. They are different from the other brace due to the hinge they possess on both sides to help protect, stabilize the knee joint.
The knee joint is a very important part of the body and any injury to them might hinder us from doing much. Check best knee brace for patellar tendonitis to see the perfect knee brace for this condition.
What are hinged braces used for?
Before you decide to go for a hinged brace, you must be sure if that is the right for the condition your knee is facing. The hinged brace provides a great level of protection and supports more than the normal compression knee brace. The level of movement of the joint is more restricted with the hinge on both sides, keeping the knee joint in position for stability and protection
Hinged Knee brace For Post-Operation / after surgery
This makes it more suitable for post-operation or after surgery. You should consider a hinged knee brace after a surgery has been performed on the knee and protection and stability is much needed till the knee heals up.
Hinged knee brace For Running / Athletes
Some types of sport actually require more usage of their knee and such might require more support and stability of the knee joint to protect them from unwanted injuries. An athlete especially runners are susceptible to a knee injury. If this is your category, you definitely need the best hinged knee brace for support and protection. Our article on best knee pad for wrestlers can also be handy for those partaking in this type of sport or any other contact sport.
Hinged knee brace for arthritis
Getting the best hinged knee brace will be very perfect for arthritis. Arthritis is a common condition of the knee, it happens due to the inflammation of the joint. There are severities of this type of injury and you will definitely need the best hinged knee brace for perfect support of your knee joint to help up and also help reduce enormous pain that comes along with it.
Hinged knee brace for MCL and LCL
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) are ligaments of the knee that helps add stability to the knee. They hold the knee bones together for stability. Any injury to these can lead to great pain and hindrance to our daily routine. Therefore getting the best hinged knee brace is very important to keep these joints in place. Not only that, hinged knee brace will actually provide more support and hold them firmly together to prevent injury. It also helps in the healing process because they restrict the movement of the joints to allow the knee injury heals up.
We also have best knee brace for torn ACL and meniscus where we explained everything you have to know with this knee condition and the best knee brace that suit it most.
Things to look out for while choosing the best hinged knee brace for protection, stability, and support.
Comfort
Comfortability is a factor you must always look out for and this is one major thing we look out for before picking any of these braces on our list. Knee brace especially the hinged type though needed for support and protection must never pose any form of discomfort. The comfort comes through the type of material it is made from and some other features it must possess.
Also, the ergonomic design is also one factor that determines how comfortable you feel wearing the knee brace. A best hinged knee brace should be made in a way you have control to readjust to your taste. The one you can safely adjust how tight you want it to suit your comfort and still provide the best form of support.
Size – What size knee brace should I get?
You don’t want to get a wrong size; this determines a lot of things, from right compression, support, stability, and even comfort. Size is very paramount and in choosing out best hinged knee brace, we choose the ones that have varieties of sizes. This will allow you to select the best option that best suit the circumference of your knee to have the support.
Therefore, it is very important you check the size charts of the products before going ahead to choosing any of them. Every hinged knee brace has its unique way of sizing. This must be taken into consideration before choosing from the wide range of sizes available.
Price – How much does a hinged knee brace cost?
Most times, the higher the price of a knee brace, the better and more reliable they can be. Though, this is not a rule of thumb. We personally do not believe this is final, but you really want to get yourself a hinged knee brace with a very decent price.
As much it is important to get a high priced knee brace to have the assurance of durability, stability, sturdiness, and other features, there are lots of pocket-friendly priced knee brace that can still provide you with very lovely features and support your knee very perfectly.
Therefore, depending on your financial capacity, we have selected a wide range of knee brace to accommodate every financial status. So, you can choose the highly priced and the cheap ones on our list confidently and still be assured of effectiveness in support and protection of the knee joint.
Adjustability
Putting you in control is a feature you never want to neglect in choosing the best knee hinged knee brace for every knee brace you want to decide on. This will determine a lot of things like your comfort; easy to put on, the amount of support you receive, making it suit your need.
When you can easily adjust a knee brace, you save yourself from unnecessary discomfort, not only that, you control what happens to your knee joint. You are totally in control of everything. This adjustability also involves hinge removability. There might be a situation you don’t need the hinge at the moment and must be removable to suit your need.
Open or closed patella
Your choice should depend on your need. A closed patella will add more compression and pressure to the knee cap while an open patella has an opening around the kneecap.
I do not know how to wear a knee brace?
Most people do find it difficult to wear a knee brace properly. Like other gadgets, hinged knee brace has its own purpose and specifically meant to heal something. Therefore it is very important to wear a good knee brace correctly before you can get a good result from it. We have below step by step rules or guidelines you can follow to guide you through this process. This does not invalidate the advice of your orthopedics. We advise you to visit your doctor for a proper check and advice as this will be very beneficial to you.
Right style and size
As simple as it is, this is the most important step in wearing any type of knee brace correctly. You have to choose the right style and size. There are many types of good knee brace out there; hinged, close or open patella, knee sleeve, knee brace with straps and so on. The best style you should choose must depend on the nature of your injury. This is why you have to visit your doctor for advice in this regards.
Furthermore, as discussed above on size, it is important too and your choice in this regards must be right to get the best result.
Apply right compression to the affected region
The next step is to unstrapping the knee brace. Roll your trousers above your knee and place the brace with the Centre around your knee cap. For hinged knee brace, you can decide to remove the hinge if you do not need it at the very moment. Carefully wrap the knee brace around your knee joint and fasten the strap as needed depending on the amount of pressure or compression needed.
Top 5 – Best Hinged Knee Brace Review
Vive Hinged Knee Brace
With Vive Hinged Knee Brace, you have a great hinged knee brace to support, compress, and stabilize your knee joint for a very long period of time.
It has been positively reviewed by so many past users who have been immensely satisfied with the value they get from this brace. Most are very surprised to have gotten such great value as a very reduced and pocket-friendly price.
Its hinges are removable to suit your needs, so you decide if you need the hinge support or not depending on the level of support needed. The hinge provides extra support and stability to the knee joint. It enhances medial and lateral stability; thereby reducing injury and help you recover faster. People with torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus will find this knee brace appealing.
For perfect comfort and to remove irritation, this brace is one of the best hinged knee braces due to its comfortability. The material used in making it is high-quality neoprene which is light in weight and breathable to remove excess heat or moisture that could cause uneasiness or irritation. This makes it suitable to wear all day.
Furthermore, it is open patella designed for nice ventilation to your knee, its fastener is very strong and you never need to worry about readjustment as it stays perfectly fit.
You never need to worry about durability. This brace is part of our best hinged knee brace because of this factor too. It doesn’t lose its shape easily and when wash, it still retains its shape and quality. It is sturdily built and will last you for a very long period of time. Most previous buyers have testified to this fact and our personal experience also affirms it.
Pros
- It is very affordable.
- The strap is adjustable and getting one size will fit almost all range of knee size.
- Last longer, very durable.
- It comes with 60 days money back guarantee.
- Removable hinge to suit your taste.
- Strong medical Velcro.
Cons
- May not be good for small knee size like that of a toddler.
- Hinge made of aluminum can pierce through the stitches if not carefully handled.
Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace
This is one of the best hinged knee braces out there. Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace provides you with the necessary support and protection needed from injury and recovery from an already sustained one. It helps support and protects from ACL, MCL, patella and meniscus injury.
This knee brace is different from other types of knee brace due to its design. The innovative and highly sophisticated airflow vented technology helps circulate air around the skin of the knee, thereby removing odor, bacteria, excess heat and moisture to keep your skin cool for all-day wear.
You would also be excited with the level of support the heavy duty dual hinges provide and one exciting thing is the fact that it doesn’t impede your movement. It allows you to move comfortably through its specially designed four-way stretch Lycra mesh and pre-curved anatomical design which fits both sides of the knee either right or left.
The brace is not one size fit all; it is produced in different sizes: small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large, xxx-large. Therefore, care should be taken to order the right size. Selecting the wrong size will never be a good choice. It is important to check the size chart before settling for the size to buy.
We cannot but get impressed with the quality of material the knee brace is made from. A high-quality neoprene, which is moisture wicking and excess heat removal for perfect comfort. Its X-fit strap system safely and securely wraps and fits the leg for right support and stability of the knee joint.
Pros
- Provides great support and stability.
- Very comfortable to use, removes excess heat and moisture for perfect comfort.
- Varieties of size available to pick from.
- It straps perfectly to the knee joint.
- It is sturdy and ergonomically designed.
Con
- Ordering the wrong size can render the brace ineffective.
See also: Best Wrist Brace for Sleeping
McDavid Knee Brace, Knee Support & Compression for Knee Stability
McDavid has always been known for making quality brace not only in knee brace category alone but including ankle brace, knee brace, and others. They are known for quality and effectiveness and these are not found wanting in their knee brace. We have selected them as one of the best hinged knee braces due to these qualities and we have no doubt the knee brace will deliver effectively to support and protect your knee joint perfectly.
You will be intrigued by this brace firstly because of the price. So many previous users were first skeptical thinking a good knee brace can’t be that pocket-friendly, but this brace proves them wrong and previous users have nothing than positive reviews to give.
Our personal check and test of this hinged knee brace cleared any doubt. It has a lot of amazing quality that helps enhance support of the knee.
The hinge is very light and still very much durable, it is wide in the arm making it cover a larger area of the side of the knee to aid and maintain strength.
For your comfort is guaranteed and sure. The hinge is cushioned to make you feel comfortable and the knee brace is generally made with latex-free neoprene. It is breathable, removes excess heat and moisture and keeps your skin cool and free from irritation.
It has two straps, the upper and lower region above and below the knee cap with a very strong medical Velcro which holds and secures the knee brace in place, removing any form of slipping and secures it perfectly to the knee joint for maximum support and compression.
Sizing is important; the knee brace is manufactured in different sizes as well: small, medium, large, x-large, xx-large. See the size chart of the brace before making an order to avoid error choosing the best one for you.
Pros
- Wider hinge arms for more protection and support.
- Pocket-friendly price.
- Very good brace and durable.
- Great for almost all knee issues.
Cons
- Most users complained of not being able to use all day.
DonJoy Performance Bionic Knee Brace
DonJoy gives special freedom to the knee joint movement and this makes it special for us. This brace does not impede your activities and at the same time support, stabilize and protect your knee in the best way. This is special for us as it makes it suitable for sports guys who need protection and freedom. DonJoy offers this making it very suitable for athlete and sportsmen.
It is a knee brace designed with open patella. Your knee enjoys great ventilation and keeps the skin very cool and free from irritation arising as a result of excess heat and moisture. Coupled with the high-quality material it is made from which is moisture wicking and breathable. Neoprene has always been best in this regards and that is the material used in its production.
It is a little bit costlier than other hinged knee brace reviewed here but still very much affordable. The quality it provides supersede its price and getting it will definitely be worthy of the price.
We count this brace among our best hinged knee brace due to qualities like: bilateral polycentric hinges which help support the knee instability, top and bottom closure with pull strap for perfect fit, wrap around design that offers great comfort with easy on/off, perforated neoprene for maximum breathability, anti-migration technology that eliminates slip completely, among many other lovely qualities.
The sizing is important, check the right size as it is not one size fit all. Do check the sizing chart before making an order of this knee brace. The sizes are in small, medium, large, x-large.
Pros
- Help support knee instability perfectly.
- Great support for sportsmen.
- The strap is adjustable for proper fit and customizes fit.
- Strong Velcro for fitness.
- Breathable material which enhances comfort and removes skin irritation.
Cons
- Costly than the other reviewed products.
- Some buyers complained about the Velcro.
Hinged Knee Brace Plus Size – Newly Engineered Knee Braces
Lastly, we have this amazing and quality knee brace on our list of the best hinged knee braces. It is a knee brace we are particularly excited about its support and protection. It was designed in an innovative way to bring about best comfort and protection; hence the name newly engineered knee brace.
For easy movement, the brace is opened at the back. The brace is made in three sizes: size 1 – support thigh circumference of 18 – 21.5 inches, size 2 – 22 – 25.5 inches while size 3 support 26 – 29 inches thigh circumference.
It is great for support to allow faster recovery from MCL, LCL, Meniscus and other knee injuries. It also serves as good protection against any injury that might result from contact sports like wrestling, running, basketball and so on.
For comfort, it is built with quality material. Breathable material that helps removes excess heat and moisture. The strap is adjustable and expandable to give great compression to the affected part.
It is open patella designed with gel-cushioned patella design for max pressure on the knee cap.
Pros
- High support and protection to the knee joint.
- Open at the back for easy movement.
- 100% money-back guaranteed.
- Breathable material.
- Four built-in string for support.
- Widened anti-slip strap.
Cons
- Velcro is secured in the back making it difficult for some to fasten.
Final words
We have come up with these top 5 among the best hinged knee brace. They are fully tested and trusted to give you the best experience. They are listed in no particular order as we believe anyone you choose at the end of the day will not only be a great buy but will serve its purpose.