Abstract
Knee braces continue to be a widely utilized piece of medical equipment, ranging from
simple over the counter sleeves to more complex functional braces, with the ability
to provide electrical stimulation to muscle groups. Despite their popularity, alternatives
to knee braces exist for patients who find braces to be ineffective, uncomfortable,
cumbersome, or overly expensive. While high-quality studies are lacking for modalities
such as neoprene sleeves, compression stockings, and kinesiotaping, there is promising
evidence that these interventions can confer an element of stability and pain relief
for a variety of knee pathologies both with regard to acute and chronic injuries as
well as in the postoperative rehabilitation period. While no “holy grail” exists for
the ideal brace, or bracing alternative, it is important for providers to be aware
of the options available to patients as well as the current evidence for these various
modalities, so that the provider can best guide musculoskeletal care.
Keywords
knee - bracing - tape - neoprene - arthritis
