Knee braces and supports: what the guidance says

Written by Dr Sean Leo, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon whose clinical focus is the knee, sports injuries and the lower limb.

Last updated: 9 October 2026.

For people with osteoarthritis, NICE (the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) says insoles, braces, tape, splints or supports should not routinely be offered unless set conditions are met ^[1]. After a kneecap dislocation, you may be given a knee support to wear to help it heal ^[2].

For people with osteoarthritis, NICE (the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) says insoles, braces, tape, splints or supports should not routinely be offered unless set conditions are met ^[1]. The NHS (the UK’s National Health Service) says that after a kneecap dislocation you may be given a knee support to wear to help it heal ^[2].

• What does NICE say about braces and osteoarthritis?
• When might a support or splint be used?
• If you have knee pain, what does the NHS advise?
• When is urgent help needed?
• What should I do next?

What does NICE say about braces and osteoarthritis?

For people with osteoarthritis, NICE says insoles, braces, tape, splints or supports should not routinely be offered unless set conditions are met; NICE’s exact wording below lists them ^[1].

NICE’s exact wording

NICE recommends: “Do not routinely offer insoles, braces, tape, splints or supports to people with osteoarthritis unless: there is joint instability or abnormal biomechanical loading and therapeutic exercise is ineffective or unsuitable without the addition of an aid or device and the addition of an aid or device is likely to improve movement and function” ^[1].

When might a support or splint be used?

• After a kneecap dislocation, you may be given a knee support to wear to help it heal ^[2].
• The NHS osteoarthritis page says a splint (a piece of rigid material used to provide support to a joint or bone) can also be useful if you need to rest a painful joint ^[3]. It adds that a physiotherapist can provide a splint and give advice on how to use it correctly ^[3]. NICE’s recommendation above also lists splints ^[1].

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If you have knee pain, what does the NHS advise?

If you have knee pain: do not self-diagnose, and see a doctor if you are worried ^[4]. A doctor can suggest treatment based on what is causing your knee pain ^[4].

When is urgent help needed?

The list below covers the signs that should not wait for a routine appointment.

What should I do next?

If knee pain is not settling, or you are unsure what is causing it, an assessment is a sensible next step. The assessment brings together the patient’s story, an examination and any tests that help, so that the patient and the surgeon can decide together. It looks at the structure involved, the patient as a whole person and the goal they want to return to. An appointment supports an informed decision. It is not a commitment to surgery.

• Read about the Knee Hub.
• Arrange a knee assessment when you are ready.
• Read about knee wraps and the back squat.
• Read about meniscus tear assessment and repair.

References

1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), recommendation 1.3.11. Published 19 October 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/resources/osteoarthritis-in-over-16s-diagnosis-andmanagement-pdf-66143839026373
2. NHS. Dislocated kneecap (last reviewed 10 March 2026). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dislocated-kneecap/
3. NHS. Osteoarthritis – Treatment and support. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/treatment/
4. NHS. Knee pain. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/knee-pain/