Has the pain you are experiencing started a long time ago, or did you injure yourself recently?

If so, what is the mechanism of injury?

These are great questions for you to consider, if you are looking for a knee brace.

To be honest, there are a number of significant manufacturers of quality knee braces. But, if you are new to knee braces, you can easily get "lost in the forest" of trying to decide which knee brace is best for your needs.

Let's keep it really simple...because that is the way the answer must be for you to make the best decision. There are a number of knee braces and each can have different facets due to your diagnosis.

Here is where you should start. Ask yourself these questions : Do I have a mild injury? - Do I have a moderate knee injury? - Do I have a serious knee injury? Am I suffering from a form of arthritis?

What would you rate your pain on a scale one out of ten?

These are important questions.

Another bit of helpful information for you is that a person must know that there are a number of knee brace categories. There are knee braces for osteoarthritis (OA), post operative rehabilitation (such as post op knee braces) patella femoral tracking, and the list goes on...

Everyone is different, everyone's knee is different, therefore not everyone will need the same knee brace.

The first step is to distinguish what your need is...Do you have arthritis? Do you have a ligament injury? You know more than anyone what's going on with you, well....besides your physician....

Usually, the more pain you are having, the bigger the knee brace you may need...

The best place to start regarding your condition is to talk to your physician. You may have a mild sprain, or you may have an ACL tear. Your physician will be able to diagnosis these issues. As a result, your physician may be able to discuss with you the significance of your injury and help you to avoid the wrong knee brace! Is your knee problem the result of a disease process? Or, are your knee issues a result of a trauma or an anatomical deficiency such as an ACL tear?

This is your starting point. Do not rush this process. It is important not to get an osteoarthritis knee brace, if you have an ACL tear. Yes, they are both knee braces, but what is involved is much much different, with respect to the knee brace.