Best Knee Support for Jogging
Knee Support for Jogging – Top Recommendations
Knee pain is a common side effect of jogging. If you are reading this article, it is likely you have some experience with knee pain and the associated frustrations.
Do not worry, however, as it effects many joggers and fortunately there are solutions so you can get back to your fitness routine.
So this begs the question, what’s the best knee support for jogging? We are frequently asked this question by our readers, so we decided to put together this buyers guide.
In this article, we’ll explore the best knee supports for jogging, what causes knee pain, and how to prevent it.
Knee Support for Jogging – Everything You Need to Know
Before we get into our Top Recommendations for the Best Knee Support for Jogging, we think it is best practice to understand the purpose of knee supports and how they work to relieve your knee pain.
At the Best Knee Braces, we also understand everyone’s reason for needing knee support is individual – therefore we have put together a quick guide. The purpose is to run through the features that you should look for in knee support and ask how important it is to your requirements.
Why Do I Experience Knee Pain while Jogging?
Regular readers would know we always recommend starting at the source of the problem and taking a few moments to stand back and analyze the origin of the pain. Ask yourself the following questions:
- When do I experience the pain? – Do I feel pain during my jogging? or after I finish jogging? Sometimes it is common for joggers to only experience knee pain after a certain distance.
- What type of pain is it? – Is the pain a dull pain? Or is the pain a sharp needle like pain?
- Where is the pain located? – Is your pain localized in the back of the knee? On the side of the knee or possibly around the patella? If you are finding it hard to determine the location of the pain, this is ok. Sometimes the pain can be misleading and may be caused by inflammation which can be large in area.
Identifying and analyzing your knee pain is the first step in determining what is the best knee support for jogging that is specific to your situation. It will help to save you time and money through elimination of the whole trial and error approach many inexperienced joggers take.
What is a Knee Support and Why Do I need One?
Knee support is the general term for support aids, like knee braces, patella straps and knee sleeves, used to provide targeted support and compression to the knee.
We know this sounds biased coming from us, however we are strong advocates for these types of support aids, as they are an economical means of treatment to reduce pain and strengthen the knee joint.
Support aids such as braces and sleeves use a combination of targeted structural support and compression to strengthen the knee.
You will know you require assistance if you experience pain or feelings of weakness in the knee. Pain is the body’s way of telling you to immediately stop and take stock of what is happening around you (in this case jogging).
Using a knee brace or sleeve will help reduce any pain you experience during jogging. More importantly, it will give you the confidence to hit the running track again without worrying whether you are causing further injury to your knee.
What to Look for in a Knee Support
When it comes to choosing the right knee support for you there are a few key features to consider before committing to your next purchase.
Material
You also want your material to have wicking properties. Again this helps to reduce the chances of skin problems, as the material will be able to wick sweat away from your skin while you jog.
Design
This is an important element and can be the difference between a comfortable knee support, or an annoying support that keeps of slipping or moving while you jog.
Good knee supports for jogging will have non-slip features such as silicone waves and specially woven materials that allow it to mold and stretch to the contours of your knee joint.
You can also find some knee supports that incorporate mesh material that helps to circulate air at the back and sides of the knee. Well-designed knee supports will also provide a balanced, even compression on the knee. This means a compression that helps increase blood circulation, but not too tight that it restricts movement or cuts into your leg.
Type of Support
The last feature we will look at is the type of knee support you require. You should be able to answer this question by performing the knee pain analysis we described above. By going through the questions above, you should now be able to determine if you need targeted support like a knee brace and patella bands. Or if it is general compression support like a knee sleeve that will help give you the confidence to run pain-free.
Top Recommendations for the Best Knee Support for Jogging
Modvel Knee Compression Sleeve
PROS
- slim line compression sleeve for unintrusive jogging
- versatile knee support including arthritis pain relief
- comes with a pair of sleeves
CONS
- No additional patella support for targeted support
- attention needs to be paid to sizing
The Modvel Knee Compression Sleeves are the perfect knee support for those that feel they suffer from weakened knees.
We are happy to report there are several color options for the Medvel knee sleeves, meaning matching it with your jogging attire won’t be a problem.
In addition to the choices, Modvel provides a 100% money back guarantee, which we always like to see as it means the company has confidence in their products.
IPOW Patella Stabilizer Knee Strap
PROS
- targeted frontal knee support (such as runners knee)
- fully adjustable with a one-size-fits-all design
- versatile applications for daily use (not just for jogging)
CONS
- specific support for patella, will not provide compression benefits
- cleaning and maintenance required as not breathable
The IPOW Patella Stabilizer Knee Straps are great for those joggers that experience knee pain around the patella. It is common for joggers to encounter patella tendonitis, which is where the knee cap rubs against the Tibia causing pain and inflammation. The IPOW knee strap prevents the knee cap from slipping down and helps to stabilize the knee.
With it’s fully adjustable double knot design, the IPOW is a one-size-fits-all knee strap, meaning you don’t have to fiddle around with sizing charts and measuring tapes. This is a big tick in our books, as many of our readers complain about the difficulties they experience in finding the right size fit for their knees.
IPOW claim they have adapted high quality raw materials into their knee strap, with smooth edges and fine stitches to minimize any chance of blood circulation being cut off or skin chaffing.
We do like the versatility of the IPOW Patella Stabilizer Knee Strap, as it is small enough to be worn all day and provide support for all your daily activities (not just jogging).
If your knee is experiencing patella troubles, we recommend giving the knee strap a go for added support.
Vive Hinged Knee Brace
PROS
- strong all round knee support (great for weak knees)
- hinged for added strength and stability
- best knee brace for its price range
CONS
- more bulky compared to the other options
- may need some assistance in fitting it correctly to the knee
We understand a hinged knee brace may not be your first go-to for the best knee support for jogging. However, we wanted to include options for those individuals that may need some added support and confidence to jog. The Vive Hinged Knee Brace is the brace for such individuals and is one of our favorite knee braces overall. It is particularly good for people who suffer from arthritis, but have been advised to keep up with their daily exercise.
The Vive Knee Brace has a unique design that provides soothing compression and retains therapeutic heat to support and reduce any swelling or inflammation that may result from jogging. It has a unique 4 strap hinged design that also has two removeable hinges. This provides the ability to customize the brace to suit your exact needs.
The material is breathable and lightweight neoprene blend, which as we highlighted earlier, is a key feature to look for in good knee support for jogging.
Overall a strong and sturdy contender for the best knee brace for jogging.
Final Thoughts on the Best Knee Support for Jogging
Jogging is a great form of exercise for low intensity days in your fitness regime or just for recreational purposes.
However, knee pain can put an end to your jogging days if not attended to promptly.
Fortunately, finding the best knee support for jogging is an easy and affordable exercise – if you know what to look for. By reading this article you should now know how to identify the best knee support for you. You can also use our Top Recommendations list of knee supports for jogging for a quick reference guide, so you can hit the jogging track sooner.
Here’s to your continued fitness!