How Tight Should a Knee Brace Be?

Knee braces are a great way to protect vulnerable knee joints when working out or when healing from an injury. However, they can cause more harm than good if you don’t know how to wear them right. One thing to consider wearing a knee brace is whether it is too tight or too loose.

Ideally, a knee brace should be snug and comfortable. It should firmly hug your knee and leg without clamping on too much to restrict blood flow or making you feel uncomfortable. Read on to find out techniques you can use to tell if your brace is tight enough or not.

How Can I Tell if my Knee Brace is too Tight or too Loose

When your brace is too tight, it may cut off circulation to your lower leg or pinch nerves in your leg. A knee brace worn too stiff could lead to discoloration, swelling, or numbness and tingling in your leg. A tight knee brace may also worsen an existing knee injury.

Check this too: How to Measure for a Knee Brace

If you feel numbness, pain or tingling in your leg below your knee, your knee brace may be too tight. Loosen the straps or confirm your size again.

A brace that is too loose will slide down your leg. This brace will not provide adequate support for your knee, and it could potentially create a tripping hazard if it slides down too low. The friction may also cause blisters on the skin.

How Do I know If My Knee Brace is the Right Size?

Most knee brace brands come with a size chart, which is essential to check before purchasing one. When measuring yourself, slightly bend your knee and measure the circumference of your knee, then confirm with the chart.

Using the 2 Finger Method to Gauge Fit

First, follow the instruction manual that comes with the knee brace. Another simple way to ensure your knee brace does not fit too tight is by using the “two-finger” method. This method includes the following steps;

1. Put your brace on and tighten the brace straps.
2. Insert two fingers under a strap.
3. Your two fingers should fit under the strap, and if they cannot, then it may be too tight; loosen the brace straps a bit and repeat the process.
4. If you can fit a third finger under the brace strap, then the brace strap is probably too loose. Tighten it up a bit and repeat the test.
5. Repeat the two-finger test for every strap on your brace.

Once the knee brace is on, move around a bit and see how the knee brace feels. If it does not stay in place or causes pain, adjust it correctly using the same process.

Check this too: For How Long Should I Wear a Knee Brace?