Written by Mike Price, OT
When your leg is injured and should not bend, a knee immobilizer provides the support to keep your leg straight and promote healing.
Usually made up of a combination of metal, foam, fabric, and plastic, and attached and detached with hook-and-loop straps, thigh-to-shin straight immobilizers come in a variety of sizes, designs, and colors. A knee stabilizer is usually adjustable and is fitted by a healthcare provider to be worn over clothing. Knee stabilizers are designed for people who need to walk or stand, and are usually removed by the user when laying flat in bed. These support devices are most often prescribed in conjunction with physical therapy to protect and strengthen the area while healing.
Surgery, damaged ligaments or tendons around the knee, a fractured kneecap or shin, or a dislocated knee could all call for a knee immobilizer, as it is lighter and more comfortable than a plaster cast, but stiff and strong enough to keep the knee from bending.
1. Medi-Wrap Adult Arm or Leg Immobilizer
2. Contoured Cutaway Knee Immobilizer
3. Sized Canvas Knee Immobilizer
4. Procare Quick-Fit Basic Knee Splint
6. Bariatric Cutaway Knee Immobilizer with Elastic Straps
An ill-fitting knee stabilizer that doesn’t stay in place not only detracts from healing, it can also cause a fall or make an injury worse. More sophisticated than off-the-shelf knee braces most often worn for daily activities or sports, knee stabilizers are measured according to leg length and circumference to ensure a proper fit.
All knee stabilizers prevent you from bending your leg, but different straight stabilizers address injuries of differing severity. Lighter weight cloth and canvas designs are more comfortable and can be used with injuries that are not as serious. When more support is needed, a stiffer model made of foam, or a plastic version with metal T-bar stays are better choices for the additional stability they provide.
All knee stabilizers fulfill splinting needs, but they range in additional features they offer. From built-in ice packs for cold therapy to straps that provide compression therapy, there are additional options you can choose to reduce pain and swelling.
Made from perforated foam with elastic straps that add compression to reduce swelling, the Bariatric Cutaway Knee Immobilizer with Elastic Straps by DeRoyal enters our list at #6. The knee can experience forces up to five times a person’s body weight, bariatric patients are especially susceptible to knee issues.
This canvas and fabric model comes with or without T-bar stays, depending on the level of support needed. It has adjustable medial and lateral stays to provide a precise fit.
This knee immobilizer is ideally sized for bariatric patients who have had surgery and need to keep their knee from bending. Recommended for people with mild to severe injuries, it’s best for accommodating a grade II or III collateral ligament sprain, osteochondral fracture, or a dislocated knee.
For a mobile bariatric patient who needs a lightweight and comfortable fit plus compression to minimize swelling, this knee stabilizer is a great choice. For providers who want to order in bulk, this knee stabilizer can be ordered in cases of five.
The Tri Panel Knee Immobilizer by Advanced Orthopaidics is #5 on our list, featuring choices that allow for an anatomical fit.
Available in circumferences of 14, 20, and 24 inches, this knee immobilizer has movable side panels for medial and lateral stay positioning and adjustable hook-and-loop straps to benefit patients recovering from sprains, strains, and injuries to the PCL, MCL, and LCL. It is designed with three contoured posterior stays, two medial and two lateral stays. Strap length can be trimmed to fit, and it adjusts as swelling reduces during recovery.
This model’s customization options make it a great fit for a lot of people. If you appreciate being able to make adjustments according to how your healing is progressing, this knee immobilizer can provide you with customized comfort from an easy-to-apply treatment device that will make it easy to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.
Coming in at #4 on our list of top picks is the Procare Quick-Fit Basic Knee Splint by Chattanooga. The compression factor provided by the three-inch wide straps plus its easy-to-fit sizing creates the perfect healing environment after an injury or procedure when the knee shouldn’t bend.
Made of foam laminate with elastic contact closure straps, it fits a wide range of body heights, coming in lengths of 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26 inches. It has dual contoured I-beam posterior stays and movable medial and lateral double-stay casting.
This knee immobilizer made our list of top picks because it provides the combined benefits of being able to fit a large number of people with its available lengths, while delivering customized comfort through its movable medial and lateral double stays. Its rigidity and strength can be counted on to keep the knee immobilized, its wide straps ensure it stays put while providing compression to help relieve swelling, and it is comfortable to wear.
Knee injuries can get truly uncomfortable if they're paired with the wrong equipment. Having the Sized Canvas Knee Immobilizer to protect your knee while recovering is one of the best ways to guarantee proper healing. Top knee braces offer comfortable solutions, but this knee immobilizer stands up by covering most leg surfaces to prevent your knee from involuntary bending when walking or sitting.
The Sized Canvas Knee Immobilizer by DeRoyal features three pairs of high-quality straps that prompt an easy attachment to your leg and knee. Rest, sit and walk with confidence knowing this premium knee brace will not allow any involuntary knee bending and will support good injury recovery. Moisture is no more a problem thanks to this immobilizer's breathable fabric that allows appropriate air circulation and creates a fresh prolonged feeling.
Present in a wide variety of sizes, the Sized Canvas Knee Immobilizer lets you choose the one that better fits your knee and leg. Simply select your preferred size and set your leg over the open brace, lock every strap independently to fit your knee contour, and enjoy a comfortable and safe knee recovery.
Taking the #2 spot on our list is the Contoured Cutaway Knee Immobilizer by DeRoyal. Knee pain is one of the most common reasons people visit orthopedic surgeons, and this knee immobilizer is recommended for patients who have been through knee surgery.
Healing from surgery must allow for internal and external recovery not just from the original injury, but from the tissue trauma of invasive treatment. Because there is so much healing to be done after an operation, it can be especially important to make sure the leg absolutely does not bend while walking or standing in the days following knee surgery.
This leg-immobilizing splint is easy to put on and its simple quick fit tabs make sure it stays in position. A benefit of this knee immobilizer is that it’s made of perforated foam material, which improves air circulation and makes it much more comfortable and less likely to cause skin irritation.
For additional strength, this device has T-bar stays and for proper fit it has contoured posterior stays and adjustable lateral and medial stays.
Not just for surgical recovery, this knee immobilizer is well-suited in the treatment of mild to severe knee injuries, patellar dislocations, osteochondral fractures, and grade II and III collateral ligament sprains. It is our top choice because of its user-friendly versatility in appropriately treating knee issues that fall across a wide range of severity. It is adjustable enough to offer a good fit and appropriate support to just about every patient, and it delivers strong support paired with user comfort to promote a personalized healing experience.
The #1 entry on our list is the Medi-Wrap Adult Arm or Leg Immobilizer by Medi Kid Co, and it’s unique in that it’s the only entry on our list that can double as a leg or arm immobilizer.
It is useful for home care, in-patient hospital care, or outpatient physical therapy. The level of rigidity and support can be adjusted by adding or removing plastic inserts. The hook-and-loop closures make it easy to put on and secure for a good fit.
The immobilizer comes in 15, 17, and 19 inch lengths. It can fit most body frames, including those of bariatric patients, accommodating ankle circumferences ranging from 5 to 14 inches and thigh circumferences of 8 to 19 inches.
These devices have an outer layer of cotton, a middle layer of poly-fill, and an inner lining of cotton. This design provides comfortable, breathable support with or without the accompanying plastic inserts. The immobilizers come in packages of two. A unique feature is that, although most knee stabilizers are used for walking or standing and are removed at night, these lightweight versions can be used as night splints.
This is a no-frills option that is actually quite versatile. For the patient wanting something easy to use and comfortable, especially if it needs to be worn at night, this leg immobilizing splint comes in several sizing options, so it will serve a wide range of patients seeking a simple, comfortable knee immobilizer.
Knee immobilizers are stiffer than knee braces, and are used in place of a heavy cast.
Yes, knee immobilizers are worn when walking or standing, and can usually be removed in bed or when sitting with your leg extended unless otherwise instructed by your healthcare provider.
No. Even if you drive a vehicle with automatic transmission and don’t need both legs to operate your vehicle, you should not drive while you are suffering from any impairment.
The knee immobilizer should be put on with the bars (stays) on either side of the knee. The knee should be at the halfway point of the brace, and you should fasten it starting at the bottom and working your way up.
A T-bar is a kind of stay that is included in the design of a knee immobilizer because of the added strength it provides.
The specific dimensions required to choose an appropriately sized knee immobilizer are the circumference of your thigh and the circumference of your calf, each measured about six inches from the middle of your kneecap. Since some knee immobilizers take the width of your kneecap into consideration when sizing, measure that as well by passing a tape measure over the widest point of the center of your kneecap.
When an injury or surgical procedure requires you to keep your leg straight, a knee immobilizer is a much more comfortable option than a traditional plaster cast. Unlike a cast, these devices are more adjustable, and as swelling reduces, their level of support and the position of the straps can be changed accordingly. Also, often they can be taken off at night, which is conducive to better sleep and helps alleviate possible skin irritation. Each quality selection on our list can be counted on to deliver what it promises, with features that will provide users with a personalized experience and optimal healing environment.
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Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
