Donjoy Knee Braces

Written By: Chloe Wilson, BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed by: KPE Medical Review Board

Donjoy Knee Braces Guide: Find out why Donjoy are one of the leading brands on knee braces and how they could help you

Donjoy knee braces are some of the most popular braces on the market. 

They are top of the range braces using specially designed hinges, springs and frames.

Donjoy braces are regularly used in hospitals and by professional athletes and they are known for providing excellent support.

Donjoy make braces to suit all activity levels, from everyday use to professional sports people. They are particularly suited to: 

  • Stability Problems: e.g. ligament injuries
  • Use After Knee Surgery: to protect the knee and allow it to fully heal without getting overstretched and/or overused
  • Arthritis Sufferers: to reduce pain, improve function and delay/prevent surgery
  • Prevent Injury: many sports professionals wear Donjoy knee braces to reduce the risk of injury

Why Choose Donjoy Knee Braces?

Donjoy knee braces are the ultimate in protection. Donjoy has been a market leader in non-operative orthopedic products for over 30 years, and has pioneered innovative brace designs and technologies to help professional athletes and active individuals prevent and rehabilitate from knee injuries.

Donjoy Knee Braces ACL Guarantee

They are so confident in their products that they have even set up the first and only knee guarantee programme. But, if you are looking for a basic brace to provide some support and compression, you can probably find a cheaper, suitable brace from another manufacturer such as McDavid or Mueller. 

To make it easier for you to find the right brace for you, I have split these braces in to three categories:

1) Stability/Ligament Braces: to treat and prevent instability due to ligament damage, or for use after knee surgery
2) Anterior Knee Pain Braces: designed to address problems with the patella and how it moves
3) Arthritis Braces: to help reduce pain, improve function and delay/prevent surgery

You will find information on how the different braces work, what they are suitable for and can read user reviews to help you find the right brace for you.

Stability/Ligament Braces

If you are having problems with stability of the knee from ligament damage, are recovering from knee surgery, or are looking for a brace to reduce the risk of injury, Donjoy knee braces offer the best protection.

Most knee instability is caused by damage to the ACL, as the ACL is the primary stabiliser of the knee. The ACL is most prone to damage is the last part of knee extension (the last 60o), known as the “at-risk” position.

As the knee gets closer to full extension, that is when the force going through the ACL causes the most damage. Donjoy braces are specially designed to reduce that force, decreasing the overall strain on the ACL.

There are two distinct features on the Donjoy knee braces that make them stand out from other brands:

The FourcePoint Hinge found in Donjoy knee braces provides gradually increasing resistance to reduce the risk of knee injury

FourcePoint™ Hinge
Rather than a simple flexion/extension hinge, it uses a spring mechanism to provide gradually increasing resistance to the knee as it reaches the “at-risk” positions.

This slows down the acceleration of the knee in the last 25o of extension, reducing the risk of injury.

You can choose the amount of resistance applied depending on your activity levels to make them suitable for anything ranging from everyday use up to professional, extreme and contact sports.

Donjoy Knee Braces 4 Points Of Leverage

Four Points of Leverage™ System
This is all about the frame design. These Donjoy braces have a rigid frame that at the top comes round the front of the thigh to anchor the femur, goes down the sides of the knee joint and then curves round behind the back of the calf at the bottom to anchor the tibia (shin bone).

There are then flexible straps across the front of the thigh and the back of the calf which prevent anterior tibial translation (the tibia gliding forward) which is what tends to cause ACL injuries. This design on Donjoy braces provides dynamic stability through the entire range of movement.

Donjoy eXtreme Armor Knee Brace

Donjoy Armor with Fourcepoint™ Knee Brace

Overview: This brace is perfect for those who enjoy contact or extreme sports – it is the strongest off-the shelf brace Donjoy make. It is designed for use with moderate/severe ACL/PCL/MCL/LCL instabilities, hyperextension or after ACL surgery.

The Donjoy eXtreme Armor provides great protection and support through full knee range. It combines the FourcePoint hinge and Four Points of Leverage™ System for maximum stability. If needed, you can limit knee range, choosing from three options (25-0, 35-10, 45-20).

The super lightweight frame is made from aircraft grade aluminium, and is lined with “anti-migration” pads to hold the brace in place. The calf is short allowing good boot clearance, and the internally mounted straps mean that if you need to wear a brace on both sides, they won’t catch on each other.

My Verdict: For highly active people, skiers and extreme sports enthusiasts this brace is the bee’s knees. It is designed for those people who want to go all-out! To quote Donjoy it provides “Indestructible Protection”.

People who have thought they wouldn’t be able to get back to activities e.g. ski again after a knee injury have been given a new lease of life with this Donjoy brace. Average user rating 4.6/5

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: ON SALE (guide price $440/£420/€520)

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Donjoy FullForce Ligament Brace

Donjoy FullForce Ligament Brace

Overview: This Donjoy knee brace is designed for use with mild-moderate ligament instabilities and is suitable for court and non-contact sports, or when recovering from ligament reconstruction. It combines Donjoy’s proven Four Points of Leverage™ System with its patented FourcePoint hinge technology to protect the ACL. 

The Donjoy Fullforce knee brace has a sleek, low-profile design, and is exceptionally light-weight. It also has a short calf length which many people prefer. It is suitable for competitive and recreational athletes as well as everyday use.

My Verdict: This brace is perfect for people who want great support without being hindered by a heavy brace. Many users report trying loads of different braces before finding this one, and being truly amazed at how great this brace is and that they would never use anything else. Average user rating 4.2/5.

Donjoy Legend

Donjoy Legend Knee Brace

Overview: This Donjoy knee brace is for moderate/severe ACL, PCL, MCL, LCL and meniscal instabilities. It can be used for contact sports and is safe for salt and fresh-water activities. It has a low-profile design so can be worn underneath most clothing.

The Donjoy Legend has a 10o extension block fitted to prevent hyperextension, a common cause of ligament injuries. It also combines the Four Points of Leverage™ System and FourcePoint hinge technology.

There are three versions: ACL, PCL or combined. It is the same brace but with different strap locations depending on where you need the support.

My Verdict: If you need maximum ligament protection, or want to wear your brace in water, this is perfect. Users report it is very comfortable to wear. Great for everyday use. Average user rating 4.2/5.

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: On SALE (guide price $310/299/€500)

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Donjoy Drytex Playmaker

Donjoy Drytex Playmaker

Overview: This brace is for mild/moderate knee instability following partial or complete tears of the ACL, PCL, MCL and/or LCL. It has a hi-tech, simple to use pin system that allows you to control how much the knee bends and straightens by locking the brace at nine different positions between 0 & 90 degrees. This is perfect if you want to block specific knee movements to provide protection e.g. following knee surgery.

It also features the Donjoy Four Points of Leverage™ system. The lightweight polyester-nylon weave Drytex fabric with pull on sleeve design eliminates neoprene allergies and improves comfort.

My Verdict: This is one of the cheaper Donjoy knee braces as it doesn’t use a solid frame like the other styles and has a simpler polycentric hinge. It is very easy to apply and change the restrictions on movement.

The Donjoy Playmaker is most commonly used after knee surgery or with ACL injuries and receives good user reviews.  There is a newer version available in the US. Average user rating 4.4/5.

Read: User Reviews    Buy Now: On Sale (guide price $180/£179/€150)

Available in these countries

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Anterior Knee Pain Braces

There are a number of braces on the market that can help with anterior knee pain, most commonly due to kneecap problems known as patellar maltracking. Donjoy have produced a great brace, designed by an orthopedic surgeon which is unique in how it works to take forces away from the kneecap.

Donjoy Reaction Brace

Reaction Donjoy Knee Brace

Overview: This donjoy knee brace was specially designed for people suffering from anterior knee pain (kneecap pain) caused by conditions such as chondromalacia patella, patellar tendonitis, Osgood-Schlatters, mild osteoarthritis, and patellar tracking problems.

The Donjoy Reaction has a special elastic web design featuring membranes that elongate with movement and then return back to normal which absorbs shock, redirects forces away from the painful parts of the knee as well as stabilising the kneecap and holding it in the best position. It can be worn for daily activities and sports. It is very comfortable to wear as the design makes it breathable and there is a removable anti-sweat breathable sleeve. Available in a wide range of colours.

My Verdict: I love how this brace deflects the forces directly away from the kneecap. People report instant relief when wearing it and say it is tight but comfortable. For those troublesome causes of anterior knee pain that just won’t settle down, this is definitely worth a try. Average user rating 3.8/5.

Read: User Reviews   Buy Now: ON SALE (guide price $67/£75/€129)

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Donjoy Arthritis Knee Braces

Arthritis Knee Braces by Donjoy

There is a specific range of donjoy knee braces suitable for arthritis that can work really well to reduce pain, improve function and delay the need for surgery. They work by redistributing the way the forces go through the knee from the affected parts to the healthy parts of the knee.

My favourite Donjoy knee braces for arthritis are the OA Lite, OA Assist and OA Everyday. They receive the best reviews from arthritis sufferers.

To find out more about how these braces work and to read reviews, go to the arthritis knee brace section.

Donjoy Knee Braces Size Guide

When using Donjoy knee braces, it is essential to get the right size. Too small and it will quickly become uncomfortable, too large and it won’t provide the support and stability that you need. They come in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXXL.

To get the right size from you, you will need to take three measurements, preferably in standing with your knee slightly bent and your muscles tense.

  1. Center: Measure the circumference of your knee at the midpoint of your kneecap

  2. Thigh: Go up 6 inches from the center of your kneecap and measure the circumference of the thigh at that point

  3. Calf: Go 6 inches down from the center of your kneecap and measure the circumference of your calf at that point.

If your measurement indicates two different sizes, it is recommended that you opt for the larger size.

Donjoy Sizing Guide

*Prices correct as of May 2023.  All prices are subject to change.  Please note we do not stock products directly and therefore have no control over price changes.  See advertising policy for more information.

Page Last Updated: 18/01/23
Next Review Due: 18/01/25