Knee Supports for Runners

By Med-Fit UK  .  Last Updated Wednesday, 27th March 2024

Knee Supports have become incredibly popular for those with runners knee, also known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, and typically people who suffer from this buy either a knee support, patella knee support or a knee brace. 

The best thing you can do before going into the market and looking for specific support that may or may not work for you is to understand what this type of injury is and how to recover from it. 

Runners Knee is typically known to be down to overtraining, this occurs with poor alignment or your strength in your legs, however other reasons could be much simpler, such as: incorrect footwear or even problems with your feet.

Runner's knee causes the kneecap to move around and feel unusually displaced during movement or during running. During this movement or running, those struggling with runners knee will incur symptoms, such as: 

  • Kneecaps that are tender to the touch
  • A strange rubbing, grinding or clicking sound around the kneecap when you straighten or bend your knee
  • Pain around or in your kneecap that occurs when you’re active, however sometimes people may experience pain whilst sitting down for a while with the knees bent. 


Best Knee Supports For Runners

Our Stride Flex Knee Supports have been a popular choice for those with injuries, specific conditions and those wanting to stablise their leg without breaking the bank!


Stride Flex Knee Support

This type of Knee Support is fantastic and popular amongst runners, and this could be due to its added features such as: 360 compression, comfortable design and it delivers medical grade support. This type of support is suitable for helping reduce inflammation, help speed up healing processes and assist with better blood circulation. 

The Stride Flex is crafted from soft, breathable materials helping wick away any sweat for a much dryer and cooler experience around the knee. 


Patella Knee Support

The Patella knee support has become popular amongst those that are struggling with knee pain, patella tendonitis, sports related injuries, arthritis and meniscus tears. This type of support serves as a stabliser and shock absorber, significantly minimising muscle fatigue and minimises risk of injury. 

The patella support is crafted from durable, premium and breathable materials, ensuring a quick drying process and employs a 3d knitted technology, ensuring a 360 tight compression around the knee. 


Sports Knee Support

The Med-Fit Sports Knee Support is primarily used by those performing various sports, such as: Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Hiking, Tennis, Rugby and many more. It helps promote circulation, reduce inflammation and reduce risk of injury, whilst allowing for full leg motion. 

This type of support offers medical grade support, but does not hugely limit you in relation to movements. 


What causes Runner's Knee


Pain associated with a runner's knee can be caused by irritation of the lining of the knee, worn or possibly torn cartilage, or even strained tendons. Other things can contribute to runner’s knee, such as: 

  • Arthritis
  • Flat Feet
  • Weak or Potentially tight thigh muscles
  • Fractured Kneecap
  • Partial or complete dislocation of the kneecap 
  • Poor foot support
  • Underlying Injury
  • Tight hamstrings
  • Excessive Training or Overuse of muscles


What should you consider when looking at Knee Supports for Running?

Material 

Material is an incredibly important factor, and there are some quality materials on the market. One of which is our Polyvinyl Chloride - a durable, tough and non slip material helps retain heat and can in turn help improve the healing process / improve blood circulation. 

The material is incredibly supportive, provides 360 compression and is very comfortable, but the non-slip feature the knee supports provide is that whilst running or even performing a workout, you won’t find yourself pulling it up every few seconds. 

Most Knee Supports nowadays are latex and allergy free, so it’s very unlikely you will struggle with any allergic reactions, especially with the breathable material keeping your knee dry. 

Types of Knee Supports 

If you’ve read above, you probably already know what type of Knee Support will work for you, however if not, keep reading. Supports come in all sizes and colours, but the levels of support they give you, and what that support may be will differ. 

Traditionally, people are pushed towards using tape, whilst this can be helpful for those still very active in sport and is the cheapest option, it won’t give you the highest or even the medium level of support you may need. 

If you’re requiring a decent level of support, normally customers go after braces and knee sleeves, however others may go a level beyond and purchase a patella knee sleeve to aid recovery further and restrict the knee movements a little more. 

To give you an idea using our popular supports, it looks something like this: 

  • Stride Flex Knee Supports: This particular Knee Support proves immensely popular among runners, likely owing to its array of enhanced features including 360-degree compression, ergonomic design, and provision of medical-grade support. It is adept at mitigating inflammation, expediting healing, and promoting improved blood circulation.
  • Sports Knee Support: Med-Fit Sports Knee Support garners favor primarily among athletes engaged in a range of sports disciplines including cycling, football, golf, hockey, hiking, tennis, rugby, and beyond. It facilitates enhanced circulation, diminishes inflammation, and lowers the likelihood of injury, all while enabling unrestricted leg movement. Despite providing medical-grade support, it doesn't significantly impede movement.
  • Patella Knee Support: The Patella knee support has gained traction among individuals grappling with knee pain, patellar tendonitis, sports-related injuries, arthritis, and meniscus tears. Functioning as both a stabiliser and shock absorber, this support substantially reduces muscle fatigue and mitigates the risk of injury.


Are Knee Supports good for running?

Enhancing both your running performance and safeguarding your knee health calls for the integration of a support into your routine, regardless of prior knee injuries. The reasoning is simple: when you run, your knees absorb a significant amount of impact, which, if left unchecked, can lead to cumulative damage over time. 

Neglecting to address this issue proactively may result in severe knee complications, ultimately hindering your ability to continue running. As you age, these unresolved issues may manifest as challenges in performing even basic movements during your senior years.

Therefore, it is wise to acknowledge that most runners can benefit from using a knee brace. 

By doing so, you not only protect your knees from harm but also extend your running longevity. The advantages offered by this preventive measure far outweigh any potential drawbacks.