How you prepare

Discuss your interest in knee braces with your doctor. Together you can decide whether a knee brace is likely to help your problem and how likely it is that you'll wear it regularly.

If you decide to try a knee brace, your doctor will probably need to write a prescription for it and refer you to an orthotist — a health professional who designs, builds, and fits braces and other devices to improve function in people with orthopedic problems.

Custom-made knee braces can be costly, so you might want to check with your health insurance provider first to see whether these types of devices are covered by your policy.