One of the magic elements of Pickleball lie in it’s name. It’s just a fun sport, and the name captures the essence of the sport. Who can say no to a refreshing Pickle on a hot summer day? Not many. Consequently, it’s tough to say no to a game of Pickleball.
But as tempting as Pickleball may sound, if you have bad knees, you might have to take off a game here and there. Pickleball is great for your health, but not necessarily kind to the knees and ankles when played at a high intensity over a period of years.
Pickleball involves a lot of quick-reflex movement and bending of the knees in all directions. Quick moving from side to side can be highly impactful to your knees, so it is important to always think about the best way to keep your knees and the rest of your legs healthy.
There are a few things you can do to prevent from knee injury in Pickleball, including warming up before a day of Pickleball, wearing high quality tennis shoes with good cushioning, and wearing protective gear. This crucial protective gear we speak of are a pair of handy knee braces, and today we’ll talk about what makes a good pair of knee braces for Pickleball.
Best knee braces for Pickleball – At a Glance
| Knee Brace | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|
  Shock Doctor Ultra Hinged Knee Brace Support | Best Overall knee brace for Pickleball | Check price on Amazon |
 McDavid Knee Support/Double Wrap | Best Budget knee brace for severe knee pain | Check price on Amazon |
 Copper Fit Elite Knee Compression Sleeve | Best Overall budget knee brace | Check price on Amazon |
 Bauerfeind GenuTrain S Knee Brace | Best Knee Brace for Seniors and those with severe knee pain / Arthritis | Check price on Amazon |
 Bauerfeind GenuTrain Knee Support | Best Lightweight Knee Brace for Light/Moderate Pain | Check price on Amazon |
Why are braces important for Pickleball?
Both knee and ankle braces are important tools we have in preventing injuries. Just as a good ankle brace can help prevent injuries such as Achilles tendon strains, a good knee brace can help in the prevention of a myriad of knee injuries.
Your knee is made up of tons of bones, ligaments, and muscles that take on a lot of impact when playing a sport like Pickleball. A proper knee brace can help take on a brunt of that pressure, helping to prevent the knee and areas around the knee from taking on too much wear and tear. This can help both prevent injury and relieve any knee pain you might have at the same time.
What is it about Pickleball that causes Knee Pain?
The knee is a complex collection of bones and muscles. To this day, scientists are still discovering more and more about what causes knee pain within the context of sports where there is a high amount of impact on your knees & ankles. When you are moving laterally, diagonally, forward and backward very quickly in a sport like Pickleball, your knees are receiving the brunt of the load of your upper body. Thus, your knees are taking the brunt of the load of your upper body, and in every position possible.
This leads to wear and tear on your knees. Depending on what part of your legs are experiencing strain, you could experience pain in different parts of the knee. Most common types of knee pain area a direct cause of damage to ligaments & cartilage within the knee or chronic pain associated with tendonitis & arthritis.
Additionally, sometimes knee pain can indirectly stem from muscles surrounding the knee. For example, your hamstrings and calves have a large impact on the pain you might feel in the back of your knee. Both of these muscle groups have tendons that run along them that connect to the back of the knee. If these muscles are strained, they could be causing pain in the back of your knee. Some of these muscles are very long such as the plantaris muscle which works in conjunction with the Achilles Tendon to flex your ankle. This muscle runs from your ankle to the knee and can also cause some pain in the back of the knee.
Where can I get a Knee Brace?
If you need a knee brace right away, I recommend going to a CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens and purchasing any of the ones there that may fit. Also, if you are close to any of the big sporting goods stores like Dick’s, they probably have more of a selection.
But if you have some time to wait for shipping before your next Pickleball day, here are the best knee braces to order.
What is the best knee brace for Pickleball?
Pickleball players have a lot of options out there for knee braces. Here are some of the best ones for the most common knee conditions.
1) Best Overall Knee Brace – Shock Doctor Ultra Hinged Knee Brace Support
This might seem like a heavy duty brace, but Shock Doctor always has the best quality products for injury prevention. This is a do-it-all brace that you can wear playing any sport. It pulls all the tricks when it comes to knee brace technology including pads that absorb impact, hinging technology, and a design for comfort.
If you want something a little more lightweight, this might not be the best choice. However, if you are an active person looking for a knee brace that you can wear for years to come during (including during Pickleball games of course) then you can’t wrong with this Shock Doctor model.
2) Best Budget Knee Brace – Copper Fit Elite Knee Compression Sleeve
If you want something a little more lightweight, this might not be the best choice. However, if you are an active person looking for a knee brace that you can wear for years to come during (including during Pickleball games of course) then you can’t wrong with this Shock Doctor model.
The Copper Fit Elite is a great no frills choice as it has really the bare minimum of what you might need in a knee brace. Although it doesn’t have many fancy features, it takes care of a couple of things with its design that might cause an inconvenience. First, it has reinforced bands to prevent from slipping which is a common gripe many have with most cheap braces. The brace is also made with breathable, copper infused material that will give your knee air and prevent from smelling.
If you don’t have super serious knee pain and are looking for a compression brace that will get the job done, this would be your choice.
3) Best Knee Brace for severe knee pain, Seniors & those with Arthritic – Bauerfeind GenuTrain S Knee Brace
This brace is heavy duty, and made by some of the top knee brace technicians in the world, Bauerfeind. The GenuTrain S features tons of stabilization for older adult pickleball players that might be suffering from knee pain & Arthritis. This is a heavy duty brace that will provide extra reinforcement to further prevent injury. The extra straps, medical grade compression and inserted knee pad help stabilize the knee and control pain.
Although quite expensive, this will be worth it in the long run as it could help preserve your knees for many years. This is is for those who want the best protection possible for their knee.
4) Best Lightweight Knee Brace for Light/Moderate Pain – Bauerfeind GenuTrain Knee Support
The Baurfeind GenuTrain is less heavy and well suited for those who don’t have serious knee pain, but want something quality for support. This brace is 20% lighter than the standard Bauerfeind and provides a bit more comfort and breathability.
This knee brace is the best for those playing Pickleball with only slight knee pain, but still feel the nee for solid support anyway to prevent injury.
5) Best Knee Brace for Severe Knee Pain that Doesn’t Break the Bank – McDavid Knee Support/Double Wrap
The McDavid Brace is a great all around brace for those with severe knee pain. At an affordable price, the brace boasts technology that features integrated steel spring design for extra support, and double wrapping that reduces pain considerably.
You might have been looking at the price of many of these knee braces, and if you did perhaps your wallet had a bit of a panic attack.
Wrapping up… (your knees!)
It’s important for Pickleball players experiencing knee pain to just wear something before playing Pickleball. If this is you, stop by your local Pharmacy and pick up a brace or plan ahead and purchase one of the ones recommended above. Worst case is you’ll be a little bit more uncomfortable while playing, but you could help prevent your knee from experiencing wear and tear that might sideline you later in life.