Knee Braces Market – By Product, By Application, By End Use, & Global Forecast, 2024 – 2032

Knee Braces Market Size

The global knee braces market size was valued at around USD 929.9 million in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 1.5 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 5.3%.
 

The increasing prevalence of osteoarthritis, and the introduction of inexpensive, comfortable-to-use braces are propelling market growth. These trends are also substantiated by the increase in sports injuries. Children under the age of 14 sustain 3.5 million sports-related injuries each year according to Stanford Children's Health, with 9% being knee injuries. Moreover, the overall increase in children participating in sports has directly resulted in increased knee ACL injuries by 5 times and this increases the demand towards functional knee braces and preventive measures, thereby contributing market growth.
 

Chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases are further aggravating osteoarthritis and increase the demand for knee braces. The CDC reports 27.7% of arthritis patients are obese, 33.7% are diabetic, and 36.4% have heart conditions. The market supplies the growing need with braces tailored to the needs of arthritis patients. The increase of awareness regarding osteoarthritis pains together with the support from Medicare and Medicaid, which reimburse up to 80% of expenditure for knee braces, encourages greater adoption of the products.
 

Furthermore, WHO has placed osteoarthritis on the list of top global health concerns, together with post-operative complications of total knee replacement (TKR) surgeries, there is heightened reliance on braces, which in turn suggests a rapidly expanding market in the coming years.
 

A knee brace is a type of medical device that has been designed to offer support, protection, as well as stabilization to the knee joint. Knee braces are meant to be preventive to injury, assist during the recovery phase after an injury or surgical procedure, and help manage chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis. There are various types of knee braces that are available in the market, range from functional to prophylactic and rehabilitative, which provide pain relief and mobility improvement through compression, alignment, and control of knee movement.
 

Knee Braces Market Trends

Technological advancement in knee braces have increased their market share due to improved efficacy, comfort, and convenience offered by these devices. To capture a wider market, some braces have been designed and produced to offer more effective support and pain relief. These improvements in materials, customization, smart technology, and design are making knee braces more effective and useful to a wide variety of users, ranging from athletes to elderly patients suffering from chronic ailments. These innovations also serve consumers who prioritize functionality and comfort in the design of the knee braces, resulting in market growth.
 

• According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the knee is among the most susceptible joints of the body. Although most arthritis braces are designed to fit only on one side of the knee, only six percent of people have arthritis that is limited to one compartment on the knee. The remaining ninety-four percent have multi-compartment arthritis.
   
• Thus, spring loaded technology was introduced that developed spring-like liquid devices to decompress the knee at flexion. In 2017, Spring Loaded Technology released the Levitation 2, which is a bionic brace that elevates the load on the knee joint by a massive 64%. In addition, carbon fiber, advanced composites, and lightweight metals allow manufacture of stringent and comfortable knee braces.
          

Knee Braces Market Analysis

Based on product, the market is categorized into functional knee braces, prophylactic knee braces, unloader knee braces and rehabilitative knee braces. The functional knee braces segment dominated the market with a revenue of around USD 385.2 million in 2023.
 

• Typical functional braces protect against anteroposterior and rotational forces, which are often employed following ACL injury or surgery. This segment is expected to expand due to increase in sports activities resulting in ACL and PCL injuries.
   
• Moreover, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine reported that over 350,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repairs were performed in the U.S. every year.
   
• In addition, the increase in the number of key players for functional knee braces such as Ossur, Breg, MedUSA, and DJOGlobal offer technologically advanced products, that contribute to market growth.
   

Based on application, the knee braces market is categorized into sports-use, ligament, and other applications. The sports-use segment dominated the market with a revenue of around USD 422.5 million in 2023.
 

• The sports-use segment dominates the market, owing to the increasing prevalence of sports injuries. As reported by the CDC, about 8.6 million sports and recreation-related injuries occur in the U.S. each year. Demand is expected to increase alongside the increased use of knee braces in enhancement of sporting activities as well as rehabilitation.
   
• Furthermore, the increasing level of participation in sports and leisure activities, particularly in the developed nations, is also contributing to the boom in the market.
   
• Prophylactic knee braces are commonly utilized for ACL, MCL, and meniscus ligament injuries. Athletes in the recuperative phase posting knee injuries commonly wear them during rehabilitation stage to enhance recovery and safely return to the sporting arena.
   
• The surge in the number of sports knee braces is a direct correlation to the accentuated emphasis on injury prevention, performance leverage, and recovery, therefore having a favorable effect on the market.

Based on end-use, the knee braces market is categorized into hospitals, orthopedic clinics, and other end users. The hospitals segment held majority market share in the market with a revenue of around USD 400.4 million in 2023.
 

• An upsurge in hospital admissions related to orthopedic cases and knee injuries will catalyse further business growth. Several factors such as the increasing prevalence of orthopedic ailments alongside the availability of skilled medical staff are also enhancing the growth of hospitals segments positively.
   
• Moreover, it is expected that the strong healthcare system and the right level of assistance provided to patients will contribute positively to the growth of the market.
   
• Therefore, better treatment and prognosis accessibility, as well as the increasing occurrence of these diseases, will intensify the volume of patients in hospitals and, consequently, the revenue of the segment.

North America knee braces market accounted for USD 363.7 million in revenue in 2023 and is predicted to witness substantial market growth over the analysis timeline.
 

• This notable market share stems from the emergence of some key factors such as several industry leaders, the ever-growing population of the elderly, and the rising number of orthopedic and knee disorder patients.
   
• For instance, the National Safety Council reported that in 2021, approximately 3.2 million people in America sought treatment in emergency departments for sport and recreational injuries, which in turn increased the market for knee braces.
   
• Moreover, the high prevalence of osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions of the knee joints is further increasing the demand for these orthopedic accessories.
   
• Furthermore, active participation in sports and physical activities also increases the number of knee injuries, which creates a need for both protective and rehabilitative braces.
   

Knee Braces Market Share

The industry for knee braces is fragmented, with many large multinationals as well as small and mid-sized companies operating in the market. The participants have an ongoing focus on strategic measures such as mergers and acquisitions, new product development, expansion, and technological innovation to expand their reach. For example, in January 2019, Leatt Corporation launched Zframe knee braces for contact sports. Later in June 2019, Breg, Inc. launched Breg Quantum OA knee brace for moderate to severe osteoarthritis to provide relief from pain. This focus on innovation is meant to meet changing patient needs by improving patient care and allowing these firms to capture additional market share and address the increase in demand for sophisticated portable medical devices.
 

Knee Braces Market Companies

Some of the eminent market participants operating in the knee braces industry include:

• 3M Company
• Alex Orthopedic
• Bauerfeind
• Body Sport
• Breg
• Dicarre
• DJO Global
• Essity
• Mava Sports
• McDavid Knee Guard
• Medi-Dyne
• Medline
• Mueller Sports Medicine
• Ossur
• Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
• Push Braces
• Tynor
• Weber Orthopedic
   

USPs for top market players:

• Customized knee braces for sports injuries, arthritis and pain management
   
• Comprehensive product portfolio with innovative design for high impact movements.
   
• Sustainable and eco-friendly materials for production
   

Knee Braces Industry News:

• In September 2021, Össur announced the launch of REBOUND ACL brace, an advance knee brace intended for patients recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This advanced knee brace reduces strain on a patient's ACL and provides a comfortable load on their posterior thigh and anterior tibia and is incorporated with dynamic tension system (DTS). This innovative launch helped the company to enhance their product portfolio and increase their business revenue.
   

• In June 2020, DJO launched the DonJoy X-ROM Post-Op Knee Brace, featuring range of motion (ROM) protection technology for enhanced user experience, ease of application, and adjustability. This brace aids in recovery from ACL repair and other knee surgeries by providing improved comfort, stability, and confidence. The launch expanded DJO’s customer base and strengthened its market presence.
   

Knee braces market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue in (USD Million) and volume (Units) from 2021 to 2032 for the following segments:

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Market, By Product

• Functional knee braces
• Prophylactic knee braces
• Unloader knee braces
• Rehabilitative knee braces

Market, By Application

• Sports-use
• Ligament
• Other applications

Market, By End Use

• Hospitals
• Orthopedic clinics
• Other end users

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Australia
  • South Korea
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
• Middle East and Africa
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE