Top knee brace for a torn meniscus

The knees have thick rubber bands of cartilage that play the role of shock absorbers. But despite being formidable bands of cartilage, they can tear under extreme pressure or sudden twisting movements, resulting in a painful meniscus tear and, in some cases, knee replacement. These tears are common in athletes.

However, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, plus-size individuals are predisposed to meniscus tears, arthritis and general knee injuries.

Luckily you can prevent knee injuries and pain by wearing a knee brace. To help you choose the best, we’ve compiled detailed reviews of knee braces for larger men and women. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.

6 best plus size knee braces for meniscus tears

Shock Doctor Ultra Knee Support Bilateral Hinges

This knee brace lives up to its name as it’s an excellent shock absorber. Its shock absorption power is part of the reason it’s our clear winner for the best plus size knee brace for meniscus tears. As a plus size person looking for a heavy-duty knee brace, the Shock Doctor is a great option. To accommodate larger legs, the plus size knee brace goes up to XXL in size.

It provides superior knee support and improves the range of motion through bilateral hinges and is made from stretchy Lycra mesh, which improves comfort and spreads out the pressure. Even better, you can wear it over the right or left knee.

The Shock Doctor knee brace also comes with an X-Fit strap system, which is easy to adjust and ensures a perfect fit. To prevent excessive sweating and bad odor, Shock Doctor created an N-Tex vented design at the front. The vent enhances airflow in the knees and also wicks moisture away. It also relieves pressure on the knees and enhances the range of motion.

Pros

• Breathable material and design
• Comes in five sizes
• The support is tight but doesn’t restrict movement

Cons

• It’s expensive
• The sizes run small

Adjustable Knee Brace Support Plus Size Knee Brace for ACL

The KARM Adjustable Plus Size Knee Brace is comfortable and offers superior support and stability than the pull-up knee straps and sleeves because of the dual-side stabilizers it features.

The knee brace design is well-thought-out, with an open patella to ease pressure on the knee cap and an adjustable knee wrap to provide extra support when completing challenging and intense activities like workouts.

It is annoying to have to pull up and adjust your plus size knee brace after every two steps. To prevent this, the neoprene brace has three adjustable hook-and-loop straps that secure and hold it in place.

But that’s not all, this best knee brace comes in 3 sizes ranging from XS to 6XL to make sure you always get your perfect fit.

Pros

• The large knee brace stays on for longer
• Doesn’t dig into the flesh or cut off the blood supply
• Adjustable, comfortable fit on a plus size knee

Cons

• The knee brace Long straps wrapping behind the knee
• Causes sweating

EzyFit Knee Brace Support For Arthritis ACL LCL Mcl Sports Exercise

A plus size person will appreciate this neoprene knee brace in size XL. However, this size supports a plus size with a circumference range of 16 – 24 inches.

EzyFit knee brace is among the best plus size knee braces in the market at its price. It offers excellent exercise support while relieving pressure from the knee joint with its open patella design. This open design also means it’s flexible and affords the knee joint full range movement.
For added flexibility and convenience, the knee brace is made from stretchy neoprene and a blend of polyester and nylon, which makes cleaning a breeze.

On the inside, it features non-slip silicone strips on the top and the bottom portion, which hold it securely and affords you free range movement, especially in sporting activities.

Pros

• Infinitely adjustable as the Velcro on the straps sticks to the plus size knee brace fabric
• Made from washable material
• Affordable

Cons

• The middle strap is too long and covers the patella opening
• The Velcro loses its grip with time

Hinged knee brace support with strap & side patella stabilizers

When reviewing the best plus size knee braces, you want one that is comfortable, offers superior support, and eases your pain. In which case, you want a versatile knee brace like the Atheldict Knee Brace.

Unlike most plus size braces we’ve reviewed, it features removable hinges and super adjustable straps, which wrap around the knee joint and allow you to choose the level of plus size knee support you need from medium to high. So whether your knee pain is from a meniscus tear, post-surgery recovery, or other sports injuries, it’ll work for you.

It comes in four sizes ranging from M to XXL, making it easy to pick a perfect plus size fit. Moreover, it has a reversed open patella design complementing the open front design for added comfort at the back of your knees and improved mobility without compromising on support.

Pros

• Incredibly easy to install
• the knee brace is lightweight and robust design
• Comes in four sizes
• Lifetime money back guarantee if it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t fit well

Cons

• The plus size knee brace side hinges come out of their pockets
• Design flaw with the Velcro straps

Nvorliy Hinged ROM Knee Brace Adjustable Knee Immobilizer Support for Arthritis

Unlike most knee braces on this list, the Nvorliy hoop and loop knee brace comes with a range of motion control locking dial, which gives you control over your knee’s range of motion. You can adjust the ROM between 100 and 1200 to match your knee pain levels or recovery stage.

You can also disassemble its hinges and fastening straps and place them on a spot you feel they have the most impact.

The locking dial can be installed on either side of the brace, which means you can wear it on the left or right knee.

It also features a frontal opening that relieves knee joint pressure and complements the locking dial’s range of motion.

The knee brace comes in two sizes; regular and large. The large size accommodates a thigh and calf circumference of 18.5″ and 16.5″, respectively.

Pros

• Great price for a locking knee brace
• Thin and light enough to wear under clothing
• The lock is simple to use

Cons

• Only has one point of Velcro contact at the bottom and top, and nothing is holding the Velcro to the neoprene material
• Not easy for a person to put on alone

Hinged rom knee brace with strap, adjustable leg stabilizer post op recovery immobilization splint

If you’d like more knee support to enhance recovery, this post-op knee brace will get the job done. This knee brace is larger and offers improved movement control and support than most braces we’ve seen so far. And with the removable shoulder strap, it relieves more pain, provides more knee support to injured knee joints, and prevents slipping as you walk.

Speaking of slipping, the knee pads have silicone padding to improve their skin grip and prevent slipping. Also, the adjustable Velcro knee wrap straps provide a perfect fit for plus size individuals.

This plus size knee brace offers superior knee support through a high-quality aluminum alloy that transfers body weight from the thigh to the calf. Right beside the knee, the brace has a bilateral ROM setting ranging from 00 to 1200 of flex and 00 to 900 of extension, which gives you total control over the movement of your knees.

Pros

• Comfortable to sleep in
• Lockable ROM
• Easy to keep clean
• Completely immobilizes the knee

Cons

• It slides down after a while even on an extra large knee
• It’s not soft

And the best knee brace for a torn meniscus is…

Factors to consider when buying a plus size knee brace

If you happen to come across a hinged knee brace that comes highly recommended, but it’s not in the review list above, below are some factors you should consider to the quality or disqualify its purchase.

Open patella

The knee brace should have an open design around the knee-cap and behind the knee. This opening helps to improve airflow and prevent sweating as well as improve mobility. It also reduces friction on the knee cap. You might have noticed that most knee braces on our list have this open front design. And others like the Hinged Knee Brace Support with Strap & Side Patella Stabilizers have a reverse open design.

Heavy-duty hinges

The heavy-duty hinges should be made from high-quality yet lightweight material like aluminum. These hinges help to minimize motion towards unwanted directions and making the pain and inflammation worse. In the Hinged Knee Brace with Strap, Adjustable Leg Stabilizer Post OP Recovery Immobilization Splint, the aluminum hinges shield the knee joints from excessive pressure as it recovers from surgery.

Design

Any knee brace with a simple wrap around is easy to wear. Also, the Velcro straps make adjusting the fit a walk in the park. The fit you need depends on the size of your leg and the level of support you need.

Weight

The best knee brace for plus size individuals is lightweight, meaning it doesn’t weigh you down. The lightweight design also means you can carry it to anywhere. The Hinged Knee Brace Support with Strap & Side Patella Stabilizers is a perfect example.
In addition to being lightweight, the material should be breathable and washable for easier cleaning and improved comfort.

Types of knee braces for overweight people

XXXL knee braces fall under different categories:

Knee compression sleeves

Knee compression sleeves are made to protect the knee from sustaining future knee injuries through compression. The knee sleeves help in controlling knee pain and inflammation and in improving blood flow to the knee joints. Finally, the knee sleeve are ideal for overweight people suffering from mild knee pain.

Hinged knee braces

This is the type physicians recommend to overweight people nursing a knee surgery and who need excellent support to prevent a reoccurrence. They prevent the misalignment of joints when making sudden moves.

Dual braces

The best knee braces for overweight men and women features dual-axis polycentric hinges. These hinges offer optimal plus-size knee support and can be removed easily. In comparison to hinged knee braces, they are flexible and cheaper.

We also classify them at Extra Large Living as Bariatric knee braces as well as the Best knee brace for arthritis.