Knee

Zamst products are designed for sports activities, so you may find that it is not as difficult to move as you might worry. In practice, you should be able to move comfortably.

Zamst Knee brace is designed to be worn directly on bare skin and is not recommended to be worn over tights. If worn over tights, depending on the material of the tights, the brace may slip off and the desired effect may not be achieved, or the increased thickness of the back of the knee may cause discomfort or pain when bending the knee.

From Dr. Evan For most healthy runners, I don't routinely recommend a knee brace solely for prevention. Running injuries are usually influenced by factors such as training volume, recovery, strength, mobility, and biomechanics rather than a lack of external support. If a runner has a history of knee injuries, instability, or specific structural concerns, a brace may play a role. The times that I recommend a knee brace for runners is when they are dealing with a capacity and overtraining issue such as runner’s knee. The strategy of the ankle brace is to reduce the forces to the knee and lessen the impact. But in general, I focus more on helping runners build a resilient body that can tolerate the demands of training.

From Dr. Evan It depends. In my practice an athlete must past all the stability, strength, sports specific test without a brace to discontinue the use of one during practice or games. For example, ankle sprains are incredibly common in sports like basketball. There are times that I recommend for some of my athletes to wear ankle braces during practice and games to reduce risk of injury and lessen the severity of a sprain if one were to happen. One thing athletes often forget is that they typically spend far more time practicing than competing. In fact, many injuries happen during practice simply because of the increased exposure. If you're returning from injury or using a brace for prevention, consistency matters. Wearing it only during games may leave you vulnerable during most of your training.

From Dr. Evan The athletes I most commonly recommend braces for are those with a history of injury. One of the biggest predictors of injuries are past injury. If an athlete can reduce their risk of a severe injury I am all for brace use when appropriate. I also recommend braces for athletes returning to sport after injury and for athletes who consistently feel unstable during activity. Sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football place a lot of stress on the joints because of the jumping, cutting, and rapid changes of direction involved. That said, I don't believe braces replace proper rehabilitation. My philosophy is to combine smart bracing with strength training stability, performance and movement training to give athletes the best chance to stay healthy.

From Dr. Evan Not necessarily. One of the biggest mistakes I see is athletes assuming they're fully recovered just because the pain has gone away. Pain is only one piece of the puzzle. Before I recommend discontinuing a brace, I want to see good strength, balance, confidence, and sport-specific movement. Can you jump, cut, sprint, and land without hesitation? That's what matters. Many athletes feel fine before their body is truly ready for the demands of competition. In most cases, I recommend gradually reducing brace use rather than stopping all at once. The goal is to make sure you're not only pain-free but also physically prepared to handle your sport safely.

From Dr. Evan As a sports physical therapist, I don't believe everyone needs a brace. But there are situations where a brace can be a smart tool. If you had just had an acute injury such as an ankle sprain or knee sprain a brace is a great tool during the protection phase to reduce the risk of further injury and provide stability and comfort. In my clinic, I often see athletes wait until they've been injured multiple times before thinking about prevention. A brace can provide an extra layer of protection during high-risk activities while you're continuing to build strength, balance, and movement control. The goal isn't to rely on the brace—it's to use it strategically to help keep you healthy and performing at your best.