The PROP OA (PROvision of braces for Patients with knee OsteoArthritis) trial is an independent, multi-centre, randomised controlled study designed to assess the clinical effectiveness of knee bracing in managing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The results of the world’s largest independent trial of knee bracing for knee osteoarthritis has been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Clinical evidence published in the BMJ
The study found that, when used alongside education and exercise advice, knee bracing provided additional improvements in pain, physical function, and quality of life compared with standard care alone. The intervention was safe and well tolerated.
Conclusion
Adding compartment specific knee bracing and an adherence intervention to advice, written information, and exercise instruction resulted in small improvements in patient reported outcomes among individuals with knee osteoarthritis. This safe intervention offers a potential treatment option for this common condition.
The study
Incorporating knee OA bracing into best practice treatment plans may help improve swelling and soreness.
Brace wearers showed a reduction of pain and improvements in activities of daily living, when compared to exercise alone.
Knee pain during activity was significantly reduced for brace user, up to 12 months.
Randomised Control Trial
466 Patients
Comparison
AIE: Advice, Info, Exercise AIE + B: AIE + Brace + Adherence Support Follow-up: 3, 6, and 12 months
Melanie A Holden, professor, Elaine Nicholls, biostatistician, Zainab Abdali, health economist, Fraser Birrell, professor, Belinda Borrelli, professor, Michael Callaghan, professor, Krysia Dziedzic, professor, David Felson, professor, Nadine E Foster, professor, Nicola Halliday, trial manager, Carol Ingram, Clare Jinks, professor, Sue Jowett, professor, George Peat, professor16on behalf of the PROP OA trial team. Provision of knee bracing for knee osteoarthritis (PROP OA): multicentre, parallel group, superiority, statistician blinded, randomised controlled trial
BMJ 2026; 392 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2025-086005 (Published 26 January 2026) BMJ 2026;392:e086005