Prop OA trial delivers compelling evidence
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 trial was designed to answer the need for a large, independent, high quality randomised controlled trial with outcomes for >6 months, and the results have been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
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
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.
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