Whether you are looking to improve your athletic performance, alleviate mild pain, or recover from a major surgery, a proper knee brace can be an incredibly useful, if not vital, tool for promoting longevity. For people who are plagued by pain and don’t want to undergo serious surgery, a knee brace can be invaluable.According to Karena Wu, PT, DPT, board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy, knee braces work by providing compression and unloading the joint, while keeping it warm. This can result in lowering your perception of pain while increasing mobility and function.However, not all knee braces are made the same. Charles Hummer III, MD, FAAOS, FACS, chief medical officer at Premier Orthopaedics, Philadelphia Union says cheaper models may not provide proper cushioning and can lead to hard plastics impinging on your skin. With this in mind, he tells us comfort is important because patients are more likely to wear the brace if it isn’t a chore.When choosing the…