Knee brace having differential flexibility posterior and anterior panels

摘要

An improved knee-supporting sleeve (10) is provided having posterior and proximal anterior panels (12, 20) formed of thin relatively highly stretchable material, with a distal anterior panel (22) formed of less stretchable composite materials. The sleeve (10) thus provides maximum- support and joint conformity, together with good breathability and thermal properties. The sleeve (10) also has a patella- receiving opening (42) and an adjacent buttress (52) housed within a selectively openable compartment (44) to trim and/or shift buttress (52) therein, so that a desirable "lateral J" buttress may be provided for either a left or right knee.