They do look like they would give alot of support. I have a dicky knee too , bought a brace second hand of e-bay , makes the crappy knee feel really solid , best $25 I've spent in along time, it will do till I can take the time off for an opp
I had one supplied by my rugby club back in 1985 when I snappped, or rather had someone snap, my medial ligament.
It did a brilliant job and let me excersise when I would normally have had a cast on for six weeks. My leg still shrunk really badly and looked like it belonged to someone else. I was running six weeks after the op but I have never expereinced pain like it