Incrediwear: The Clinical Evidence

We have separated peer-reviewed journal studies from industry-commissioned reports so you can weigh the evidence yourself.

Peer-reviewed research

Osteoarthritis of the knee

Study title: Effect of Germanium-Embedded Knee Sleeve on Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Katherine Marino MBChB MSc, Rachel Lee MBChB, Paul Lee MBChB MFSEM MSc PhD FEBOT FRCS
Journal: The Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine
Published: October 2019
Link: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2325967119879124

Study design: Patients with Grade 1 and Grade 2 knee osteoarthritis wore the Incrediwear germanium-embedded knee sleeve over a six-month period. Outcomes were measured using three validated tools routinely used in NHS orthopaedic practice: the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and the Lysholm score.

Outcomes:

• 100% of participants experienced measurable improvement
• 63% improvement in Oxford Knee Score
• 51% improvement in VAS pain score
• 41% improvement in Lysholm score
• High compliance rate throughout the six-month period

What the authors concluded:The study authors stated that Incrediwear knee sleeves “should play an important role in optimising non-surgical management of patients with Grade 1 & 2 knee OA,” noting the potential to delay or avoid the need for surgery in appropriate patients.

Recovery following total knee arthroplasty

Study title: Non-Compressive Sleeves Versus Compression Stockings After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Pilot Study
Journal: Journal of Orthopedics
Published: March 2024
Link: sciencedirect.com (PubMed ID: 38094981)

Study design: 55 patients recovering from total knee replacement surgery were assigned to either the Incrediwear non-compressive knee sleeve group or the standard compression stocking group. Swelling, range of motion, pain levels, and patient satisfaction were measured at 21 days post-surgery.

Outcomes:

• Incrediwear group: 19% less swelling compared to the compression stocking group
• Compression stocking group: 35% more swelling compared to the Incrediwear group
• Incrediwear group: 4% greater range of motion at 21 days
• Lower reported pain levels in the Incrediwear group
• Higher patient satisfaction scores in the Incrediwear group

Context: Total knee arthroplasty is one of the most frequently performed orthopaedic procedures in the NHS, with over 100,000 procedures carried out in England each year. Range of motion at three weeks post-operatively is an established predictor of longer-term functional outcomes, making the 4% difference clinically meaningful beyond the headline figure.

Knee osteoarthritis — combined rehabilitation with ELF magnetic fields

Study title: Combined Rehabilitation Protocol in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Comparative Study of Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields and Soft Elastic Knee Brace Effect
Authors: Teresa Paolucci, Daniele Porto, Raffaello Pellegrino, Ornela Sina, Andi Fero, Sara D'Astolfo, Sara Franceschelli, Antonia Patruno, Augusto Fusco, Mirko Pesce
Journal: Healthcare (MDPI)
Published: 25 April 2023
Link: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10178194

Study design: 35 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups. Group 1 received extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic field therapy alone. Group 2 received ELF therapy combined with the Incrediwear Cred 40 soft elastic knee sleeve. Pain and functional outcomes were assessed at two weeks.

Outcomes:

• 62% overall reduction in pain in the combined ELF + Incrediwear group
• 20% greater reduction in pain in the combined group compared to ELF therapy alone
• 39% improvement in both pain and functional measures within two weeks

What this shows: Incrediwear demonstrated additive benefit when used alongside an established physical therapy modality. Patients using it in combination with ELF therapy recovered meaningfully faster than those receiving ELF alone — suggesting it can enhance, rather than simply replicate, other non-pharmacological treatments.

Institutional and industry-commissioned research

The following studies were conducted by named institutions and researchers but have not been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. They are included here for completeness and transparency.

Injury time-loss in professional soccer players

Study title: Effects of Incrediwear Recovery Wear on Time-Loss for Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Brian Stirling SPT CSCS, Jonathan Sum PT DPT OCS SCS, Tyler Knight MS ATC CSCS
Institution: USC Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California
Team studied: Real Salt Lake (Major League Soccer), 2016 season
Publication type: Institutional white paper — not published in a peer-reviewed journal

Outcomes:

• 53% fewer days lost to all injuries
• 70% fewer mean games missed
• 66% fewer events missed due to lower extremity soft tissue injuries

Delayed onset muscle soreness in elite triathletes

Study title: Effects of Incrediwear Anti-Inflammatory Recovery Sleeves on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness for Elite Triathletes
Authors: Nicole Schwery, Mark Allen, E. Todd Schroeder PhD
Institution: K2Sciences
Publication type: Industry-commissioned study — not published in a peer-reviewed journal

Study design: 20 elite triathletes took part in a five-day training study. Muscle soreness, tenderness, tone, and looseness were assessed before and after use of Incrediwear leg sleeves.

Outcomes:

• 50% reduction in reported muscle soreness
• 62% improvement in muscle tone maintenance
• 46% reduction in tenderness

Summary