Most people arrive here having been told what to buy — a compression class, a brace type, sometimes a specific product name. This page is for everyone else: you know what hurts, and you need to work out which shelf that points at.
A note before you start. Which compression class you need, and whether a brace is appropriate at all, is a clinical decision — it should come from your physician, nurse, physiotherapist or fitter, not from a website. What we can do is show you which part of the catalogue matches your situation, and be honest about where the lines blur.
Varicose veins & vein health
The largest category we carry, and the one compression was invented for. If you have visible varicose veins, aching or heavy legs by the end of the day, swelling around the ankles, or a history of DVT or venous insufficiency, this is where to look.
It covers the full graduated-compression leg range — knee highs, thigh highs and pantyhose — across every compression class we stock. Compression works by squeezing hardest at the ankle and easing as it travels up the leg, which helps blood move back toward the heart instead of pooling. Most people prescribed compression for veins are given 20–30 mmHg; 15–20 mmHg is the milder over-the-counter tier, and 30–40 mmHg and above is generally reserved for more advanced disease.
Shop for varicose veins & vein health → · Browse by compression level
Arthritis
Products whose manufacturer indications specifically name osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or joint wear — so this is a curated set rather than everything that happens to fit a joint. Expect knee, thumb, wrist and hand supports, and soft arthritis-care garments meant to be worn for hours rather than strapped on for a session.
If your pain is worst first thing in the morning and eases as you move, or it's concentrated in the base of the thumb or the knee, start here.
Sports injury
The acute end: sprains, ligament and meniscus injuries, instability after a twist or a fall. These are the braces built to stabilise a joint while it heals and to give you confidence back when you return to activity — not the everyday soft supports.
Selected on the manufacturer's own indications for sprain, ligament and meniscus injury, which is why a back brace won't appear here even though backs get hurt in sport. For back injuries, see back pain below.
Knee pain
Every knee brace we carry, from lightweight knitted supports with a patella ring through to hinged and rigid bracing. The knee is the joint with the widest range of options, which makes it the easiest to get wrong — a runner's patellar tracking pain and a post-operative ligament repair need very different products.
If you're unsure, message us with what your clinician said and we'll point you at the right tier.
Back pain
Lumbar and sacroiliac supports, posture braces and rigid back orthoses. This spans a wide range — from soft everyday lumbar supports you can wear under clothing at a desk, to bracing prescribed after a fracture or for osteoporosis.
Pregnancy-related back and pelvic pain is a slightly different problem; see Maternity.
Wrist & hand pain
Wrist and thumb bracing: carpal tunnel, de Quervain's tenosynovitis (the "mummy's thumb" that often shows up with a new baby), thumb-base arthritis, and post-sprain support. Some are splinted for night wear, some are soft enough to work in.
Not sure which one you are?
That's a completely normal place to be, and it's worth five minutes rather than a two-week wait for the wrong thing. Tell us what your clinician said — or just where it hurts and when — and we'll narrow it down with you.
- Chat: start a chat — the button at the bottom-right of any page
- Email: care@alignovamedical.ca
- Phone: +1 416-836-9978
- WeChat: scan or tap to add us
If reimbursement matters, most Canadian extended health plans cover medical-grade compression and bracing with a prescription — see the FAQ, or request a free Insurance Estimate before you buy.