By Kyle Lentz
To meet the ever-changing demands of an aging population, manufacturers are continuously developing new and innovative products that will position their companies for future success. Health supports and compression hosiery products are moving from passive immobilization to more intelligent, dynamic, and personalized aids. Although there is still a need for standard compression support, technological advancements, improved materials, and variations in support methods are trends that will shape the category for years to come.
Key Trends in 2026
• Technological Advancements — Smart braces is an area that continues to develop within the category. Smart braces for knees, ankles, and backs were developed to track movement in real time to better manage outcomes of the rehabilitation process. They also deliver feedback through a connective device and deliver active, adaptive support to prevent further injuries while promoting recovery.
These types of braces are currently available online and through doctor’s offices and are becoming useful tools for clinicians and physical therapists wanting to cut through inefficiencies, track progress, and bring the focus back to the patient.
Each brace includes sensors that are strategically placed on affected areas. Currently, apps receive information which can be transferred to a person’s medical team via a cloud service where they can analyze transmitted data. This information can help the team tailor a unique protocol for their patient’s rehabilitative journey.
• Improved Materials – Advancement in over-the-counter compression sleeves and braces is another trend positioning the category for future growth. Comfort is a major complaint among brace wearers as well as proper sizing and fit. 3M, manufacturer of the Ace and Futuro brands, has made several materials advancements over the past two years that specifically address this customer concern.
Other advancements include performance fabric that is soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking to help the wearer stay cool and dry. The fabric also provides a comfortable four-way stretch for an enhanced fit, flexibility, and improved range of motion. There have been innovations in comfort bands, with silicone beading to help reduce slipping. Many compression sleeves now feature a “no cut-out design” which is meant to provide an optimal fit that helps reduce chaffing and rubbing.
• Support Methods – Compression comes in many forms. Cable and dial technology is gaining popularity and the targeted support they provide distributes pressure evenly, eliminates bulky straps, and prevents slipping during movement. The dials are used to adjust cables within the garment and easily tighten or loosen the braces with a simple turn. Additional benefits touted of this form of compression include a precision fit, zero pressure points, accurate adjustability, and a low-profile design that fits better in shoes and under clothing.
Another support method is 3D-printed customization. This manufacturing method, using breathable composite materials, creates personalized braces tailored to individual anatomy, meant to improve fit, reduce weight, and increase compliance. Precise software capabilities and advancements in 3D printing allow the user to get exact measurements.
OssKin is one such company that makes orthotics based on human biomechanic principles and creates each customized brace with their scan-to-print solution. According to their website, they use proprietary software to create a digital model of the patient’s leg (size, shapes, and motions) to customize each knee brace to the contours of the patient’s leg5. This type of technology is not inexpensive as 3D braces typically cost between $1,800 and $2,100 out-of-pocket.
Going Forward
Technology changes quickly, and this category is a prime example of how manufacturers are using it to improve the products used daily to improve quality of life. With improved comfort, fit, and the ability to communicate results, health supports are well positioned for future growth. Incorporating these new technologically advanced products into your store’s health supports section can revitalize a category that has seen a shift towards private label offerings over the past three years.
Kyle Lentz is a 30-year retail industry veteran and a category analyst at HRG. HRG is in the details of retail, working with product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, technology partners, and other industry organizations to provide data &analysis, shopper experience, brand development, fixture coordination, and retail communications solutions.
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