Exoskeletons and Knee Osteoarthritis: What the Studies Really Show in 2026

When osteoarthritis makes every flight of stairs a struggle, the idea of a device that "carries" part of the load for your knee is appealing. Several manufacturers even put osteoarthritis at the heart of their pitch. But what do studies actually show? We read the published research on exoskeletons and knee braces in osteoarthritis, the pages of France's national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) and the manufacturers' product pages. Here is what is established, what is promising, and what is still a marketing promise.

The key points in 30 seconds

• No exoskeleton cures osteoarthritis: according to the Assurance Maladie, no treatment cures it. Core treatment relies on physical activity, physiotherapy, weight and, if needed, a knee brace or orthosis.
• The scientific evidence is still thin: the main published trial, on the Keeogo motorized exoskeleton, involved 24 people. It shows improvements in pain, function and stair climbing after a few weeks of use, but no immediate effect, and its authors call for a larger trial.
• Unloader braces are better studied than exoskeletons, even though the studies remain small.
• The exoskeletons in our catalog (Ski-Mojo, Stoko K1, Dnsys Z1) have not been evaluated in osteoarthritis by any independent study we have read: they can lighten a specific effort, not treat the disease.

Knee osteoarthritis in brief

Knee osteoarthritis (gonarthrosis) is a deterioration of the cartilage in the joint between the femur, the tibia and the kneecap. It progresses slowly, with chronic phases interrupted by painful inflammatory flare-ups. According to the Assurance Maladie, it is three times more common than hip osteoarthritis, and its main risk factors are age, excess weight and work that strains the knees, a sedentary lifestyle, certain metabolic factors, and a history of trauma or meniscus injury.

Its pain is described as mechanical: it appears when you use the joint (walking, standing, carrying loads) and eases with rest. On top of that come morning stiffness, often lasting less than a quarter of an hour, swelling during flare-ups, cracking and, depending on the area affected, discomfort going up or down stairs. These are precisely the efforts that exoskeletons claim to help with.

What the French national health insurance recommends

Before talking about equipment, it is worth recalling the foundation of treatment. Here is what the Assurance Maladie describes in its pages on knee osteoarthritis.

• Physical activity is part of the treatment and helps against pain: daily walking, preferably swimming, while avoiding sports with sudden changes of direction and hard landings such as jogging, as well as prolonged standing. During flare-ups, the joint should be relatively rested.
• Physiotherapy preserves joint mobility and muscle strength.
• Weight loss, when needed, is always beneficial, because excess weight worsens the course of knee osteoarthritis.
• A knee brace can reduce the pressure on the affected part of the knee, and a cane held on the side opposite the painful knee relieves the joint.
• Medication (paracetamol first, anti-inflammatories for short periods during flare-ups) and injections act on pain, not on cartilage.
• Surgery (osteotomy, knee replacement) is only considered after medical treatments have failed.

Exoskeletons are not among these recommendations. At best, they should be discussed as a complement for certain activities, once this foundation is in place.

Exoskeletons and knee osteoarthritis: what the studies say

We looked for published studies evaluating an exoskeleton in people with knee osteoarthritis. There are few of them, which is important information in itself.

The Keeogo trial (2022): effects after several weeks

This is the strongest study we found. Published in the journal Assistive Technology, it evaluated the Keeogo, a motorized exoskeleton that assists the knees while walking, in 24 participants with knee osteoarthritis, across several sites and with a crossover design: each participant used the device in the clinic, then at home for two weeks, and was compared with a period without the device.

• Immediate effect: none. Wearing the device, performance on mobility tests and activity levels at home were no better than without it.
• Cumulative effect: after training and home use, stair-climbing time, and pain and function measured by the WOMAC questionnaire, improved significantly, with or without the device.
• Usability: participants considered weight and battery life important.
• Authors' conclusion: a full-scale randomized trial, longer and with better usage monitoring, is needed.

In other words, the result is encouraging but preliminary, and it concerns one specific device that is not in our catalog. The fact that improvement was also seen without the device suggests that training and moving more may matter as much as the assistance itself: this is one possible reading, which the study cannot settle.

A prototype for patellofemoral osteoarthritis (2025)

In 2025, a research team presented at a rehabilitation robotics conference (IEEE ICORR) a knee exoskeleton prototype built from a motorized post-operative knee brace. Tested on four people with patellofemoral osteoarthritis (between the kneecap and the femur), it reduced the pain and difficulty felt on stairs, ramps, walking and sit-to-stand transitions: on average 0.82 points less pain on a 0 to 4 scale. The authors themselves note that conventional exoskeletons have not so far proven effective in osteoarthritis, and present their results as preliminary.

Unloader braces: better studied, but not perfect

So-called unloader braces, which aim to relieve the most affected part of the knee, have been studied more. A systematic review published in 2026 in The Knee pooled 11 studies (about 300 participants) on new-generation braces (pneumatic, vibratory, magnetic field). Pneumatic braces show the clearest results, with reduced load on the knee, better gait and pain reductions of up to 36%. Study quality, however, ranges from poor to good, with small samples and short follow-up.

The takeaway

The available data are promising but preliminary: few participants, short follow-up, and devices that often differ from those sold to consumers. No study we have read shows that an exoskeleton slows the progression of osteoarthritis: we cover this in our question can an exoskeleton slow knee osteoarthritis?

Exoskeleton, knee brace or unloader brace: which to choose?

Criterion	Knee brace / unloader brace	Supportive tights	Mechanical exoskeleton	Motorized exoskeleton
Principle	Hold the knee, relieve the affected area	Cables built into a garment	Springs that take part of the load	Motors that assist bending and straightening
Example	On prescription or medical advice	Stoko K1	Ski-Mojo (skiing)	Dnsys Z1, Keeogo
Role in osteoarthritis	Mentioned by the Assurance Maladie	Not evaluated by an independent study we read	Not evaluated by an independent study we read	One 24-person trial (Keeogo)
Reimbursement in France	Possible if the product is on the LPP list	Not expected	Not expected	Not expected
Price in our catalog	Not offered	$388	€699	$2,088 (Z1 + X1)

The difference between an orthosis and an exoskeleton is explained in our question exoskeleton or knee orthosis. If you have osteoarthritis, the first question to ask your doctor is about a brace: it is the only one of these options mentioned in official guidance, and it may be covered by health insurance.

The models in our catalog and osteoarthritis

Here is what the manufacturers say, and what to make of it.

Ski-Mojo: skiing despite painful knees

The Ski-Mojo manufacturer recommends it in particular to skiers with knee pain, osteoarthritis included, and highlights testimonials from older skiers. According to the manufacturer, its springs take up to a third of the load. It is a skiing-only device: it is not designed for walking, and the Assurance Maladie does not list skiing among the activities recommended for osteoarthritis. Ask your doctor before the season. See our guide to ski knee exoskeletons.

Stoko K1: everyday textile support

The Stoko K1 is a pair of tights with a network of adjustable cables. Its manufacturer presents it as a Class 1 medical device (FDA and Health Canada) and lists walking, hiking and sport among its uses. It weighs about 450 g and is worn under trousers. No independent study we have read evaluates it in osteoarthritis.

Dnsys Z1: motorized assistance for stairs

The Dnsys Z1 places motors at the knee and targets climbs, stairs and descents, which are exactly the efforts that hurt with osteoarthritis. Dnsys states, however, that it is not a medical device, that it is not meant to treat or rehabilitate, and that you must be able to walk unaided and keep your balance to use it. Details in our question on the Dnsys Z1 knee modules.

To compare these models across all uses, see our complete knee exoskeleton guide.

Before buying: questions to ask your doctor

These questions can serve as a starting point for a consultation with your GP, rheumatologist or physiotherapist.

1. Is a knee brace or unloader brace appropriate for my osteoarthritis?
2. Which activities should I favor, and which should I avoid?
3. Is a physiotherapy or adapted physical activity program planned for me?
4. Is an exoskeleton or supportive garment compatible with my case, for which activity, and for how long?
5. Which signs should make me stop and see a doctor?

Frequently asked questions

Is an exoskeleton effective for knee osteoarthritis?

The evidence is still limited. The main published trial, on the Keeogo, shows in 24 people improvements in pain, function and stair climbing after a few weeks of use, but no immediate effect, and its authors call for a larger trial. An exoskeleton is not a treatment for osteoarthritis.

What is the best device to relieve knee osteoarthritis?

No single device suits everyone. The Assurance Maladie mentions the knee brace, which can reduce pressure on the affected area, and the cane. Unloader braces are the best studied. An exoskeleton can be discussed as a complement for a specific activity, with your doctor.

Can an exoskeleton slow knee osteoarthritis?

We found no study showing this. According to the Assurance Maladie, it is physical activity, physiotherapy and weight loss when needed that can slow the disease.

Can you do sport with an exoskeleton if you have osteoarthritis?

It depends on the sport and on your situation. The Assurance Maladie recommends walking and swimming, and advises against high-impact sports such as jogging: equipment does not change that rule. See also can you run with a knee exoskeleton?

Is an exoskeleton for osteoarthritis covered by health insurance?

In France, generally not. Only products on the LPP list are reimbursed by the Assurance Maladie, and we found no sports exoskeleton on it. A prescribed brace, on the other hand, may be covered. Details in our question on exoskeleton reimbursement.

How much does a knee exoskeleton for osteoarthritis cost?

In our catalog, expect $388 for the Stoko K1 tights, €699 for the Ski-Mojo and $2,088 for the Dnsys Z1 + X1 bundle, at prices checked in October 2026. Our article how much does an exoskeleton cost gives an overview.

Sources

• Assurance Maladie: knee osteoarthritis, definition and risk factors (in French, updated November 6, 2025)
• Assurance Maladie: symptoms and diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis (in French, updated November 5, 2025)
• Assurance Maladie: treatment of knee osteoarthritis (in French, updated January 22, 2026)
• Assurance Maladie: living with knee osteoarthritis (in French, updated August 28, 2024)
• McGibbon C. et al., "Evaluation of a lower-extremity robotic exoskeleton for people with knee osteoarthritis", Assistive Technology, 2022
• Divekar N. V. et al., "A Task-Agnostic Knee Exoskeleton for Reducing Osteoarthritis Pain Across Activities of Daily Life: A Pilot Study", IEEE ICORR, 2025
• Zangi M. et al., "Comparative evaluation of advanced knee orthosis designs in managing knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review", The Knee, 2026
• Assurance Maladie: the list of products and services (LPP) (in French)
• Dnsys: Z1 product page

This article is for information only and does not replace medical advice. If you have knee osteoarthritis, ask your doctor, rheumatologist or physiotherapist before using an exoskeleton or a brace.