A support for an area of a body having a hinge joint includes: a flexible,
elastically stretchable framework configured to extend across the hinge
joint of the area of the body; and a hinge mechanism affixed to the
framework. The hinge mechanism includes a strut component and a first arm
component connected to the strut component such that the first arm
component is rotatable relative to the strut component only about a first
pivot axis. A second arm component is connected to the strut component
such that the second arm component is rotatable relative to the strut
component only about a second pivot axis. The strut component is
configured to extend with the framework across the hinge joint such that
the first pivot axis is located on a first side of the hinge joint and
the second pivot axis is located on a second, opposite side of the hinge
joint.