A protective patella guard adapted for use with a knee brace having upper and lower frame members. The protective patella guard including an upper cup element coupled to the upper frame member, a lower cup element coupled to the lower frame member, and an intermediate cup element operatively coupled to the upper cup element and lower cup element. The patella guard is transitional between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a degree of overlap between the upper cup element, the lower cup element, and the intermediate cup element decreases as the patella guard transitions from the first configuration to the second configuration.