Helps reduce my knee pain significantly
Update after 4 weeks of use: Went on an international trip for a week where I walked anywhere between 14,000 - 18,000 steps each day - some of it was on flat terrain and some days had lot of ups and downs including a few hundred steps. My knee did hurt at the joint but the stiffness was not too bad which made the walking manageable. And the recovery from pain was also very quick - earlier, I would have to rest 2 days but now, with overnight sleep, I was ready for another 6-7 mile hiking. So for the relief it provides me, I still give it 5-Stars. Now after using it heavily for almost a month, the elastic band stretched a bit more - so now it wraps around which makes the velcro to detach occasionally. To make this a 10 star product, they should deliver with 2 straps - one current size and one 30-40% smaller (to allow for stretching). And keep in mind this was designed to go below the knee in which case, the strap is too long unless you are a professional soccer player or weight lifter with thick legs. I put it above my knee and the strap still is a bit too long now. Original Review: I used it only for 3 days so far, so my review could change after a couple of months - I will update if it changes. 30 years ago, I had ACL reconstruction and my knee was never the same but I was fairly active - I did Mt. Whitney 4 times after my surgery, so I can say my knee was holding out well. However, I injured my knee in the gym doing box jumps - Xrays showed the gap on the outside of my knee reduced inside the joint (probably tore some meniscus and might be grinding on bone) - the pain would not subside and the sports orthopedic surgeon said the only solution was knee replacement which I do not want to do for another decade or longer. I finally took a cortisone shot to have some semblance of normalcy and the comfort lasted about 4 months (doctor said the effect of Cortisone shot lasts about 3 months). The pain started again and it got worse - after any activity - doing lunges in the gym or walking half a mile - my knee would become stiff and I could not bend my knee more than 90 degrees. I had to use foam roller multiple times during the day to relax my quads but it would tighten again. I literally had to drag my injured foot because I could not bend it while walking. And going up and down the stairs was the most painful ! I used a knee brace but it would start getting sweaty and itchy and I had to pull it off. So I decided to try a strap and found this. Though this says it is for Patellar tendon injury, and all pictures show it placed below the knee, I tried - what the heck - it costs less than 3 Starbucks coffees, so I ordered it. I put it above my knee (see picture) - not too tight, not too loose. And it made a world of difference. Sometimes my pain would be 5-7 on a scale of 10 before but now it rarely goes over 2-3. And my knee does not get as stiff as it was before - I can bend to 120-150 degrees now - not as much as my good knee but this is lot better than what I was able to do during the past 2 years. I wear it while working out at gym and come home without much discomfort. I have not tried walking over a mile yet which I will do this weekend - hopefully I don't have to drag my foot to get home! It still does not help a lot while driving in stop-and-go traffic where my knee gets stiff but it is better than without having it on. Anyone with knee pain, I strongly recommend this - while working out, it does get a bit sweaty but I put it on for an hour or so, take it off for some time, and put it back on. I am able to quickly go up and down the stairs without holding the railing, and can function about 75% normal while working out. I am going to watch this for another month or so and post an update. Note: If you do not have bulky legs, this definitely will be big if you put it below the knee - above the knee might work but if you are a big person with strong legs, this would fit perfectly. Read more
