[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was happy to try this knee strap as I've suffered for many years with knee pain on and off. I injured my knee snow skiing when I was 16 and then a few months later after recovering from that injury, I hurt it again playing High School Varsity Basketball. By the time I was 20 years old, I was diagnosed with arthritis in that knee. I also have a condition called "Benign Hypermobility Syndrome" which in my case, is genetic. It causes the joints in the body to have less cartilage and therefore be less stable and "looser' than normal which often leads to injuries. Yep, that's me. I guess I should add that I've always been extremely active regardless of all these things and therefore, frequently suffer injuries simply because my joints are more prone to them. Over the years I've learned that the old adage: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" absolutely applies to my joints! If I'm going to be engaged in any kind of strenuous activity...or even moderate but repetitive actions...I always wear braces and supports on the joints that will be most used in whatever it is I'll be doing. I've unfortunately learned the hard way that it takes a lot longer to heal from an injury than it does to just pop on a brace or support and avoid the injury altogether! Here's where the McDavid Patellar Knee Strap comes in handy when I need extra support for my bum knee! I actually already had a Mueller brand knee strap that I've used for years. It does a fair job of holding my knee together. However, when I tried on the McDavid brand knee strap it felt significantly sturdier. As in, it gave my knee far more support than my old Mueller brand one. The materials that the McDavid knee strap is made of feel much thicker and stiffer which in turn, really gives my knee the strong support that it needs. I knew as soon as I put it on that I would not go back to my old knee strap! What it is and how it works: The strap consists of well...a strap. It's made of thick nylon/neoprene material with a velcro hook and loop fastener on the ends. Underneath the front part of the strap is a hollow tube made of neoprene. When the strap is correctly worn, that tube is positioned in such a way that it applies a gentle, supportive pressure into the front of the knee directly under the kneecap which lends extra support to the tendons and ligaments that hold the knee together. It keeps everything in place. The strap lends a "soft but firm support" to stabilize and support the knee. It's especially good for people who will be doing activities like jumping but really, it is great for any kind of activity where you need a little extra support to keep the knee "held together" and stable. I've actually tried various other styles of knee supports and stabilizers. In the world of knee straps I would rate McDavid at the top of the list!
Read More
