Patella Tendon Knee Strap

[Tedx]

I've had intermittent knee pain for years now. There's pain all the time going downstairs and at the start of a walk where it eases off after a while, but you always know that it's 'there'. And sometimes it warns you with a real sharp shooting pain if you try to be adventurous.

Anyway, I've tried all the usual herbal treatments with little success. Ibuprofen helps, but I'd rather not.....and I guess it hasn't got any worse over time but it's very annoying. So if I'm going on a longer walk, I often put on a traditional type knee brace (the sturdier one with folding metal hinges either side), purely just for confidence that it's not going to collapse from under me and, perhaps, to lessen the impact on the joint.

So I was idly searching for 'knee pain when going downstairs' yesterday in the vain hope there was something new I could try and I came across a website which suggested trying a Patella Tendon Knee Strap

I looked on Amazon and there it was - with some rave reviews too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DLFP8Q5? ... ct_details

Well, for thirteen quid, why not?

It came today and I've just been out for a test run and....it feels amazing. No seriously, it really does. No pain at the outset, up and down hills etc = no problem.

Stairs. Now then. It's been so long since I've walked down the steps in the house properly. When it first started getting sore it was one step at a time / bad knee first. That's now progressed to going downstairs normally......except backwards. When I'm in public, I just have to put as much weight as possible through the bannister/handrail and try and look, well, normal. So there's some more testing to be done for sure (particularly on stairs), but early results are excellent.

Finally, I'm trying to figure out what the strap actually does. It keeps that part of the knee warm right enough and the website says

.....It delivers just the right amount of support to stabilize the kneecap during physical activity. Worn just below the patella, the strap helps control the effects of muscular vibration during repetitive impact to reduce fatigue and decrease the risk of injury.


So it keeps everything inline? And the shooting pain comes from when it moves out of line and grinds against something it's not supposed to? I wonder why it feels better after some way into a walk? Answers on a postcard please....

I'll report back after some more testing.

[ReformedCharacter]

And the shooting pain comes from when it moves out of line and grinds against something it's not supposed to? I wonder why it feels better after some way into a walk? Answers on a postcard please....

I'll report back after some more testing.

I suffered from knee pain for several decades. Eventually, after pestering my GP, I got to see a specialist. Said specialist pointed out that one of my knee muscles had atrophied. I was surprised because I'd been using an exercise bike regularly. But it seems that cycling doesn't develop all of the knee muscles. I bought some 2.5kg ankle weights and nearly every day I sit on my bed with legs dangling over the side and straighten each leg out x 200 times. I have had no knee pain at all since I started the exercises. I only wish that I'd known the cause and solution earlier as it would have saved me years of discomfort. My knees had begun to feel 'clunky' too, but they don't anymore. It could be that your exercise is tightening up the muscles and consequently it feel better. Good luck, I know how bad knee pain can be.

RC

[TahiPanasDua]

RC,

"I suffered from knee pain for several decades. Eventually, after pestering my GP, I got to see a specialist. Said specialist pointed out that one of my knee muscles had atrophied."

Me too. Finding out and the subsequent solution was miraculous.

My knee pain got progressively worse over the years and eventually I was going up stairs sideways with 2 feet on each step. As the pain increased over time, it seemed obvious to take things easier but the pain got worse.

Then I read an article that said that people with osteo-arthritis tended to avoid exercise leading to muscle atrophy. The atrophy itself provides its own pain that sufferers wrongly interpret as their arthritis getting worse. Exercise eventually banishes the atrophy but it is not immediate. However, imagine my surprise when all the pain including the arthritic part disappeared. Apparently there are established medical reasons for this. It seems you can improve your joint cartilage with exercise.

I then tried the same remedy to my back pain which has now 90% disappeared.

So, what are the magical exercises I do? My wife and I have gone for a 1 hour brisk walk every day for many years. That got rid of almost all of the knee problems. I then started to do a series of 15 minute exercises at home every morning to help the back and the rest is history.

If I am ever tempted to quit the exercises I just remember the previous pain. its a no-brainer.

TP2.

[Tedx]

Well 15 miles yesterday , up hill and down dale on small varied surface tracks through mostly Forestry Commission land and I'm stunned at how good this little strap is.

2 small issues are it moves ever so slightly downwards and its highlighted a much smaller pain I get above the knee.

So I've ordered the upgraded model. One that has an additional strap above the knee.

[servodude]

Well 15 miles yesterday , up hill and down dale on small varied surface tracks through mostly Forestry Commission land and I'm stunned at how good this little strap is.

2 small issues are it moves ever so slightly downwards and its highlighted a much smaller pain I get above the knee.

So I've ordered the upgraded model. One that has an additional strap above the knee.

Brilliant!

Keep us updated with how it goes!

I've occasionally needed to use braces on parts after straining or over exertion (stop sniggering at the back!!) and it's always good to hear that it CAN work even if I'm like "what's the F*"""ing point of this s***" as I'm strapping it up

Have fun
-sd

[AsleepInYorkshire]

I'll report back after some more testing.

Well Tedx one of us has to ask the inevbitable question. Are you going to test all of Amazon's products or just this one . Sorry about my sense of humour. I must be the only one who laughs at my jokes

Good luck with your trial. I hope you come back with a glowing write up

AiY(D)

[Tedx]

Forgot to add the link to the one I've ordered

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07MBR ... Vfc2hhcmVk

Honestly you've no idea how much more enjoyable it is to go 'off piste ' when you're confident your knee isnt going to give you pain.

I guess the next test is the higher hills. Or more specifically, descending the higher hills. I'll wait for the ice to shift first though....

[Tedx]

Well 15 miles yesterday , up hill and down dale on small varied surface tracks through mostly Forestry Commission land and I'm stunned at how good this little strap is.

2 small issues are it moves ever so slightly downwards and its highlighted a much smaller pain I get above the knee.

So I've ordered the upgraded model. One that has an additional strap above the knee.

Nope. I just couldn't get the 2 strap version to sit right under my knee - the top strap when set correctly meant the bottom strap was just not in the.right place. In fact it made the pain worse.

So I put the single strap back on today and it was back to being as good as it was last weekend.

The missus said she used runners tape when she had a similar issue a few years ago. It was far more targeted she said. But that's to much of a faff.

So testing still ongoing, but looking good so far.