Off-the-shelf knee braces--anyone have experience with them?

[Fridays Child]

I wonder if the hinged braces are better than the regular elastic ones. Not looking for a diagnosis (I know that is frowned upon here), just a little feedback on hinged versus non-hinged. I may be touring Ireland, soon, and I'll probably be doing a lot of walking.

Any advice is appreciated.

[RGinNJ]

1. I feel that either type give some limited support,

but they get very sweaty and smelly fast.

[Fridays Child]

3. Yuck! Then, maybe the non-hinged ones are easier to wash.

Because, at anywhere from $25 to $60 per brace, neither type is disposable!

[hollysmom]

13. I have used the elastic ones and swam in them at the beach

But even gardening, mine never got sweaty and smelly. I think I don't have sweat glands in some places. Tend to sweat through my head.

[Fridays Child]

31. Me, too.

But not usually my knees or legs.

[ohheckyeah]

2. My husband has had

three knee surgeries and he refers the elastic braces. The hinged braces he finds to be much more uncomfortable.

Hope you have a great trip to Ireland.

[Fridays Child]

4. Probably harder to wear undeneath jeans, too.

Or do the hinged ones go over clothing?

And, thanks! The trip is still tentative but it will be awesome, if I can make it happen.

[ohheckyeah]

24. Your jeans would probably bunch up if you wore it

over clothing.

[bluedigger]

5. Any metal in them may tend to chaff.

I used several different ones before and after my ACL replacement. I found the best one was the heaviest one I could find with adjustable straps above and below the knee but no metal in it.

[Fridays Child]

6. Where did you find that type?

[BlueToTheBone]

28. Any drug store. Chains would probably be cheaper. nt

[Hekate]

7. Have a spectacular time in Ireland

A decade or more ago I took a tour to Crete that involved a lot of hill climbing and one deep cave, and I wore a Futuro Sport Open Patella Knee Support made of bright blue neoprene. I got them at my local drugstore, and whatever I paid was worth the peace of mind. My Knees have uneven ligaments, resulting in what some call a floating kneecap, plus oncoming arthritis. I worried a lot before that trip, being no stranger to injury, but I held up well.

I saw Ireland from a bus, mostly, and the rest was easy strolling. The country is absolutely gorgeous, and the music we heard every night was the whole point of our tour, so I was in heaven. I left my late mother's battered old cane down a cliff near Moll's Gap... In her better days I like to think she would have appreciated the gesture to the land of our ancestors.

I trust you will find what you need from the advice here, and have the most wonderful experience ever.

[Fridays Child]

9. Thank you so much!

I'll look at neoprene supports. Looking forward to Ireland.

[TorchTheWitch]

8. I use an elastic one on rare occasions

I have a "trick knee" that since high school when I messed up a ligament has bothered me off and on ever since. Mostly it's only an issue if we're about to get a lot of snow or rain or if I've just done too much walking plus squatting down a lot. The elastic band does a great job for me in providing the support I feel I need, but your mileage may vary.

Since they're fairly cheap you could maybe get one and try it out and see what you think before your trip.

[Fridays Child]

10. I have one band and it helps.

I may need more support for the trip, though.

[TorchTheWitch]

14. you could try one on top of the other

A woman I worked with did that with her "trick ankle" a couple of times like when she did a double shift. She said it gave her just enough added support and could still wear her shoes. I would have tried that with my knee had I ever felt the one band wasn't quite enough. With the knee though doubling up with two bands one on top of the other may be too restrictive.

Maybe experiment with some different things and see what seems to work best yet still not be too restrictive. I'd err on the side of what ever seems to give you the most support though since this trip is special and you wouldn't want to have your knee crap out on you.

[Fridays Child]

15. I have some time to experiment.

That's a great idea!

[fadedrose]

11. Before I had a knee replacement

the doctor prescribed one that attaches on. I went to the hospital supply store and the brand that he recommended did not come in my size. They were either too tight in the small or too big in the medium. I chose the medium, and when I went shopping, I had to keep bending over and pulling it up. It was a lot of trouble.

I'd say the most important thing is to have it fit properly no matter what kind you get. Smelly is your least concern...it's the fit.

[Fridays Child]

12. Yes, true.

It has to fit or it's worthless.

[Scuba]

16. I used the metal hinge style for years ...

... so that I could keep playing basketball all the way up to age 60, despite knee surgery in my early 20's. They kept everything in place, allowing me to be confident my knees weren't going to give out at an inopportune time.

Not really comfortable, just effective.

Good luck, and have fun on your trip.

[Fridays Child]

20. Thanks!

Hope your knees are hanging in there!

[Cha]

17. I finally found this kind of knee brace(velcro) and I love them for

running! My knees hurt if I don't wear them. I got one for each knee.



This is just a random pic.. I got my at Longs. They don't get out of shape and loosen up like the elastic kind.

I had to look up "hinged braces" as I had never heard of them before.

Have a wonderful time in Ireland, Fridays Child.

[Fridays Child]

21. Thank you!

Another poster suggested the exact same kind.

[SomethingFishy]

25. I got one of those for my wife...

Was less than 20 bucks and I found it in the grocery store..

I don't think that they help so much per se but wearing it reminds you to be very careful which is helpful in itself..

And on a side note, I have been to Ireland 3 times in 3 years. It is without a doubt one of my favorite places to go. Nothing can prepare you for the amount of green you see. It's not called the Emerald Isle for nothing. Just lush and beautiful. The people are amazing, friendly, charming and those accents! We spent quite a bit of time in Dublin (I was there on a concert tour) and then a couple days seeing the country side. We saw castles, and old cemeteries, stopped in small towns. It was just amazing.
You will not be disappointed! Enjoy!

[Fridays Child]

30. I'm so excited to take this trip!

I might have done this in the spring or summer but this is the time I have off from my job. So I'll just take a coat, cap, gloves, and some long underwear, and I'll make it work. Besides, It's Ireland! I can't imagine that it would ever be disappointing.

[wercal]

27. That brace in post 17 is exactly what I'm wearing right now.

It doesn't get stretched out, because you adjust the size every time you strap it on. Reasonably good support, but still fits under the pants. Cost around $16.

[Fridays Child]

29. This seems like the best one. The logo looks like New Balance.

Adjustable and no hinges. Can you wear it over pants? It might be nice, depending on what I'm wearing, to have the option. I like the price, too, because I'll need two. Where did you buy yours?

[wercal]

33. I bought it at the grocery store - their pharmacy has a small section with braces, etc

I suppose it would go over pants, if needed, but I've never tried.

[Fridays Child]

37. Okay.

Thanks.

[Johnny Ready]

18. The hinged style worked well for me during basketball tournaments

but I would suggest wrapping your knee in a towel or ace bandage first to increase the comfort. This also makes the brace feel stronger which somehow gave me more confidence during the games. Good luck.

[Fridays Child]

22. Many thanks!

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. I recently bought the Tommie Copper sleeves after years of

struggling with elastic and hinged style. I love the compression sleeves.

[Fridays Child]

23. I've wondered about those.

I'll look into them. Thanks.

[sarisataka]

26. It depends on

Why you need a brace.
I have severe arthritis with some other issues so need custom made braces. If you need side to side support, the hingedis the way to go. If it is general support, from previous sprain/strain or soft tissue problem, the neoprene will be fine.

[Fridays Child]

32. It's arthritis.

But I need general support. I hope off-the-shelf ones will work, as I don't have time for customs, before the trip. The ones with above- and below-the-knee adjustable straps look just right.

[sarisataka]

34. Before my condition was too bad

I ref'ed youth soccer and used both the tube and ones with straps. I much preferred the adjustable ones. Hope it works well for you.

Hope you get ti Ireland; I have only been there for a total of two hours and can't wait until I can make a real visit. Be sure and have some Guinness, it is even better over there.

[Fridays Child]

35. Thanks!

I'll have some!

[Revanchist]

36. That's the $1,000,000 question

Why you need it dictates the type to buy. I have a kneecap that likes to pop out on occasion and have to "kick" it back in place so the hinged with the hole over the kneecap is the best type for my needs. Do a google search on "What type of knee brace do I need" and read from a few different sites before making a decision.