Knee supports

OFDM

Can someone recommend where to get a good knee support, in particular for supporting the front of the knee under the knee cap?

DrIndy

its simply not possible to say which is best over the internet unfortunately. There is a big range from simple bandages to full kevlar knee braces. To know which is best for you requires a medical opinion......

Transform

OFDM wrote:

Can someone recommend where to get a good knee support, in particular for supporting the front of the knee under the knee cap?

I would recommend you look at the cause of the knee misalignment or condition rather than a knee support. The support generally will make the condition worse with continued use and act as a permanent crutch.

Most common cause is the tracking of the knee normally due to tight ITB (outside edge of leg) and weak inner quad muscles. Very simple to resolve and again goes back to the unbelieveably poor flexibility of most people i.e. can't touch their toes with straight legs easily or other such tests

Boru.

I agree with transform. In my experience it has often been the case that knee supports are used in an inappropriate manner and in fact lead to greater muscle weakness, and imbalance.

Depending on the type of knee complaint there are a wide variety of easy, basic functional exercises and stretches to develop muscluar balance and flexability in the knee, thus keeping them healthy and feeling good! If you can give us a little more info on the nature of the compaint I'm sure we can recomend a course of action to alleviate the symptoms and correct the problem. Of course in saying that it shuld be the first port of call to consult your GP, Physiotherapist or medical practioner.

Boru.

OFDM

Boru. wrote:

If you can give us a little more info on the nature of the compaint I'm sure we can recomend a course of action to alleviate the symptoms and correct the problem.

Over the weekend, something suddenly gave out and there was severe pain below my knee cap if I put any sort of weight on that leg. I wasn't doing any sort of strenous activity at the time, just went to walk from one end of the room to the other.

It's getting better now but definately not 100% - I can walk alright but I wouldn't be able to do squats with any sort of weight and wouldn't want to chance running.

Before the weekend my knee had been starting to "crack" when doing even light squats, now it cracks slightly each time I straighten it.

It's also "not felt right" when walking down stairs for the past few months.

Trotter

Ive had the same problem under my kneecap for the past 6 months or so. Ive seen the doc, physios, and ended up having heyhole surgery that came back clear. A few people on boards have advised me that its a quad muscle issue. So.. Im looking for a new physio.

Ive bought a racing bike to strengthen up my quads, and Im trying to work on the flexibility.

Mines a sharp tight pain right under the knee cap that normally kicks up if I stand on the bad leg only and then bend the knee slightly. Thats where the pain is worst. Does doing that bother you too?

Maybe its not as rare and unexplainable as the physios and other "experts" have told me.

Thankfully, some people here seem to know exactly what they're at.

Boru.

Any severe sharp pain, you should get checked out immediately could be nothing, could be a partial dislocation, could be bones rubbing off each other, could be a traped nerve. That said perhaps some light slow and deliberate movement such as a seated leg extension may be useful. Don't use any weights but slowly extend the leg forward, slowly and deliberately contracting the mucsles. Find out he range of movement and concentrate on the type of sensations encountered.

Boru.

OFDM

Maybe I should clarify what I mean by "below the knee cap" - I don't mean under the knee cap but the area at the top of the shin just before the knee cap:
http://img143.echo.cx/img143/7541/knee6to.gif

Anyway, it feels a lot better now, but not what I'd call 100%. I'm able to do some moderate exercise like jump squats without it hurting, although it's a little sore afterwards. Walking down stairs still doesn't feel right.

One legged squats are a bit painful and there's still the double crack, which I may have to get checked out because it doesn't make me feel comfortable doing squats.