Knee supports for chondromalacia/osteoarthritis

SRH7

I've had knee pain and inflammation since I was 14 (now 39) and have tried a host of things to ease the problem.

My main problem is chondromalacia (kneecap doesn't track correctly, wearing away the cartilage under the kneecap) and now have early stage osteoarthritis. The diagnosis (only two years ago) has been this is likely to have been caused by having very flat feet and overpronation all my life, which has thrown the knee join out.

I love to hike and have taken up running. Funnily enough, my knees are fine when running or climbing up slopes, but as soon as I have to go up steps (even stairs) or go downhill my knees grind, lock and I have intense pain.

I'm on medication (Diclofenac, paracetamol), do exercises shown to me by my physio, been to a podiatrist (I am certain I wouldn't be running, hiking or even getting out of bed easily some days if it wasn't for her advice and custom orthotics - they have made an incredible difference), ice my knees after exercise etc etc.

I also started taping my knees last year to stop the kneecap moving about too much, but the taping could not stand up to a six-hour hike and would roll down. So I bought some bought some runners/jumpers' knee straps and they were fantastic. They really help to stop my kneecaps moving about, but not completely.

So... I'm now looking at getting a more heavy duty set of knee supports as I want to conquer some bigger mountains this year but my knee pain is holding me back. I could ask my physio but it would cost me £30 for a visit, that I can ill afford right now.

Any recommendations? I'm looking for ones that are specifically designed to keep the patella in place (so probably with a cut out at the front). I've seen ones on Amazon by Bioskin and Neo G but at up to £100 a pair I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

eikito

I got a fantastic brace in LIDL a few months ago for £6.99, here's the link:
http://lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-6159126A-26BCD879/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_32676.htm?offerdate=7510&ar2=3&id=90&country=GB&zipcode=DE21+4SY&city=Derbyshire&district=Derby&street=Mansfield+Road&ar=3&nf=True
They sell them every year, only down side is that you'll have to wait until they are on sale because they are specials. I think that last year was around august or september. I use them for my Circuit training classes and they are brilliant!

SRH7

I got a fantastic brace in LIDL a few months ago for £6.99, here's the link:
http://lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-6159126A-26BCD879/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_32676.htm?offerdate=7510&ar2=3&id=90&country=GB&zipcode=DE21+4SY&city=Derbyshire&district=Derby&street=Mansfield+Road&ar=3&nf=True
They sell them every year, only down side is that you'll have to wait until they are on sale because they are specials. I think that last year was around august or september. I use them for my Circuit training classes and they are brilliant!

Wow! That's a bargain. I'll keep an eye out but will need something sooner

dym123

I wear a basic elastic brace ---> http://tinyurl.com/cark688. I do circuit training and turbo fire. I also use Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape. I had knee surgery in September, I still can't do plyo exercises, but I can pretty much do everything else.

SRH7

I wear a basic elastic brace ---> http://tinyurl.com/cark688. I do circuit training and turbo fire. I also use Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape. I had knee surgery in September, I still can't do plyo exercises, but I can pretty much do everything else.

Thanks, I've tried elastic braces and tape but they're just not heavy duty enough for my poor knees! Shorter hikes and runs are fine, but once I have to put them through a bigger range of motion the kneecap just won't stay in place.

dym123

Have you tried a cho-pat strap? I used to wear them when I was a runner. It sits underneath the knee cap to keep it in place.

SRH7

Have you tried a cho-pat strap? I used to wear them when I was a runner. It sits underneath the knee cap to keep it in place.

I have - the runner's strap I mentioned in my first post (I have Mueller ones). It stops some of the movement but not enough, which is why I was wondering if anyone had tried the Bioskin or Neo G supports or something similar that puts pressure and support around the whole kneecap instead.