FuturoHinged Knee Brace, Adjustable

I'm buying this for the second time now. I've had 2 pair of these for the last 3 years and decided that it was time for a fresh pair. I have osteoarthritis and am trying to avoid knee replacement surgery for as long as possible. I've also had meniscus tears that required repair surgery on one side. I tried quite a few other types of knee supports and braces but found that the only really effective options here required the support provided by hinged braces. It's very important to prevent side-to-side movement and even more so to avoid over extending your leg all the way out as this puts damaging stress on the meniscus material that causes the tears and will prevent any healing to take place. So here you have the hinges to keep the rotation fully straight and the brace itself to prevent just enough over extension to be comfortable and still stand properly.I wear these on both legs as the arthritis in on both sides, but tend to only need only one most of the time. So they do work on either leg. At first the neoprene material feels a bit tight, but it will loosen up over time. I've worn them mowing grass and found they clean up in the washer very well. You'll only need to pull the hinges out before and replace them back making sure that the bent part of the hinge is away from your leg. The neoprene isn't a breathable material, so if you live in a warm area, you may want to consider strapping them on over something absorbent on your leg to cut down the sweating. Maybe a bit dorky, but I wear them over my sweat pants. Hint: you'll find them the most comfortable if you take care when putting them on to get the opening in the front of the brace directly over your knee cap and pull the neoprene around as much as possible to prevent the velcro from chafing the back of your leg (make sure the straps are fully loosened while you do this). I also use the product tag to make sure I put them on the same direction every time so that they keep the same shape as when wearing them.I'm replacing these as they are several years old now and the stitching and material has worn down a bit. Among the options however, this is the best I've found. The only alternative are very pricey custom adjustable braces that cost over $200. I find they offer no real improvement over these when worn properly and sell at a fraction of the cost.

This has been my go-to knee brace over the years during a history of minor knee sprains, through arthritis, and through knee replacement surgery recovery. It fits better, is more comfortable, and more effective than several specialized prescription braces I have used. Easily hand-washable in cold water, just remove the metal hinges first. There is a reason these braces have been around for years - they work and the price is right. Caution - this is serious, heavy duty Velcro. Do not store in a drawer with delicate clothing, just as you would not put a piranha in your goldfish tank.

Wish I had known it wasn't returnable!! It was difficult to put on, didn't fit well or ease the knee pain! Very disappointed to say the least. This should be returnable since it is an item that needs to fit well. Not everyone is a skinny legged person, beware before you buy. Back to my copper sleeve.

I have had some pretty crazy knee surgeries in the last 10 years. As a result, my knee will never function properly again and I am not a candidate for knee replacement (the joint is the only thing that is good). I was a college athlete and now in my 40s, I am still active in volleyball leagues, bike riding, hiking, etc. My knee cannot handle these activities without the support of a hinged knee brace. I have tried dozens of braces, most from my orthopedic doctor's offices, but this brace has worked the best by far. I bought one in a a bind at Target a few years ago and have used nothing else since then. This brace stabilizes my knee very well without taking away my flexibility and because it is adjustable, I can tighten or loosen it depending on any swelling in my knee that day. Because of this brace, I can continue with my physical activities with only minimal, to no, pain. I usually replace the brace every 6 months or so, but that is absolutely on me - I definitely give it a work out, diving on sand and hardwood floor courts in volleyball and it withstands everything I put it through. It would last for a few years if I did not treat it like a glorified volleyball knee pad. Great quality brace that can hold up to just about anything. The price on Amazon is ever better - the brace runs around $50 at Target and CVS.

I bought this brace due to a grade 2 MCL tear, so the stability afforded by this brace helps tremendously. Due to the MCL tear, my knee is "loose" and this brace provides good support. When my lower leg rotates, there is a sharp pain in the MCL which this brace mitigates, but does not eliminate the rotation. More on that below.This brace works well and does NOT require you to remove your shoes to put on as it WRAPS around your leg and is held in place with "velcro" on the main wrap PLUS has 2 straps on both the calf portion and the thigh portion for a total of 4 straps.This brace is comfortable and does not slip down.This brace does NOT prevent the lower leg from twisting relative to the upper leg, so you can still cause knee pain if you make too quick of a move such as rounding a corner. It would be better if the inside surface that contacts your skin was of a higher friction or stickier material to reduce twisting of the knee from the lower leg moving independent of the upper leg. My cycling shorts has a swiggle line of rubber-like (probably silicone) material along the lower hem to keep the lower part of the shorts from riding up. Something like this on the inside of the brace would help in this regard.Note - while the brace looks symmetrical, it is not. One end is slightly wider, thus that is the end that should go around your thigh.