At IM-Moo I saw quite a few people with a strap around the leg just below the knee. After talking with a few they explained it was for platella tendonitis. It this an effective treatment or just a gimmick?
I’ve prescribed them for various patients. Feedback has varied. You’d have to give it a shot and see how it works for you.
It didn’t do shit for me, ended up having surgery.
In Reply To It didn’t do shit for me, ended up having surgery.
Tell me more. I’ve been fighting Patella tendon pain for 5 months - it first flared up during runs so I quit running - waited a month - still sore
went to MD - he sent me to PT - 2 months PT - it got somewhat better but it’s still sore - he said he had done all he could (ultasound, ice, massage, taping, knee strap, NSAI’s)
I cut my biking back to easy spinning on the flats for an hour or two 3 times a week. Still sore.
I can’t even think about running yet, although the knee strap SEEMS to help while doing yard work and biking.
This is the first real problem I’ve had with my knees.
What surgery did you have done and did it help? How long to rehab?
(I’m 51 years old, male, had been running for 2 years 20 - 25 miles a week, but been biking for 8 or 10 years)
I work in Orthopedics and CHO PAT straps work for some people with patella tendon pain. Check Bregs website www.breg.com. They make a knee brace called the PTO brace (patella tracking orthosis) which helps keep the patella tracking in its groove. A lot of triathletes get this pain as their VMO is not fully developed or somewhat lagging and the patella tends to start tracking improperly as one muscle is stronger than the other. Most doctors prsecribe VMO strengthening which there is an article in one of the latest tri magazines that are out regarding building up your Quads. One of the best exercises that help strengthen the VMO is wall squats for 15-30 seconds at a time. No weight, just your body weight. Works wonders! Of course, this is only if you suffer from having a weak VMO which tends to cause patella pain.
Jason
I was told by a family memeber who is an orthopedic surgeon, that the only knee straps that will offer any help are those that are custom made, i.e. cost a lot of money - but even then views are varied. From what I gather, it is much like the concept of trying to tame a river in one section; you just push the problem elsewhere.
I’m having this problem, I tried the strap, now I’m back to the old neoprene sleeve. Works pretty well for me.
In my case, it started a few years ago. It’s gone now. Every time I go running, I use custom-made arch supports( orthotics by spenco) and Protec Patella tendon strap. That did it for me. Pain is gone but the orthotics and Protec strap are following wherever I train.
I use one on occasion. It seems to help, but: my tendonitis is mild, nothing that would make me stop, just a kind of mild burning sensation not an actual pain; and i find it helps more to wear one while walking around than to wear it while exercising.