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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 41 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 Discomfort-free running again! Dec 11, 2008
By Cory D. Miller
I bought the Imak knee strap after having a love/hate relationship with my previous knee strap (one of the lycra/foam rubber McDavid straps). In every area the McDavid strap is lacking, the Imak strap is so much better. The McDavid has a single "hook and pile" attachment; the Imak has two: one to hold the strap in place, the other to regulate the fit of the strap around your leg. The Imak strap breathes much better than the McDavid, and makes for a more comfortable run.
If you have "jumper's knee" or other patella-effecting ailment, this should be the strap you should buy. The McDavid may be cheaper, but it's not as effective as the Imak.
29 of 31 found the following review helpful:
....Miracle Cure For The Knee Dec 16, 2009
By Ambergris
"John Thomas"
I picked up the Imak knee strap just a month or so ago at a local sporting goods store. I decided to try it since I do a lot of walking for exercise, and I have a particular problem with my knee that I was hoping it could help with. I happen to have arthritis in both knees, but under normal walking conditions neither of them gives me all that much trouble. Not even when walking up hill, for the bodies center of gravity is shifted away from the knees when on an uphill stride. Unfortunately walking downhill for me was yet another matter. I found my right knee would start to get quite painful on downhill slopes. The center of gravity that is pretty much neutral when walking on level ground, and shifted favorably when uphill, was now being felt directly up the leg with every footstep, and the resulting shock through the knee would cause me much pain and discomfort on even relatively short, or moderately sloping hills. The pain may be short lived and bearable, but still very annoying and hurtful. I was unfortunately forced in most cases to slow down and rather tip toe down hill. But most importantly however, the pain would force me to choose routes that were relatively free of hills and valleys, something not always easy, nor enjoyable.
I had in the past wore knee straps and supports of different varieties, but in most cases they were just too stiff and uncomfortable for walking and running purposes. (In the other cases, they just didn't work in easing my pain). I was intrigued by the Imak's simple design, and accompanying chart that was on the package that pretty much explained to a tee exactly what kind of pain and problem I was dealing with, and the support it would offer. I decided to give it a try and buy it. I am happy to say that for me the Imak strap has been a true godsend. It's like it is specifically tailor made for my problem, or anyone else that experiences similar pain and discomfort. The first time I wore it and started down a downhill slope, I immediately felt a dramatic difference in both the support it promises, and in the intensity of pain that was usually present. On mild down hill slopes, there was no real pain at all. And on longer or steeper downhill walks, I experienced a truly dramatic decrease in pain and discomfort. It's really hard to imagine by looking at the Imak strap that such a favorable difference in pain can be accomplished by such a small, simple design. Most knee straps are a strange concoction of belts and straps and holes here and there that are supposed to pretty much accomplish what the Imak does so seemingly effortlessly. It's easy to put on, easy to adjust, extremely comfortable to wear, and you really only feel its support working when you really need it. Although the box that the Imak came in briefly explains the principle behind its design, I am more than comfortable and satisfied with just saying here how well it has worked wonderfully for my problem, rather than offer up a technical explanation as to why it does what it does.
If you experience any kind of knee pain either exactly like, or similar to what I described when either walking or running, (or doing really any kind of exercise), I highly recommend the Imak knee strap. It is very reasonably priced here on Amazon, (it's presently the same price I paid locally), and even though there are quite a few different models both cheaper and much more expensive on Amazon, this particular model is the very one I own, and the one I would recommend. You should give it a try and experience walking or running the way it's meant to be again...
18 of 18 found the following review helpful:
 Love the strap, but came apart in 2 weeks using only 4 times :( Dec 08, 2010
By Shih-tzu Mommy
"Savvy shopper"
Pros: This strap has given me relief and a noticeable difference in decreased pain. Even support going up stairs, which is difficult with knee tendonitis. I do pilates reformer and walk super fast, so I need this support. You can adjust and tighten the straps to fit properly. It has a double strap and it does not slide or come off when exercising or walking. On the inside of the strap, there is a roll / pillow full of tiny beads that molds and presses against the front tendon below the knee. Works great, but you cannot kneel with the brace on.
Cons: Both straps came apart with use a handful of times after 2 weeks. The stitching is not very secure. It has single loose stitching. That is why I gave it 3 stars, otherwise I would have given it 4 or 5.
Recommendation to Imak manufacturer: You have a great product, so don't have it fall apart. Use more secure stitching of the straps.
Amazon has allowed me to return for a full refund as "a defective item", which it is, as I read on Amazon.com reviews only one other person to have had the same problem :( ; however, I will need to reorder as they cannot send a replacement, only take orders, fulfill orders and accept returns.
I plan on reordering this same item as it appears to be the best one out in the market despite the stitching problem. I will have the new one securely stitched before using. Hopefully, this will not happen again.
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
It really worksfor chondromalacia patella Sep 24, 2010
By Charles G.
"An Engineer and Business Person"
This product really works. I've been having problems with my right knee for a while and certain activities made it much worse. I put this one and did the worst of them, and felt better afterwards than I did when I started. I just ordered 2 more of the same product.
Amazon thankfully ships it in a plain envelope - the retail package is large and a waste of trees. Unfortunately, there are no instructions on the envelope. Here are the instructions (I've edited them from the retail package):
Center the pressure pad under the kneecap (i.e. the little hard tube goes in front of your knee, aimed backwards, the logo is in front, just under your kneecap, like in the photo).
Use the shorter velcro strap to wrap the thing around your knee, just under your kneecap, then use the longer strap to tighten it. (You basically use the shorter strap just to hold it on your knee and then the longer strap to make it tighter while it's held on your knee with the other strap. There is a little groove right under your kneecap, it fits in that groove.)
Hand wash cold, air dry.
Update: I just ordered 5 more so I can have a clean pair whenever I need them. That's right: I now have 8 of them. They are that good.
Uh oh, update II: After just under two months, one of them fell completely apart! Both straps came off. Realize that I have 4 pairs of these, and I rotate through them, so this was like two weeks of use. Sewing them back together isn't the most fun thing but it's possible. Just recognize that they might fall apart just when you need them!
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
I was skeptical but it worked Jul 28, 2010
By D. Catlin
I never write reviews, but I was really surprised how well this product worked. I had to stop training for a marathon because of runners knee, and now that I've started to run again my knee started to be unusually tired/sore during runs. I've seen specialists, and had MRIs - when all I needed was this $16 piece of velcro glory. Once I got the tightness right, this thing worked like a dream. I am going to order a second one because my other 'good' knee felt terrible compared to my bad knee after my first run. Anyway, I highly recommend this product - I'm wondering if it could stand marathon training mileage?
See all 41 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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