Walking and sports activities wear away the cartilage, the tissue that lines the joints. This wear directly affects the function of the cartilage, and when this occurs in the knee area, it is called patellar chondromalacia.
Most people think that this condition only affects older people, but it can also affect younger people for a variety of reasons. Since patellofemoral pain syndrome is more common than you might think, it's useful to know what patellar chondromalacia is and how it can be improved with knee braces and patellar straps.
What is the best knee strap for chondromalacia patellae?
- Sizes: One Size Fits All
- Colors: Green, Red and Gray
- Material: Breathable
- Nº of Products: 2 Pieces
- Uses: Rehab and Sport
- Elastic Fabric
- Double Anti-Slip Silicone
- Ergonomic & Adjustable
- Sport Design
- Unisex
Ergonomic Design
Highest Quality
Compression Pad
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Black
- Material: Neoprene
- Nº of products: Single
- Type: Open with straps and velcro
- Lightweight design
- Good compression
- One size only
Its extra slim design allows a light and comfortable grip, avoiding sweat accumulation and slippage during use. Its structure is designed to generate compression above and below the kneecap to prevent movement and tendon injury. The one-size-fits-all adjustable neoprene can be worn by anyone. While the material is breathable, it may be uncomfortable for some users with high sweat rates.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: 3 Options: Black, Orange, Pink
- Material: Neoprene
- Nº of Products: 2
- Type: Velcro strap
- Variety of colours
- Good compression
- Hight Quality
- Suitable for everyone
- One size only
- Delicate wash
The knee strap works to keep the femur-patellar alignment stress-free during overloading exercises and provides the necessary stability so that tendons and ligaments are not strained. The one-size-fits-all brace, suitable for children, men and women, has a strap that stretches so that the inner pad is fixed in the strategic area. It is antiperspirant, but this adjustable product is not recommended for users who are allergic to nylon.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Black
- Material: Breathable
- Nº of products: 2
- Type: Strap and velcro
- Suitable for everyone
- Strong compression
- Good finish
- Adjustable compression
- No material specified
- Delicate wash
You can wear the knee support at any time, especially when you put stress on the joint, because the internal silicone pad keeps the kneecap stable at all times. But that's not all you'll find in this adjustable Velcro strap, you'll also have a non-slip bandage to keep it out of the way while you train. As it is breathable, you can use it on the beach, but it is important to know that the knee brace is not useful for users where the side buckle may disturb the comfort.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: 3 Options: White, Black, Grey
- Material: Breathable
- Nº of Products: 2
- Type: Strap and Velcro
- Adjustable design
- Strong compression
- No material specified
The internal silicone pad provides better compression in the important places, so you can adjust the knee brace according to your sporting needs. The material allows the skin to stay ventilated and prevents slippage when you are in physical training. Don't hesitate to buy this pair of knee braces to protect your meniscus and ligaments in tennis, basketball or hiking. Please note that this product is not useful for people with itchy or sensitive skin.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Blue
- Material: Elastic rubber
- No. of products: Single
- Type: Closed with silicone pad
- Good fit
- Hight Quality
- No material specified
The one-size-fits-all size offers a hook-and-loop closure strap to more efficiently adjust the joint and maintain alignment with the femur. It's ideal for carrying around and can be worn during the summer and under clothing to stimulate blood circulation. Itching and rashes may be common in people with skin sensitivities, so this product is not recommended for them.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Black
- Material: Neoprene
- Nº of products: Single
- Type: Silicone padded strap
- Includes silicone pad
- Strong compression
- Adjustable strap
- Hight Quality
- Voluminous
- One size only
The VIMOV patellar tape, with internal silicone, efficiently absorbs any shock to the knee and its high compression stimulates circulation, relieving pain, making it a comfortable and flexible compression bandage for any occasion! Its internal padding is ideal for hiking, weightlifting and also for walking at home. The elastic knee brace can become less efficient with washing.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Black
- Material: Neoprene
- Nº of products: Single
- Type: Velcro strap
- Lightweight design
- Good compression
- Quality stitching
- Adjustable Velcro strap
- One size fits all
- delicate wash
Its unisex design features a one-size-fits-all fit that conforms anatomically to the knee via a Velcro fastener. It is ideal for runners and its internal padding offers greater comfort, without losing efficiency in the compression and adjustment of the joint. Its fabric is breathable, but in some cases the odour does not disappear after washing.
- Sizes: One size fits all
- Colours: Red
- Material: Breathable
- No. of Products: Single
- Type: Velcro strap
- Adjustable Velcro strap
- Good compression
- No material specified
The knee strap is suitable for use by both men and women and adjusts by means of a Velcro strap that generates the correct pressure to align the joint. The seams and its internal materials do not irritate the skin, making it a useful strap to prevent injuries. Keep in mind that, compared to other supports, this patellar compressor may generate less compression than desired.
Video: Knee joint anatomy
Types of knee braces you should know about
What is patellar chondromalacia and what are its symptoms?
Articular cartilage is a tissue made up of chondrocytes or cells that form a shiny, whitish, hard surface that covers the area of bone that rubs against another bone to form the joint. This tissue is not vascularized, so its nutrition comes from the exchange of oxygen and nutrients, which occurs by osmosis. Corrosion and softening of the cartilage cause patellar chondromalacia.
Patellar chondromalacia, or "patellofemoral pain syndrome," is a condition in which the cartilage that insulates the friction between the patella and femur is worn, cracked, or softened. It is pain at the front of the knee caused by deterioration of the cartilage at the back of the kneecap due to increased pressure.
Numerous causes and risk factors have been identified:
- Sports that involve braking, turning and starting.
- Repetitive physical activities that increase pressure on the kneecap.
- Use of inappropriate footwear.
- Obesity or being overweight.
- Weakening of the leg muscles.
- Structural abnormalities of the kneecap.
- Uneven leg length
- Exaggerated curvature of the spine.
The following signs and symptoms are the most common for this condition:
- Sensitive pain at the front of the knee. It starts gradually and is usually related to physical activity. It worsens when walking on hard surfaces and after climbing stairs.
- Stiffness and difficulty stretching the knee.
- Weakness of the quadriceps, especially the medial vastus.
- Shortening of the posterior muscle chain
- Perceived rubbing and snapping of the kneecap on the femur.
To more accurately diagnose this lesion, it is important to determine the degree of its presence, which can be determined using the following classification:
- Grade 1: Mild pain due to softening of the cartilage. This discomfort is usually caused by posture, physical activity, footwear or weather conditions.
- Grade 2: In this case, the pain becomes more intense due to decreased fibrillation of the cartilage that lasts for a long time. The wear and tear is therefore more evident.
- Grade 3: The surface of the cartilage is cracked, so the pain is more intense and even accompanied by increased inflammation in this area.
- Grade 4: This is the most severe form of patellar chondromalacia, in which the pain in the joint is disabling and permanent. This is due to the fact that it has severe swelling and joint instability at the same time. This is due to the fact that there is a complete loss of cartilage.
Advantages and benefits of knee straps for chondromalacia
In the treatment of chondromalacia of the patella, it is first important to clarify the causes that led to the development of this pathology, as well as to evaluate the symptoms and the results of imaging studies.
To speed up the rehabilitation process, some alternative and non-invasive therapies are recommended to effectively regenerate the function of the affected patella. One of the most commonly recommended therapies is compression therapy, a method based on an elastic garment that applies controlled pressure to the injured body part to normalize the function of the vascular wall, improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and protect the area.
Compression knee sleeves or patella straps are recommended because they provide the following benefits:
- Relieves knee pain: it stabilizes the joint and avoids the constant movement that can cause pain.
- Reduces inflammation: Proper support can improve blood circulation in the knee, so that existing swelling disappears.
- Speeds up the recovery process: Knee braces are useful for minimizing fatigue caused by the change and helping to restore function.
- It provides protection to the affected knee: it prevents possible relapses or aggravations and also helps prevent other, more serious conditions of the joint or its adjacent parts.
- Ensures comfort and safety: by using this compression garment, the patient feels safer in all movements and physical activities involving his knee.
- Increases performance: once the discomfort is relieved, these compression devices allow for improved performance as they optimize the distribution of body loads. It is therefore ideal for athletes and women.