Customer Reviews

Imak Knee Strap with ErgoBead Pressure Pad - #30137

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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...

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.

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!

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?

My knee pain is gone after wearing this strap. It is easy to place on the knee and the cost makes this a great buy. Was worried about the quality from some of the reviews, but so far I have no issues with this strap. About to purchase another so if this one is dirty I will have one to wear.

I am not impressed. My son wore this strap 4 times and the small gel beads are falling out of a hole that has already worn through. I expected it to at least last a basketball season instead of a few weeks.

Purchased product and one of the straps became detached on the FIRST use. That's not acceptable. It also is very uncomfortable and does not stay in place very well.

So I was suffering from ITBS for weeks and I didin't know what to do. I tried other bands but they didn't work. Actually, even though I love this one, I have to say that none of them indicates that you must put the hard part, or the therapeutic part directly on the site of pain for ITBS. I'm assuming it would be the same for other tendon issues like patellar tendonitis, I'm exactly not sure. But with my continued therapy of foam rolling and stretching, and continued use of the band...and with not overdoing my runs, I can run again what ever distance I choose. I did take time of though initally, about two weeks in full. But it was the band that allowed me to get back out there and the other stuff that's helping me to stay out there. ITBS is just a mess, you have to be willing to try many things if you want to, unfortunately for some still that is no running at all.

I recently purchased a knee brace that wouldn't stay in place during workouts. I was just about to order a tres cher custom fitted brace, when I remembered I'd bought this strap last year. At that time, my knees needed more help than this strap was designed to give. Now that I'm much farther along in the healing process, this strap is just what I need. I had overstretched ligaments and now (thanks to prolotherapy), most of them are healed. I still have some issues with the lateral collateral ligament and the medial collateral ligament in both knees. So, instead of using this strap to support my knee cap (with the padded part directly below the knee cap), I put the padded part directly over the lateral collateral ligament joint (outer part of the knee). That does the trick! It helps prevent re-injuring my ligaments. I feel much less pain while working out, my knee cap is left to move freely and do its thing, and I don't have to focus on not hurting myself as I work out. I use two straps: one for each knee.

I love that the strap is almost infinitely adjustable. It has two Velcro tabs: one to secure the strap in place and the other to adjust compression. And the entire circumference of the strap is stickable, making it adjustable for every size knee. It's great! And it stays put. I just had an intense session on the elliptical machine and the straps didn't budge. And they were comfortable. Before the workout session, I'd walked around home with the straps on. They stayed in place then, too.

In addition to being well designed, this strap is well constructed. The fabric is soft and comfortable. The tabs are smaller than the rest of the strap, so they Velcro nicely without scratching your skin. The stitching is tight. What more can I say. Well designed. Well constructed. Great price.