Mueller HG80 Hinged Knee Brace Review

 

• Installation / Setup
• Durability
• Maintenance
• Breathability

PROS
– Good relief for irritated kneecap (chondromalacia patella)
– Easy to clean
– Made of breathable Hydracinn material

CONS
– Tends to slip after long periods of use
– Getting the proper size can be tricky
– Won’t fit people with extremely big thighs

4.3Sending

The Mueller HG80 Hinged Knee Brace was designed to help relieve pain related to a condition called chondromalacia patella, which some people call “irritated kneecap syndrome“. This is usually caused by an injury or other factors, where the cartilage under your kneecap (patella) begins to break down. Once it begins to break down, you lose the natural shock absorbing effect. At first it feels like mild irritation under your kneecap and then it becomes more painful over time. People tend to feel it the most when walking up and down stairs. Sometimes rest and ice are all you need to make it go away; however in other cases other treatments are necessary. This is where the Mueller HG80 can help. We hope you find this knee brace review helpful.

The Mueller HG80 hinged knee brace is a slip on brace with straps at the top and bottom which help you secure it as tightly as you need, to make sure it doesn’t slip off during sports or other physical activities. It also has triaxial hinges on both sides, which allows you to bend and flex your knees but also provides medial/lateral (side-to-side) support.

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It is made of an extremely breathable and lightweight material called Hydracinn. (Great option for those who get irritated by the standard latex or neoprene material). Not only is the Hydracinn material comfortable, it also shapes and forms properly around your leg, making it a better fit. Now, Mueller also boasts that the material is antimicrobial so it is supposed to prevent the build-up of bacterial growth and fungus which makes it easier to keep clean. Unfortunately, I have no idea whether that’s accurate or not since I would have to bring it to a lab after a few weeks of not washing it, to see what’s growing on it. I guess we’ll have to take Mueller’s word for it. It is easy to clean though.

What are the downsides to this brace? Like other braces, sometimes it is tricky to get the right size. Even if you follow the measuring chart on Mueller’s site, you might find that it is a little bit too big. Several people have reported this on different forums and they suggest going one size down on their recommendation chart.

Maybe it’s just the shape of my leg, but I found that if I wore it throughout the day, it tended to slip near the end and I had to adjust it again. The Velcro straps help with this, but still a minor inconvenience. So can it be used as a day-to-day brace? I would say no, it’s meant more for times when you really need it. People with big thighs have also commented that even the largest size available doesn’t fit well on them. Something to keep in mind.

Overall Opinion – Great support, however only use it when you need it.

Product Demonstration

 

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What Others Are Saying

“I’ve had ACL and meniscus problems for about 18 years and have worn many braces. This is the best hinged brace I’ve used. I use it for martial arts (striking and grappling) about 5-6x/wk. Freedom of movement is excellent. I feel virtually no restriction as I kick, plant, pivot, grapple, etc. The HydraCinn material allows your skin to breathe and so your knees don’t get so sweaty. It really does what it purports to do. Moisture is wicked away and the anti-microbial aspect keeps it as clean smelling as possible. It’s also easy to wash by hand and drys quickly.” – Amazon

“Without going into the hundreds of dollars you’d pay for the really high end knee braces, I honestly think this is the best you’re going to get. It gives good support, and isn’t horribly uncomfortable to wear at all. The larger sizes seem to be a little harder to come by for guys with “tree trunk legs” like me, but after some shimmying, grunting and pulling I can get it on. Who knows, that’s probably why I get such good support from the thing.” – Amazon

“This is a great brace for the price. The only problem would be the sizing. Before purchasing I tried on other Muller braces in Medium (as this one was not available in stores) and then ordered this one; only to find that it is not a snug fit as the other ones were. I am afraid the Small would be too small, so I will keep this one. For info I am 6″1 and 160Lbs”

Still Not Sure? Read other user reviews here!

Disclaimer – I am not a doctor and I am not qualified to provide medical advice. This review was posted for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Read full disclaimer.