OTC Wrist Brace, Molded Exoskeleton, Low-Profile, Exolite, Large

I wear a wrist-brace daily and basically the entire time I am at work. I've tried MANY. I like this one because it is easy to adjust, is "comfortable" (it IS a brace!), is light-weight and open. Depending on the season (and office temps), a brace can get "hot and sweaty" but this is the lightest one I've found that does the job. It is study and I generally get 18 months Plus usage. Sometimes the palm portion gets "smelly" but I have rinsed it under cold water (with a little hand soap) and it's good. Generally I buy a new one when the padding starts to come up or, with the last one, the cross-piece cracked.

I received both the left and right wrist brace and my insurance provider reimbursed my because my doctor wrote the DME (durable medical equipment) prescription. It's something you have to submit to your claims department on your own and if you are covered, like me, they pay 100%. You would have to check with your own provider since I can't say if this is covered under Obama care, Medicare, or Medicaid. It doesn't really matter much though because this product is great for the price. I'm writing my review because I have had this product for over 1 year, use them almost daily, they are low-profile, sturdy, durable and I continue to get great support. Over the past year I have totally abused my wrist braces at work for typing, painting the inside of my home, and daily when I work out at the YMCA. These are especially good for my medical condition and protect me when I am doing Yoga floor moves, pushups, you name it, these have saved me from having more pain and allowed me to do more and have a better quality of life. This product is adjustable at the hand and at the arm where the straps attach so you can get a more custom fit. of the exoskeleton. The inside is made of a neoprene and it is also adjustable, meaning you can move it around if there are spots where the exoskeleton may rub. All hands are different and having the options to make adjustments is a great plus!

Years ago, I bought these in size medium since they were on sale locally and I was right on the border between small and medium. They held up very well through the years, but really were too big. I finally broke the thumb strap on the right hand when I was digging and pulling out the roots of a 25' tall pine tree that had been removed, but the guys didn't grind out all the roots. I'd say that the straps were plenty sturdy. I think the people who comment on them braking easily probably had them adjusted too tightly. Small works much better for me. The mold of the palm surface fits me very well and is very comforting to my aching wrists. Also, they're fairly cool because of the open design. I hate to admit that I never knew I could remove the lining to wash them. I only just saw that when I was reading the other reviews! They were getting pretty darn stinky. So far these are my very favorite braces for work or sleep.

The truth is, I like this product. Or rather, I like what it's supposed to be. There are several major flaws with it. 1] it's not "low profile". in fact it has a larger profile than most braces. Why? Because the top part doesn't sit on the hand. It actually sticks out more (even tightening it to keep it down, at which point you're literally cutting into your own wrist, doesn't really keep it flush against your hand). 2] the biggest flaw, IMO, is the velcro strap designed to help keep it against your forearm. It's that black strap at the bottom in the product image above. See, the other two straps (the one up at the top for your hand, and the one on your forearm on the other side (you can see them in the back of the image) have an adjustable hook and loop closure. It's a very good design too, as it stays secure (and doesn't slide/loosen too easily). But that velcro part is, for some reason, supposed to go through a little hole in the plastic of the brace. The actual piece was broken when I got it. It is TINY. Literally, where it connects to the main part of the brace, it's barely 1mm thick. Yes, millimeter. It's so poorly engineered, it's sad. And to clarify a bit of what I mentioned in the first issue, the actual length from the wrist to the top of the hand part (upper part of the brace) is longer than most off the shelf braces (hence why it actually sticks up). The inner cushion is rather nice, and again there could be some workarounds, IF that velcro issue wasn't so glaring and "design killing". All they had to do was make that slot for the velcro about a half inch further in, and this would have been a passable brace for light duty support.

I got this brace for my carpal tunnel, and I wear it over a thumb stabilizer brace. My job requires us to work with gloves on. Even though I had to go up 2 glove sizes, my carpal tunnel and trigger finger pain has almost ceased to exist. Total game changer for anyone with it. The fit is completely adjustable which is great and it has lasted for good bit with working 6 days a week the last 2 months. It’s still going strong. It’s not bulky like some others. If I could change anything about it. I would try to incorporate the thumb stabilizer into it. But overall I would definitely recommend!

Neither this product or the Ossur product have any branding on the brace itself, but the braces are exactly the same product. The OTC one cost $5 more, came in a different box, and did not have any instructions, while the Ossur came with an instruction pamphlet. An easy way to save $5!I have been using an Ossur brace for years and am mostly happy with it. It is the least intrusive brace I have found to wear at night, and my carpal tunnel is slowly getting better, although slower than I would like. So far I have avoided surgery, which is a big plus.

I had multiple wrist surgeries and was advised to wear a brace, but with it being summer we do alot of water activities so I needed something waterproof. This works amazing and gives me support while also being waterproof and dries fast once wet!