Adjustable knee stabilizer

An adjustable knee stabilizer, comprising:

• a laminate body having a center portion, opposing lateral ends, and opposing top and bottom edges, the center portion defining a patellar opening and a pair of collapsible openings proximate one of the lateral ends, the body comprising an inner layer, a neoprene middle layer, and a loop material outer layer;
• a pair of integrated straps spaced apart and extending from one of the lateral ends of the body, the pair of integrated straps including an upper and a lower strap, each strap having a distal end with a hook material tab attached thereto, the upper strap adapted for wrapping around a wearer's leg and being positioned above the patellar opening in use, and the lower strap adapted for wrapping around a wearer's leg and being positioned below the patellar opening in use such that the hook material tabs releasably attach the upper and lower straps to the body to maintain tightness of the knee stabilizer about the wearer's leg;
• a middle strap affixed to the body and extending therefrom opposite the pair of integrated straps, the middle strap having a distal end with a hook material tab attached thereto and adapted for wrapping behind a wearer's knee and being positioned opposite the patellar opening in use such that the patellar opening is exposed;
• and
• a plurality of opposing stay covers attached to an outer surface of the body, each stay cover encapsulating at least one flexible stay that is adapted for resiliently bending with a wearer's knee, the stay covers having a loop material outer surface adapted for receiving the hook material tabs.

A method of manufacturing an adjustable knee stabilizer, comprising:

• providing a flexible sheet of laminate material having at least a neoprene layer;
• cutting a body of the knee stabilizer from the flexible sheet, the body portion defining a patellar opening and having a flat lateral end and opposing top and bottom edges, the body extending into a pair of integral straps opposite the flat lateral end that define a gap therebetween;
• securing at least one flexible stay to a lateral and medial side of the patellar opening;
• and
• affixing a middle strap to the body such that the middle strap extends from the body opposite the pair of integral straps and positioned across the body from the gap defined by the integral straps.