Specialized outdoor apparel supports achy joints

The manufacturer's claims left me skeptical. Shirts and tights that not only supported achy joints but relieved fatigue and strengthened muscles? So I enlisted one of my regular gear testers, Chris Bloomquist of Winthrop, to join me in field testing the Opedix Posture Shirt and Running Tights.

Chris has been skiing hard and fast most of his 50-plus years, and that, combined with his career as a general contractor, has left him with knees that ache and grind.

I, meanwhile, live with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that attacks joints and connective tissue, leaving them inflamed and achy. Most of my RA flare-ups occur in my shoulders, elbow, knees and hands.

Throughout the winter and earlier spring, we wear-tested the Opedix baselayers. Chris hiked and mountain-biked through the Methow Valley, while I skied at Crystal Mountain, snowshoed on Rainier, hiked the Olympic Coast, and biked the Orting Valley.

Through days of testing, we both can report that the apparel does work. Chris said his chronically troublesome knee felt better after a day on the trails than it has in years. He focused on the Opedix Running Tights, though the company offers a heavier version for skiers.

The tights feature a patented "Knee Support System" that utilizes a proprietary non-stretch fabric wrapped in bands around the knee, keeping the joint properly aligned without restricting the movement of the knee cap. It acts like a brace, without the bulk or limits on movement.

For my part, I found the Posture Shirt more useful for my aches and pains. With my shoulders so stiff at times that I can't raise my arms over my head, I was a hard tester to please.

The shirt takes some getting used to since it does need to be very snug — I felt a bit like I was wearing a sausage casing! But the banding and support structures built into the shirt did their job.

The Posture Shirt helped keep my shoulders back, and by compressing my deltoids and lats, the shirt relieved muscle pains and aches.

I found that I could carry a heavy pack all day and feel better at the end of the trail than I have in years. In fact, I found wearing the shirt beneficial when working on long writing projects, too, since it improves posture and prevents slouching. No more hunching over my keyboard, so no more stiff lower back!

Whether the products will work for everyone is hard to say, but our tests supported the manufacturer's claims to a large degree.

Folks who suffer stiff joints or aching backs and shoulders might consider the Opedix line. Available in men's and women's sizes, the standard short-sleeved Posture Shirt runs $99.95, while the Running Tights sell for $190.

More information at www.opedix.com.