No more knee pain - thanks to 'miracle' knee supports"

AVE SIMMONS, a roofer from Bristol was crippled with arthritis in his knees but now, thanks to a simple device, his knee pain has completely gone.

- Report by SAMANTHA PRIESTLY

When I met with Dave, it was hard to believe that just over three months ago he walked with a stick.

Dave is very hands on in his roofing business, there is no directing from the sidelines. It is clear that he likes to be involved in everything, from unloading materials, going up and down ladders, constantly on the go.

I asked Dave what had caused his knee problems?

"I think it's due to working through long cold winters and some old injuries from when I used to play football," the 54-year-old told me. "Then, about 18 months ago, I started to get pain and inflammation first thing in the morning that got worse throughout the day. Some days it was agony, so much so that I struggled to walk properly."

Dave saw a specialist who told him that he had osteoarthritis in both his knees and it was vital he needed to change his lifestyle so that he didn't do any more damage.

"Considering my job as a roofer, that would have meant giving up working and taking it easy for the rest of my life. That was not something I would consider - I love the physical side of my job and I've spent 17 years building my business - I wasn't ready to give it up, but I had no choice.

"I tried all the usual anti-inflammatories."