McDavid
Our roots can be traced back to 1969 when Dr. Robert F. McDavid designed and developed what became the first widely used lateral protective knee brace in football.
McDavid has come far from the beginning in 1969. From a basement in Bellwood, IL, to our production facility and global headquarters in Woodridge, IL, we now manufacture and market over 400 different innovative products for athletes and active people of all ages. McDavid is the most widely used and recommended brand of braces among sports medical professionals and the industry leader in sports medical products, technical performance athletic wear and consumer merchandising. Our most recent innovation, HexPad™ Technology, is changing the way athletes wear underclothing by fusing padding to performance fabrics and defining an entire new category we call Protective Apparel.
Our goal today remains: to develop innovative products and technologies to help prevent injury and to enhance performance of athletes and active people of all ages.
1969
Dr. McDavid invents the first widely used protective lateral knee guard.
1980
McDavid Knee Guard, Inc. Is founded and introduces the M-1 series Knee Brace with neoprene wrap.
1985
The A-101 Ankle Guard is introduced.
1986
The introduction of sports medicine's first clamshell packaging for retail display.
1989
The Cowboy Collar, developed to protect football players against bronchial plexus injuries known as 'stingers'.
1991
Intera-treated compression products are introduced.
1996
The 428 Pro Stabilizer: The most technically advanced knee brace available to the retail consumer.
1997
Guardian Ankle. The hinged ankle brace with hyperflexion stops.
1999
The Impact Zone: The industry's first educational merchandising system is introduced. Includes colour coded packaging with coordinated signage and three distinct levels of protection.
2000
Grounding of McDavid Europe: the European headquarters with logistic center.
2001
646R: The technically advanced knee pad with Teflon cover and anatomic shape is introduced.
2002
The introducing of the 2 way elasticated sports supports for knee, ankle, wrist and elbow.
2003
The handball line is launched. These products contain a special Kevlar coating to prevent the pads from burning marks.
2004
Opening of the brand new distribution center of McDavid Europe with a 2000m² warehouse in Olen, Belgium.
2005
McDavid, the world’s leading manufacturer of sports medical products, protective padding and protective athletic wear, continues to innovate the sports medical category with the introduction of three new products. The 189 Ankle X™, the Multi-Action Knee Strap and the Achilles Tendon Strap are all designed to provide maximum protection against sprains and other injuries, while delivering optimum comfort, fit and mobility.
2008
McDavid continues to innovate injury prevention and performance enhancement through its sports medicine and HexPad® line of protective apparel. Today, over 90% of professional basketball teams, 50% of professional football teams, and almost all collegiate teams wear McDavid every time they practice or play the game.
2009
McDavid broadens its reach to other team sports like soccer and lacrosse, as well as action sports like skiing, snowboarding, bmx, motorcross, and mountain biking.
2010
McDavid Europe: 10 years!
McDavid Worldwide: 30 years!
timeline
McDavid
Our roots can be traced back to 1969 when Dr. Robert F. McDavid designed and developed what became the first widely used lateral protective knee brace in football.
McDavid has come far from the beginning in 1969. From a basement in Bellwood, IL, to our production facility and global headquarters in Woodridge, IL, we now manufacture and market over 400 different innovative products for athletes and active people of all ages. McDavid is the most widely used and recommended brand of braces among sports medical professionals and the industry leader in sports medical products, technical performance athletic wear and consumer merchandising. Our most recent innovation, HexPad™ Technology, is changing the way athletes wear underclothing by fusing padding to performance fabrics and defining an entire new category we call Protective Apparel.
Our goal today remains: to develop innovative products and technologies to help prevent injury and to enhance performance of athletes and active people of all ages.
