Thoughts on Knee Braces

[jaro51]

So I bought a pair of Asterix knee braces last year as preventative care. I wear them religiously but am curious to get some opinions on knee braces from other folks. I've never seriously injured my knees and want to keep them as healthy as possibly, that's why I bought them and wear them. But, I've found lately that my knees are quite sore after riding MX and wonder if I've created more problems for myself by wearing them rather than taking my chances without. So, a few questions:

Are the Asterix braces junk and I'd be better off without them?
Is my knee pain due to poor fitting braces?
Will me knee strength and stability be reduced wearing the braces? (the theory goes that the braces isolate some supporting elements of the knee and the less you use those ligaments and tendons, the weaker they get
What are the best braces available? CTi seem to be the go to brace but disposable...

 

[robertaccio]

Like anything they need to set up properly. I used Asterisk for a long time and they were great, just some chafing from time to time. I use POD mx now because I got a stud deal on them and my Asterisks were beat beyond repair. Ive been using the full length sock,stocking type deals and am happy with those as well. You can call Asterisk tech line and they will be super helpful to get you sorted out as best as you can be. They are supe good in customer service. RN

 

[ghte]

I just wear knee guards. I swear by them and will not ride without them. Quality braces would be better again imho. A recent ride on a fire trail I was doing 40mph and came around a corner and a freaking great big gum tree was across the track. Two choices, hit it or slide. I chose to slide. My riding duds were shredded but my guards took all of the hit and not a scratch for me. I know I would have really hurt my knee without the guards.

 

[2whlrcr]

I have Asteriks. I bought them after I hyper extended a knee. I have ridden for many decades without braces and decided it was time. The man who designed the CTi's, is the same person who designed the Asteriks. I would be tough to find a better brace.

I don't rely on riding for my fitness and strength. Lots of cycling, skiing and some gym work for me. If you are losing strength, you need to supplement your riding.

 

[Xcuvator]

I read a fairly long article written by a sports doctor. It was some time ago, but the doctors bottom line was that you will be inviting other serious leg damage when wearing knee braces. I believe he went so far as to say "broken femur".
His conclusion was that if you have had a serious knee injury in the past, wearing the brace to protect it, is a good idea. Otherwise he didn't recommend them for healthy legs.

I wish I had a link to the article.

 

[ioneater]

I view these things as a risk assessment. What's the risk, what's the probability of the risk, what can be done to mitigate the risk. Knee braces seem to be for folks that have a known weakness or previous injury to prevent further injury or augment a repair of some sort. Ideally, we'd need no protection at all.

Why should I wear a neck brace riding the way I do? Why should I wear off road boots vs. high ankled Rockies? Why should I wear gloves? Why should I wear a pressure suit? Why should I wear knee guards? Why should I wear a helmet? These are mostly rhetorical questions but applicable to many.

 

[jtemple]

Being new to DS riding, I just recently bought up a bunch of MX gear. Asterisks were part of the purchase. So far, I've only worn them for about half a day to test them out. Today, they will get their first dirt ride. You can tether them to your boots, essentially making your leg one piece from the femur down to your toes. I chose not to use the tether.

A good friend of mine recently severed his ACL on his brand new KLR. He was done riding for the year before he even got 500 miles on his brand new bike.

Last year, my mom severed all 4 ligament bundles in her left knee and can hardly walk to this day. She did that riding a 90cc scooter. If she re-injures that knee, the doctor says she'll never walk again. When she was in the accident, the doctor told her she would have been better off with a broken leg.

I do a LOT of physical training, including heavy weight training and pretty intense cardio. A few years ago, I was 275 lbs and a blubbery mess. I transformed my life with good old diet and exercise. Today, I just weighed in this morning at 187 and about 13-15% bodyfat.

I can't afford to blow out a knee. It would completely ruin my lifestyle. I'll take my chances with a broken leg.

 

[fury1]

there are many thoughts on whether a brace does more damage than help,I too blew out an ACL in 2006 and then was prescribed a very nice CTI brace,but as I began my therapy the sports doc told me I shouldnt wear it riding,in his opinion it was like walking with a crutch. I wore it for a short while,but have ridden the last few years without it and wont go back to it after reading a lengthy article written by a texas sports doctor. in the article he explains that while a brace may prevent acl damage,there has been no proven facts it in fact will prevent a ligament damage,instead may contribute to a nice broken femur due to the increased pressure while wearing a brace in a fall or crash,which as you all know is very dangerous due to having a potential major artery severing in your leg,as opposed to having your leg ligaments fail as designed in your body makeup,its entirely up to the individual whether to wear them or not, i personally just use knee guards and will take the chance of ligament damage again instead of a badly broken leg,do your research and then do what suits your needs best

 

[demi]

I have a compromised left knee and a repaired, then torn again right knee....so,knee braces all the way, I will take my chances with a broken leg. the few times I play around without them, it alters my style and makes me afraid to plant my leg out and stuff...I have bailed pretty hard over some doubles and I came away unscathed. No false sense of security, just a little peace of mind.

 

[Up-tite]

It's all about rolling the dice. Do it enough times it's going to happen. What do I mean by this? Simple throw a leg over a MC enough times your going to crash or tip over how you come away from it is called Luck. We have all seen it many times some one has horendous crash total yard sale for the equipment and the rider or driver just gets up and walks away untouched(luck). Then we have a simple 2 mph or less tip over and happen to come away with something broken,twisted ,sprained,dislocated just Jacked up( Unlucky).
So the question is how to prepare for this 1st is the best Helmet you can get,2nd goggles that protect the eyes and can see out of and are not so they distract from vision, 3rd boots that you have protection and you have control of( some are like putting on blocks of cement).4th knee cap to top of boot protection. 5th gloves. To me these are the most important. Riding pants and jersey are for abrasion protection and looking the part. If you ride within your limits meaning skill level and common sence you will know what you need. See riders all the time so armoured up they can't even move so how can they remain fluid and have the feel for the MC and what their inputs are to it and feel the reactions to thoes inputs.
It's a personal thing if thats what you feel is going to help you then by all means do it, just don't because some one else does.

Running out of talent is what hurts you every time. Can't gear up for that.
Later George

 

[MOTORHEAD]

My knees would bother me for a few days after long 2+ hour races, so I began to look at knee braces. I know these aren't as good as the top of the line stuff, but I didn't want to invest in an expensive pair until I knew I'd be able to ride in braces. But, I've been using a pair of EVS SX1 braces for the past couple of years with good results.

I've gone riding a few times without them when it was really hot and my knees would hurt and be sore after the ride. I don't have that problem when I use them. Pretty simple.

I have yet to invest in a better pair, simply because these are doing the job and I really don't notice them when I'm riding. When they wear out I may look at some high end braces, but for now these are doing the trick for way less money.

Why mess with something that's working ?

 

[glangston]

I read a fairly long article written by a sports doctor. It was some time ago, but the doctors bottom line was that you will be inviting other serious leg damage when wearing knee braces. I believe he went so far as to say "broken femur".
His conclusion was that if you have had a serious knee injury in the past, wearing the brace to protect it, is a good idea. Otherwise he didn't recommend them for healthy legs.

I wish I had a link to the article.

This reminds me of some advice I heard about using 4 wheel drive. You use it to get OUT OF TROUBLE, not get into trouble.

 

[sharpie1]

there are many thoughts on whether a brace does more damage than help,I too blew out an ACL in 2006 and then was prescribed a very nice CTI brace,but as I began my therapy the sports doc told me I shouldnt wear it riding,in his opinion it was like walking with a crutch. I wore it for a short while,but have ridden the last few years without it and wont go back to it after reading a lengthy article written by a texas sports doctor. in the article he explains that while a brace may prevent acl damage,there has been no proven facts it in fact will prevent a ligament damage,instead may contribute to a nice broken femur due to the increased pressure while wearing a brace in a fall or crash,which as you all know is very dangerous due to having a potential major artery severing in your leg,as opposed to having your leg ligaments fail as designed in your body makeup,its entirely up to the individual whether to wear them or not, i personally just use knee guards and will take the chance of ligament damage again instead of a badly broken leg,do your research and then do what suits your needs best

I'm right there with you and agree 100%. I tore my right ACL and wore a CTi brace for a year before having it fixed, I probably rode another year after surgery with the brace but now only wear knee pads. The type of stuff I like to ride is sometimes very remote, I figure I can always still get out myself with torn ligaments but with a severed artery in the middle of nowhere your pretty much a dead man.

 

[krieg]

It's interesting that a similar debate rages about neck braces. Some claim they result in broken collar bones even in crashes where the neck would not have been in any danger. I'm old enough to remember my parents arguing about seat belts. You know seat belts wrinkle your clothes and prevent you from being thrown out of the car, in the clear, during an accident... right? Then, later, airbags. "They'll break bones in your face!"...

Damn that 'ole, pesky safety equipment!

I dress for the crash. I dress my kid for the crash too. Funny how you never see the data that the "doctors" quoted these posts rely on to back up their opinions. Unless a doctor is an avid rider, or has mountains of published data to support his/her opinions about riding gear... I'll continue to dress for the crash.

 

[fury1]

long read,but may change some of your minds about knee barces and whether to wear them or not

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300617&highlight=knee+braces

 

[krieg]

long read,but may change some of your minds about knee barces and whether to wear them or not

http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300617&highlight=knee+braces

Yeah, long read, and some posts by somebody claiming to be a doctor. But not a single shred of substantive data. Take a look at how many times the "doctor" says "I think"...

Data. It's the foundation of science and the death knell of speculation.

 

[fury1]

he is a real "doctor" and a very good one as well,heres is his personal site if you want to check it out

http://www.sandersclinic.net/

 

[krieg]

he is a real "doctor" and a very good one as well,heres is his personal site if you want to check it out

http://www.sandersclinic.net/

Now you're on to something. I took part in a year-long survey that Sanders conducted on knee braces back in 2009. I submitted weekly reports on me and Cody about our knee braces and our injuries sustained (or not sustained) while riding with (or without) the braces. Now I gotta dig through his website to see what the actuall, data supported, outcome of that study was.

 

[jaro51]

Great discussion all, thanks! Keep the opinions coming. I'm an adiv believer in protective gear, I probably fall into Georges category of over armoured and limit my mobility on the bike because of it. I also have a neck brace (Alpinestars since it is designed to NOT break your collar bone) and wear a full Dainese body armour suit. But I can't help but think that the knee braces are not fitted correctly and are having a negative effect during long rides. I'll try riding without them on Wed for comparison. I'll be curious to see how much it affects my riding physically and mentally. I'm such a gear freak I bet I wont feel comfortable riding without the braces.

And I need to call Asterix and get the low down from them on proper fitting. I suspect mine are too small.

 

[kashlak]

Heres my 2 cents! On Memorial weekend the club i belong to was setting up a hare scramble course. Me and another guy were running the course not really at race speed but at a decent pace. Comming down a hill with a right hand turn at the bottom my front end washed out. When i was goin down i felt my knee pop. I was laying on the groumd and able to move my leg so decided to stand up! Bad idea! My leg buckeled as i took 1 step. Ended up being carried out. Went to the ER for MRI and had torn my MCL, ACL and fractured my Tibia.
It wasnt a bad wreck and didnt seem like alot of pressure for the injury.
I think if i were wearing braces i may have been ok. Im not sure but i think it takes more pressure to break bones then to tear ligaments.
once im back to work im getting my Asterisks and wont ride without them!