knee bracing

[team50 20]

It appears that after suffering an "acute Knee injury," which likely means I have stretched or partially torn knee ligaments (waiting for an MRI), my doctor has recommended a cage/mechanical knee brace, similar to those pictured in the link.

http://www.donjoy.com/index.asp/fuseaction...ucts.list/cat/1

I see a lot of large football players wearing them, but I don't particulary want to look or move like a robot. Donjoy apparently makes a low profile and lightweight brace that will help accomodate hockey equipment. Does anyone here currently wear one of these braces and can comment on their effectiveness for hockey players? Apart from the injury itself, is mobility severly decreased?

[jimmy 194]

It appears that after suffering an "acute Knee injury," which likely means I have stretched or partially torn knee ligaments (waiting for an MRI), my doctor has recommended a cage/mechanical knee brace, similar to those pictured in the link.

http://www.donjoy.com/index.asp/fuseaction...ucts.list/cat/1

I see a lot of large football players wearing them, but I don't particulary want to look or move like a robot. Donjoy apparently makes a low profile and lightweight brace that will help accomodate hockey equipment. Does anyone here currently wear one of these braces and can comment on their effectiveness for hockey players? Apart from the injury itself, is mobility severly decreased?

Unfortunately I'm an "expert" on knee braces, :( 5 years ago, ripped a MCL on one leg, then a few month later, ACL and MCL on the other. Been wearing Donjoys to hold my knees together ever since. The MCL's healed, but the partial ACL tear is still there. At my age, I figured I'd be quiting hockey, so didn't opt for surgery. Long story short, the DOnjoy works excellent holding the knee together. I've found that you have to use stretch tape over the socks to help hold it securely, because it will loosen up and move around, but other than that, two thumbs up. I'm luckey, my insurance paid for them, they are not cheap, $1000 or so plus fitting fees.

[team50 20]

We are lucky to have insurance--my quote is $1550cdn, all in.

Jimmy: any problems fitting shin pads over the brace? The sample braces looked a little bulky and kind of wide at the knee hinge.

[EBondo 237]

I use a DonJoy knee brace for my knee. It's not like that, but it's a wraparound brace. It's kind of bulky, but extremely mobile. It's helped out a lot.

[Hobbes_86 0]

I use the Custom Defiance 3 due to an ACL injury. I wear it for hockey, snowboarding and trail running. The fit is great and I havent noticed it slowing me down at all. I did have some problems getting my old CCM Tacks shinguards to fit right so I now wear RBK 6K's. I like how the suspension strapping system fits with the brace.

I had part of my patellar tendon 'harvested' to reconstruct the ACL, due to that I have some tenderness just below the kneecap. With the 6k's I feel confident to mix it up in front of the net...I don't have any swelling issues that I previously had with the older pads when I would get tripped up.

[chrisg19 5]

Like some of the others here, I also consider myself an expert on knee bracing. I tore my ACL's in both knees, and am actually in the recouping stage from two surgerys to repair them. I tore the first one when I was 18, and never got it fixed, I tore the second one about a year ago, and after playing hockey and everything else on it for a few months decided to bite the bullet, and have them both done. The wait to get back on the ice is hard, but I hope it will be worth it in the end.

As to the bracing, I was prescribed a custom Donjoy Defiance about 8 years ago, for my right knee. It worked very well and was unnoticeable for hockey, but I also ride Motocross, and it would interfere with the gas tank, and radiator shrouds, so I bought a Donjoy Armor brace, and found that I liked it even better, than the custom. For hockey it is not at all noticeable, and it is slim enough to go under shin pads with ease. After hurting the second knee, I picked up a second Armor brace, and played for several months with two braces before getting them fixed. There was no problems with either of them, and I can honestly say once skating I never even knew either was there. As for mobility, I never felt the braces limited me in any way for hockey.

Good luck, but I wouldn't hesitate to get braced up, and would recomend the Donjoy Armors.

Chris

[fatwabbit 93]

I've been on a few knee braces in the past (kinda like a list of hockey equipment eh??). Tore my left ACL in 96, and Grade 2 strained MCL in 02.

- Innovation Sports CTi2 - fit well till my muscles bulked up again

- Generation 2 3DX - works well, comfortable but the hinges were real bulky

- Innovation Sports CTi2 Hockey - yes, this knee brace was designed specifically for hockey. I use it for soccer as well, and it is pretty good.

My right knee is starting to act up, and I got a cheaper Innovation Sports C180 for that. WOrks pretty well, low profile so it fits under the pads and everything. All my knee braces have been claimed thru medical reimbursements I had my knees injured in the army, so they cover my medical expenses. I do it this way to prevent the insurance companies loading up my premiums...