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Leg Braces: Necessary support or unfair advantage?

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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10

I know there has been some threads about knee braces and which ones are best but i aint seen any on this angle (and im a silent newb) so i thought i would throw it out in here.

Seeing a few of the pros rocking double knee supports in some films and edits this year got me thinking.

Do they wear them because they have previously blown their knees out and need the support?

Or do they wear them because it gives them more confidence to go big, twist more and generally put their legs through more abuse whilst reducing the chance of injury?

I mean most of these guys are tuned athletes whos legs are tree trunks, its not like they have weak knees or anything.

Let me know what you think, is it an unfair advantage??


Apr 17 2009 1:06PM
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JCsteezy
Posts: 758 - Karma: 211
that like saying skiing pow with rockered skis is an unfair advantage. Its not unfair, it just makes going bigger easier and safer knee bracces. but maybe there is a reoccuring injury that some guys have. Definatly not unfiar though
Apr 17 2009 1:10PM
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Bagels
Posts: 1022 - Karma: 1,306
Really?  Hahahaha.  Really?
Apr 17 2009 1:10PM
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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10
True its not unfair because anyone can use them. Do you think alot of pros now use them in fear of injury..
Apr 17 2009 1:12PM
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BobYohan
Posts: 3001 - Karma: 375
i'm not sure what you mean by unfair advantage, but i'm going to go ahead and say no.  i do think that concealed armor sometimes misrepresents what the pros are doing though, like a kid seeing a pro backslap a huge drop in less than perfect pow might not know that he is wearing a spine protector and think its safe to do the same.
Apr 17 2009 1:14PM
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SLEEVES
Posts: 85 - Karma: 123
haha i dont think anyone wants to blow their knee let alone wear a knee brace its just something to keep them able to do something they love
Apr 17 2009 1:19PM
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LoLo913
Posts: 600 - Karma: 29
braces won't keep you from tearing your ACL, they can't prevent the twisting movement that causes most tears
Apr 17 2009 1:25PM
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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10
So what do they do? I saw two of the dudes wearing the in the new Nimbus edit.
Apr 17 2009 1:29PM
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adonisk
Posts: 27 - Karma: 11
after mentioning the unfairness, i think its only unfair if u dont need the brace. if u need it then use it. if ur fine and trying to prevent hurtness, then u have an issue...
Apr 17 2009 1:31PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Slight mental protection after an injury. If you fall again where you're going to hurt your knee, a brace won't help anything.
Apr 17 2009 2:06PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
like she said, they help to prevent some of those twisting movements, but it can't protect you 100 percent of the time. if you go down hard, you will still hurt yourself, but some people do it when it's not a hard fall, and the braces will make it less likely that you will hurt it in those instances.

They really can't prevent it all the time, it just helps. Lots of people wear them for support because otherwise they have pain from previous knee injuries. Other people wear them because it helps mentally. some people, even after injury, refuse to wear them because they think it's a crutch that makes your leg not rely on itself, therefore making it weaker, therefore making it more likely to hurt yourself again.
Apr 17 2009 2:07PM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,687
saying its unfair to use a leg brace is like saying its unfair to use a helmet.
Apr 17 2009 2:14PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
They prevent injury...


Are racecar drivers cheatong if they have a roll cage? what about seatbelts?
Apr 17 2009 2:36PM
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Beach
Posts: 237 - Karma: 26
Since they don't actually make you technically any better, if anything are more of an inconvenience, I don't see how they could be an advantage. Rockered skis would be way more of an advantage, but since they are available to anyone, no.
Apr 17 2009 2:43PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
thats because half your tricks involve your knee+box.
Apr 17 2009 2:43PM
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noj1080
Posts: 355 - Karma: 69
Knee braces suck.  I am not looking forward to wearing one, I had an acl replacement this winter and have been told by my therapist that I will most likely have to wear one for the next year.  He said it is more for a mental reminder of my injury than anything else as it will not prevent injury from happening again.  But it will provide some added support while my knee is coming back to 110%.  After you heal, if you do all your pt and hit the gym hard, you will be back to skiing with out a brace again where your legs will be able to function as they are suposed to with out extra pounds of metal around your knee
Apr 17 2009 2:50PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
That's a really great point.  I'd like to see some of the pros step up and share info on some of the safety gear they wear.  I'm getting tired of seeing so many kids being pulled out of the parks with neck and back injuries.  I know it's always going to happen, but NS is the perfect way to get the word out about good safety gear.  If one kid gets up and walks away from something because he/she got a tip from a pro about a piece of armor that saved their butts, that would be very worthwhile.  Yeah "searchbar"!  Right, but I don't think there has been a thread out there where the pros talk about the stuff that they wear that keeps them healthy.  Spread the love guys, and hopefully it will rub off on some of the up and comers.  It will also make your sponsors happy.
Apr 17 2009 3:01PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
This
Apr 17 2009 3:07PM
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AEROPLAEHN
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 192
^ the truth
Apr 17 2009 3:16PM
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Abc567def
Posts: 8756 - Karma: 801
Both of my knees are pretty shot, and i have to wear 2 knee braces right now. I don't see it as unfair if someone that doesn't need it uses it. I just see it as they trying to prevent themselves from getting in the position im in.
Apr 17 2009 3:31PM
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Gharf
Posts: 1390 - Karma: 983

this man has it.
Apr 17 2009 3:52PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
This is fucking stupid. There's nothing wrong with doing whatever you can to prevent an injury. It's not like wearing two knee braces is gonna make you ridiculous at skiing.
Apr 17 2009 3:59PM
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bdieter1d3
Posts: 279 - Karma: 15
Braces do different thinks for each joint. The way most knee braces are designed only control the amount of flexion and extension that the knee can perform they can keep you from hyperextension which can result in dislocated knees and ligament damage. The lateral movement of the knee is slightly inhibited but wearing the braces to prevent a twisting injury. knee braces do not really work the same way an ankle brace can help you keep your twisting an ankle, the joints are completely different mechanisms. my guess would be that the pros that wear braces have had previous injuries and are using them for support. Now wrapping your knee can help but once again that doesn't prevent injury.
Apr 17 2009 4:48PM
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sconniestyle
Posts: 3945 - Karma: 26

it looks to me like these would be a DISadvantage

[img]http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1672/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1672R-3317.jpg[/img

but then again...

[img]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YZNr%2B3GBL._SL500_AA240_.jpg[/img]

Apr 17 2009 6:01PM
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sconniestyle
Posts: 3945 - Karma: 26

FAIL. oops. sorry.

it looks to me like these would be a DISadvantage

Click for larger image

but then again...

Click for larger image

Apr 17 2009 6:05PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
It might be, I don't know. I was just saying that the logic of that comment was dumb. There's nothing wrong with trying to prevent an injury.
Apr 17 2009 6:18PM
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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10
If you wear a brace all the time for skiing then your knee is bound to weaken.

However, if you work out in the gym all the time and have tanks for legs/ligaments/cartalige (i.e.legs made of steel!) then surely wearing a knee brace will only make 'em stronger. Thats what im thinking and i reacon thats what the pros are thinking.

These guys are the best and want to remain pro! So wearing braces will enable progression.
Apr 17 2009 6:56PM
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tommyp1ckles
Posts: 1337 - Karma: 55
qft
Apr 17 2009 7:04PM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
Good post here. post-op ACL braces are only really to prevent hyper-extension and over flexion of your knee, really only useful in the recovery/rehab phase. After rehab is complete and strength is back to 100% the brace is really only for mental reassurance (i ditched my brace ASAP).

Many offensive linemen in the NCAA wear braces to protect their joints from the collisions, twisting, and hyper extending that goes on in the trenches (protecting future assets for some). I imagine many pros wear them for the same reason. There are a lot of lightweight, small knee braces designed specifically for added protection rather than post-op protection, but they more or less do the same thing.

I think of it this way: If I were hitting a 120 foot cliff where I could potentially tear my knees, break my back, etc... I would want to protect my assets, ESPECIALLY if I were under contract.
Apr 17 2009 7:21PM
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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10
TRUE DAT BLUD! If i were a pro then i would want to keep my livelyhood alive.




Apr 17 2009 7:32PM
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Ahmets_Brother
Posts: 20283 - Karma: 5,931
I'll take what help i can get... my left knee can't even come close to supporting my body weight when its bent like 120 (if 180 is standing upright). gives out. just something inside is no good
Apr 17 2009 11:01PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Risk minimisation
Apr 17 2009 11:07PM
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.SimonB.
Posts: 1959 - Karma: 713
look at Forest Gump, he became fast as hell after he got his braces off, maybe the pros will be able to stomp 500' cliffs! lol
Apr 17 2009 11:31PM
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Vinci
Posts: 701 - Karma: 1,472
talking about unfair... heard some people are useing skis which allows them to ski backwards!!1!
Apr 18 2009 10:31AM
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Liveezy
Posts: 79 - Karma: 10
So are there and pros around that would like to share their thoughts and experiences with knee braces..?
Apr 18 2009 5:39PM
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gr4
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 945
for sure. on my team every o-lineman and d-lineman is required to wear two knee braces.
Apr 18 2009 6:18PM
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Nadia.
Posts: 1124 - Karma: 1,104
Braces are bulky and limit range of motion, how is that an advantage? Just hit the gym, do some cross-training.
Apr 18 2009 7:36PM
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