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Torn ACL--Wearing a Brace when you ski

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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Hey Fellow NSr's,

I know many of you have gone through ACL Reconstruction and I'm wondering when you got back to skiing and when you did, did you start off wearing a knee brace? I had surgery 6 months ago and my doc cleared me for skiing with a brace. Problem is the brace is $600 bucks and I'm broke as shit. I'm wondering if it's best just to take this season off and wait until next year or do you think I would need to wear the brace at the beginning of next season as well? If i would be beneficial for multiple seasons I think I'll buy it, otherwise no skiing for me this year :(

Sparknotes: Once you started skiing after ACL surgery did you wear a brace? If so, how long and when did you get back to skiing?

Thanks
Feb 20 2012 12:37PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,145
I imagine you'll end up wearing some form of a brace (even if it's a non-intrusive wrap of some kind) forever, won't you? At least, that seems like a good idea, at least have some support there.
Feb 20 2012 12:42PM
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,317
I had the ACL surg on june 1st, been skiing with the breg brace since late december. I'm just doing low impact stuff, very few if any spins, just started jumping the other day and it feels great. the brace is essential to any athletic stuff I do, I really suggest getting it (if possible)
Feb 20 2012 12:47PM
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BrightonFridays
Posts: 952 - Karma: 2,314
ive got a don joy and wear it everyday
Feb 20 2012 12:48PM
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lineskier53
Posts: 192 - Karma: 21
I have the don joy hard brace but never end up wearing it. I tried skiing in it a couple times and found that at least for me it didn't do anything other than bother me (had ACL and MCL reconstructed btw). I honestly would say get a good soft brace and take it easy for a bit. Once you get your strength back up in that leg you should be fine skiing without anything at all. I don't use anything and I've been fine in both the park and when I'm coaching in the race course.

This is just my experience though, if you really want to play it safe then get the brace, and it might not bother you as much as it did me. Oh and I know that at least for me the brace was covered by my insurance. So I'd see if it is for you too.
Feb 20 2012 1:11PM
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doitbig
Posts: 4818 - Karma: 315
wore the don joy brace for about 3 runs and never put it back on.  just rehab until it feels stable enough to ski without a brace.
Feb 20 2012 1:28PM
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ski93
Posts: 1280 - Karma: 84
I wear the breg brace on every run. It was annoying at first but now I don't mind it. Kinda makes me feel like a robotic skiing machine
Feb 20 2012 1:35PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,297
I always wear my breg brace, it doesn't really hinder performance in any way so why not wear it? Not trying to go through that whole thing again.
Feb 20 2012 2:44PM
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skibunnie
Posts: 1756 - Karma: 14
I had a custom brace to ski with after surgery. I also skied with it before surgery which was a terrible idea if anyone is considering it. Screwed me for life as I now have osteoarthritis.

Anyways I started skiing about 7 months after surgery, with the brace 100% of the time. I always wore it until I got new boots that just didn't fit right with the brace. The new boots came up too high and the bottom bar across my shin would get wedged between my leg and the tongue of my boot. So I just learned to ski without it. It was terrifying at first and I felt so unstable and wobbly but after a few days I could ski normally again. That was my 3rd season after surgery. So, 2 seasons with the brace then the following season without it. Haven't worn it since and surgery was close to 7 years ago.
Feb 20 2012 2:59PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14528 - Karma: 10,983
I will most likely never ski park again without my knee brace. It will be 2 years in a few weeks. Get the brace. Insurance should cover it.
Feb 20 2012 3:16PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,297
Mine is so close to doing that, and when I first got it that was what I thought wasn't going to be able to wear ski boots and the brace at the same time. Turns out it's fine.
Feb 21 2012 11:01AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,145
People should post what brace they're using. Donjoy alone makes like 50 different kinds.
Feb 21 2012 11:11AM
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JDA
Posts: 572 - Karma: 566
Thank god for free health care! £600 is a lot of money
Feb 21 2012 12:02PM
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word.is.bond.
Posts: 164 - Karma: 14
i started skiing at 6 months post op with a brace but it was cheap and uncomfortable so i dont wear it anymore. but i make sure i am well aware of what im doing and i dont go as hard as i use to.
Feb 21 2012 12:30PM
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caliskigirl
Posts: 393 - Karma: 67
I have a partially torn ACL that I never got repaired (I do get knee pain still but it's pretty easy to manage, and I still run, ski, ride, etc a lot), and I wear a brace when I ski on either chunky, thick mashed-potato snow days (ie spring in Tahoe) or pow days-it definitely helps. I recommend it, at least at first if you have a recent ACL repair for that extra support.
Feb 21 2012 1:39PM
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DockEllis
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,745
I've got a Townsend Design Premier brace and love it. OP talk to your doc, mine got my insurance company to pay for it. Good luck dude
Feb 21 2012 2:36PM
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No_Dub
Posts: 3357 - Karma: 294
i have really weak knees, on my left i have a partially torn acl. i work out my knees and legs a lot to build muscle around them to make them stronger.
but whenever i ski i wear one of these on each leg just for a little more support. knees have never felt better.
http://www.return2fitness.net/Supports_And_Braces/Knee_Braces/MuellerAdjustibleHingedKneeBrace
Feb 21 2012 2:45PM
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.Natty.
Posts: 1030 - Karma: 84
I got surgery in June and i've skied this whole season without a brace.

There are no studies that say braces make that much of a difference when it comes to re-injuring it. If your fall hard and twist your knee enough a brace isn't gonna prevent your ACL from tearing again.
Feb 21 2012 3:29PM
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.Midwest
Posts: 493 - Karma: 22
If you do your rehab correctly, more often than not your brand new shiny ACL is stronger than the other one. At least that's what my doc told me. Never have worn a brace skiing and this is my 5th season riding on it.
Feb 21 2012 3:49PM
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sndyrvr
Posts: 684 - Karma: 119
Take it easy and It can be done
Feb 21 2012 4:27PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Wow, thanks for all the info guys. Sounds like 50-50 on wearing one but since i'm going to be skiing 6 months out of surgery I think I'll get it and suck up the dough.
Feb 23 2012 9:43PM
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sconniestyle
Posts: 3945 - Karma: 26
i wear my brieg or however you spell it. every day. this is my second season after surgery, acl/mcl/lcl/meniscus

one thing you might think about is trying to find a used brace that fits you okay-ish, and then getting it re-custom fitted to your knee by the company who made it after you get it.

mine will redo it for like fifty bucks or whatever. i'm not sure how easy it would be to do, but worth looking into at least.

good luck with your surgery and do your PT. it will help so big.
Feb 24 2012 2:52AM
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mizzike
Posts: 1386 - Karma: 251
Meh, i'm 3 years out of my ACL reconstruction this June and i've never worn a brace except for the post-surgery one you wear with your crutches.

My doc said braces are pointless and only really offer a placebo type effect on your mindset. However, everyone is different and it seems like every doctor has a different opinion on braces these days...

My advice: wear one if it makes you feel more comfortable, but don't get the impression that it will make you invincible.
Feb 24 2012 3:07AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
after the knee has healed the brace is exclusively there for your mind.

once you are healed, and all rehabed up, your knee should be as strong or stronger than before. the reason you see some football players wearing them is to protect against getting rolled up on. you dont see anyone who actually runs wearing a big ol bulky brace. there is very little danger of blowing your knee through a "getting rolled up on" type motion in skiing. its mainly a twisting, or landing on a locked knee type scenario.

But until you are fully cleared, do what your doc says, or tell him to fuck off, because frankly only you know how your knee is feeling. unless that doc is working with you a couple times a week, he is assuming you are progressing in your rehab at a generally average rate.


Feb 24 2012 3:14AM
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skinakedfast
Posts: 1296 - Karma: 487

This is true.

I asked my sugeron about this before my surgery and what he said is once your knee is strong and stable enough to ski a brace only sends messages to your brain to try and prevent injury the brace itself does not do so. So I guess really its preference. I'm still going to get one for next year when I can ski. But continue to do some PT that you have learned knees can never be strong enough for skiing.

Feb 24 2012 5:11AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
partially tore my ACL, luckily not bad enough to need surgery and full reconstruction but basically had to wear the brace in the fall for soccer season and, long story short, made running really painful after a while. went back to my doctor to see if i could play without it, he said no. went to a different knee slash shoulder specialist (the doctor my brother saw for his shoulder dislocation) and he said i'd be fine without it. he basically said that because i partially tore it and didnt have surgery to fix it, it would be slightly looser than my other knee for the rest of my life. took it off and i was fine, no problems whatsoever. i'd imagine that a full reconstruction would make the ACL good as new? if so, i doubt you'll need to wear a brace once you get back to full strength and stability, if not, i'd listen to what your doctor says
Feb 24 2012 2:35PM
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Logey.
Posts: 2996 - Karma: 457
I also partially tore my acl in Colorado one year. They gave me this pretty intense soft brace with the metal hinge things in it that could be removed. 2 days or recovery and I got myself an ace bandage and rapped that shit up, through the brace on over the top and was skiing bumps again. Wasn't te most comfortable but it worked
Feb 24 2012 2:56PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
So 6 months out the knee is "fully healed" but it can take up to 18 months for the muscles to come back fully, and I completely believe that. I am right leg dominant and after some pretty intensive physical therapy and personal training for 3 months my right knee and leg muscles are visibly smaller than my left. This is why a brace is suggested. As far as protection goes, the brace I am getting does help prevent it by not allowing the twisting motion, or at least restricting it.
Feb 24 2012 11:18PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
braces cant prevent against rotational forces. they can only protect against shearing forces...


how far out from surgery are you? where you in super good shape beforehand?
Feb 25 2012 6:33PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Im 6 months out, and my knees have always been pretty strong. Lots of running and biking. And the brace i'm getting from don Joy definitely offers rotational resistance, obviously not completely disallowing rotation but it WILL help the knee from rotating, allowing for more aggressive riding with less risk.
Feb 28 2012 7:06PM
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Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11955 - Karma: 12,302
You interested in buying a brace off of me? My mom has quite a few.
Feb 28 2012 7:18PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
which brace? im legit curious...i dont understand how it could prevent rotation.


And i would suggest weaning yourself off the brace as soon as you can so your mind doesnt become dependent on the brace for your knee to feel stable. I know a couple of my lineman had blown their knees, and now dont do anything athletic without their braces because they "just dont feel safe with out it".
Feb 29 2012 12:00AM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
http://www.donjoy.com/index.asp/fuseaction/products.detail/cat/1/id/200

it's this guy. If you read the Benefits and Features it says " Clinically proven LoPro FourcePoint™ hinges, the only bracing technology clinically proven to protect the ACL". It's not extremely straight forward but the only way to protect the ACL is to prevent rotation.
Mar 1 2012 7:39PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Yes... and no. How would I get one that fits?
Mar 1 2012 7:40PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Your questions made me look a little further and I found this too, an explanation of how it prevent rotation. http://www.betterbraces.com/four-points-of-leverage-story
Mar 1 2012 7:42PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
it doesnt prevent rotation....


where do you see anything about rotation? regardless, its pretty irrelevant because rotation isnt how you blow your acl. looks like a dope brace. and it fits above your boot?
Mar 1 2012 11:46PM
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steezeandskis
Posts: 646 - Karma: 21
Ya I haven't tried one yet but they've told me it shouldn't be a problem. And when I say rotation I guess I mean cutting... as in the knee bends to the left and right rather than forward and backward. Check out this video http://bones.emedtv.com/bone-and-joint-conditions,-tests,-and-procedures-video/tearing-your-acl-video.html

And the brace is pretty sick, they'll even pay $750 towards ACL surgery if you're wearing it and tear it.
Mar 2 2012 12:02AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
rotation = twisting

you were thinking of shearing. I was wondering how they could prevent rotation without physically attaching the brace to your bone haha.
Mar 2 2012 12:07AM
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