ACL support brace for watersports

(kvkev) · (kvkev) **Join Date: Oct 2003** 03-11-2005, 2:15 PM

Anyone know of a ACL knee brace that is designed to work in the water. The one I have, the velcro comes loose when it gets wet and falls off. I did a search and couldn't find anything, maybe I didn't plug the right key word in or something. Anyhow, HELP if you can.
Thanks Kevin

(wakeworld) · (wakeworld) **Join Date: Jan 1997** 03-11-2005, 2:23 PM

The Don Joy is mentioned in this series of articles: http://www.wakeworld.com/articles/2003/acl1.asp

(antbug) · (antbug) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 03-11-2005, 2:34 PM

Kvkev ~ check out the CTi2. It's a great brace. www.isports.com

(aspenshayn) · (aspenshayn) **Join Date: Apr 2004** 03-11-2005, 2:41 PM

cti2 and donjoy are most popular.

rollitup 03-11-2005, 3:07 PM

cti is the way to go man. they make a cast of your leg, then cut it off(the cast that is), and then send it to cti. this one is the pimpist.

roll-it-up
h-bomb

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 03-11-2005, 3:08 PM

what do you need a brace for?

(kvkev) · (kvkev) **Join Date: Oct 2003** 03-11-2005, 4:10 PM

shane
I had acl replacement last November and want to prevent hyperextension agian.

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 03-11-2005, 5:50 PM

hmmmmmmmm. I was being a smart ass. IMHO, a brace does not prevent the reoccurence. I know every surgeon,PT, and holiday inn resident has there own opinion. My fiancee had the same surgery, no brace. It's all good with therapy.

(kvkev) · (kvkev) **Join Date: Oct 2003** 03-12-2005, 4:23 AM

Shane
Witty and honest I like that! I do agree that I shouldn't need the brace but I owe 145.00 bucks to the provider for a brace that doesn't work in the water even after I told them I was a wakeboarder. They said that they didn't know of a brace for water. I want to provide then with this info about braces used in water so maybe we can resolve the brace issue and for the money I'm going to have to give them anyway at least I'll have a brace that does work in the water as opposed pissing away the money on junk!
There's meaning to my madness and it's economics! Value for your dollar That's my motto and I'm stickin to it!

(kristian) · (kristian) **Join Date: Nov 2002** 03-12-2005, 4:51 AM

On the topic of knee braces, what do you guys think of this knee brace: http://www.mtbz.com/mountainboard_accessories/evs_web.htm
A knee brace with a crumple zone.

(cramey) · (cramey) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 03-12-2005, 7:09 PM

I have a CTi2 and it works great. I've just gotten back on the water after an ACL injury.

My insurance picked up the whole tab.

(ktmwakeboarder)

I had ALC reconstruction and meniscus surgery July 16th 2004, and the end of my 9 months of rehab, lifting and taking it easy is comin really soon! So I'm hella excited about being able to get out and ride again... ok now to what I was going to say- My surgeon says that a brace is totally unncessary and that I shouldn't worry about needing one as long as I have been working out and building the muscles back up. My parents are skeptical and want me to pursue gettin a brace. Not sure what I'm gonna do. I hear about many people who rehabbed hard core and came out with like 120% of their original strength

(ivyrider) · (ivyrider) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 03-13-2005, 9:17 PM

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/212431.html

That is a topic from a month or so ago. Yes, this topic has been beat to death, but there has been a ton of valuable information put forth. In that post I was looking on some input on another custom brace. After talking to the guy that makes them, I have decided to go with the Don Joy. I just believe it will better suit my needs for wakeboarding, and all the other sports I do. Almost 4 months post op (ACL replaced, MCL and minuscus repair) , PT in office 3X/week, at home 6X a week. I actually have more flexibility in my injured leg now than the good one. Every doctor will tell you something different, it depends on your injury, extent of injury, etc. My Doc said he recomends a brace for the first year or two, based on my activity, and love of dangerous sports, but after that, it will depend on how I feel. I believe a lot of it is mental too. I think wearing the brace will help me over come the mental block to get me boarding back to where I was, and beyond.

kristian: Gary pointed that EVS WEB out to me today, in a magazine. Looks awesome, may look into that too, as a OTC secondary. Just wonder if any shops around here carry them, so I can get the sizing right the fist time.

Good luck!! I don't think there is such a thing as over-researching sometihng, especially when it comes to a $2000 brace. Don Joy has a good reinjury policy, if you reinjure it with in the first year, while wearing your brace, they put $1000 towards your next surgery. Lots of hoops to go through, but it seems they really stand behind their product. Have heard a lot of good things about the CTI2 as well. As for the straps, there is a sleeve that can go over any of these braces, that keep the straps from coming undone when you crash.

(Message edited by ivyrider on March 13, 2005)

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 03-14-2005, 4:56 AM

kevin, that's exactly what I was talking about. The doc in Dallas does one thing, knees. He does not believe in braces, what he does beleive in over 100% strength. That was sort of my point, I have heard both sides, and I think the rehab time, strength is a better combo than brace.

(nautiquelover) · (nautiquelover) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 03-14-2005, 2:40 PM

I work as a strength and conditioning specialist at a physical therapy facility...I see and work with probably 15-20 ACL rebuilds a year. In my professional opinion the only thing the brace will do for you is help mentally unitl you are over it. Depending on how big you are the forces that are generated on a 27-30 mph cut (about normal for riding at 22-23 mph)will destroy your knee AND any brace you strap on. CTI and Donjoy included. Your best option is get your legs stronger than they have ever been before getting back in the water. Good Luck.

Evan Nielsen, CSCS

PS By the way I am not trying to be a smart ass I just know how bad it sucks to rehab. 4 knee surgeries myself!

(Message edited by nautiquelover on March 14, 2005)

(eubanks01) · (eubanks01) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 03-14-2005, 2:50 PM

I have a Townsend..."Rebel 99" I believe is the model name. I have used it for over a year since my knee surgery after a failed raley attemped.

I know everyone talks about the cti2, but the custom fit Townsend brace has been very comfortable and there have been a couple of falls that I felt like I would have been in trouble without it.

I agree that you shouldn't always rely on a brace, but wakeboarding shortly after knee surgery without a knee brace would not get me excited.

http://www.townsenddesign.com/index.html