 Poster: A snowHead
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My wife needs a knee brace (typical ACL injury), as much for confidence as anything else. We want to get the best, what are the options? Custom-made or off the shelf, and where is best to go for one in Scotland? Any experience, help or advice would be appreciated!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I have not tried this and I don't even know if it's what you need but I know a few people who use this http://www.skiallday.co.uk/sm/ it's invented by a fellow snowhead and those who use them swear by them and say it has enabled them to keep skiing when they thought they would have to give up. Give Martin a call or email he will happily help.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Suggest you try Donjoy OA Defiance knee brace. Expensive but very effective. Find a physio that knows how they work and can size your wife correctly.
Good luck!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| mrasmusen wrote: |
Suggest you try Donjoy OA Defiance knee brace. Expensive but very effective. Find a physio that knows how they work and can size your wife correctly.
Good luck! |
That is a brace for someone with osteoarthritis of the knee.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| zikomo wrote: |
| My wife needs a knee brace (typical ACL injury), as much for confidence as anything else. We want to get the best, what are the options? Custom-made or off the shelf, and where is best to go for one in Scotland? Any experience, help or advice would be appreciated! |
Either get a lycra knee sleeve ( About £30 ) or a top end ACL brace.
Not much to choose between the top manufacturers ( Circa £ 5 - 600)
Anything in between is probably a waste.
The literature on whether they work at all is unfortunately often sponsored by the manufacturers.
If i was buying a top end brace i would want it fitted by an orthotist ( professional brace fitter)
Jonathan Bell
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have a Townsend Rebel, properly measured and fitted by an orthodist out here in Bavaria. I have used Donjoy and Bledsloe ones in the past (5 x ACL reconstructions over the years) and the Townsend is by far the lightest and most comfortable. In terms of money, according to my medical insurance company, it was half the price of the DonJoy and Cti ones most people have prescribed. My surgeon approved it after seeing a demo model the company sent for him to approve. They did not have any outlets here in Bavaria but the Northern Germany rep sent all the documents required and liaised with the specialist shop fitting it. It only took a week from measuring me up to me being fitted with the brace. It is by far the lightest I have ever used by the way.
They also told me to bring my ski boots to the final fitting and it was "built" around the top of them. The nice thing about the Townsends is that they are modular, so long thighs and short stubby calves can be easily accommodated without needing a custom fit (very expensive they told me and pretty well money down the drain as your leg and muscles change as you recover).
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Very good point about making sure the brace works with your boots. I took mine to the orthodist. I got a cti for MCL. Physios are not expert in braces
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Thanks all for some great advice. Does anyone know where in Scotland I would be best going for the fitting?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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If you want to ski in a brace.
It is more important to find a good orthotist to fit the brace than worry about which manufacturer of brace.
A decent fitter will make sure that whatever brace is fitted it will perform optimally.
There isn't much to choose between alot of them.
So avoid the deluge of marketing that is available to you and seek out the right fitter.
Jonathan Bell
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Jonathan Bell wrote: |
If you want to ski in a brace.
It is more important to find a good orthotist to fit the brace than worry about which manufacturer of brace.
A decent fitter will make sure that whatever brace is fitted it will perform optimally.
There isn't much to choose between alot of them.
So avoid the deluge of marketing that is available to you and seek out the right fitter.
Jonathan Bell |
Thanks Jonathan. Can you recommend a good fitter?!!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| zikomo wrote: |
| Jonathan Bell wrote: |
If you want to ski in a brace.
It is more important to find a good orthotist to fit the brace than worry about which manufacturer of brace.
A decent fitter will make sure that whatever brace is fitted it will perform optimally.
There isn't much to choose between alot of them.
So avoid the deluge of marketing that is available to you and seek out the right fitter.
Jonathan Bell |
Thanks Jonathan. Can you recommend a good fitter?!! |
Where are you in the country?
We have a good one at Wimbledon Clinics.
He does work in other parts of the country.
Let me know where you are .
Jonathan Bell
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SCOTLAND
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You know it makes sense.
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I dont know any one in Scotland. Closest would be Oswestry. Sorry
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Physio Ecosse in West Lothian are the Scottish fitting centre for donjoy knee braces - several years experience from a snowboarding physio.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@zikomo,
When I was researching high-end ACL braces earlier this year I came across Technology in Motion. I have read that other Snowheads have used them. I did speak to them on the phone and they seemed quite helpful and are, I believe, orthotics qualified. They have a centre in Glasgow if you Google them.
They do a range of braces: Donjoy, CTi & others (most seem to favour one of the first 2). Supposedly they will assess and recommend as appropriate. Only downside seems an in-built assessment fee (£125 from memory), I think refundable if you go ahead and buy.
I otherwise managed to try on a standard CTi brace (phoned the company and got name of nearest fitter, physios mostly) and, as a 5'5" female in fairly high-spec ski boots, it worried me that it was too long and would catch on the boots. They supposedly, so the company said, don't do different lengths as Donjoy do. Pity, as looked a nice and lightweight brace otherwise.
The CTi brace Custom, which is very expensive, seems tailored to thigh and calf size (only, they said) - which to me seems a tad silly as these surely change with age, female hormones, muscle mass and training/activity and so on. I didn't go into specifics on other custom designs for other makers.
I'm still debating whether to get one if not ( over a neoprene wraparound spring sided one which I have acquired and may be sufficient to give some support and confidence). The top range braces are still quite heavy and cumbersome in some ways; something I'd prefer to do without if I can, I think.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@zikomo,
When I was researching high-end ACL braces earlier this year I came across Technology in Motion. I have read that other Snowheads have used them. I did speak to them on the phone and they seemed quite helpful and are, I believe, orthotics qualified. They have a centre in Glasgow if you Google them.
They do a range of braces: Donjoy, CTi & others (most seem to favour one of the first 2). Supposedly they will assess and recommend as appropriate. Only downside seems an in-built assessment fee (£125 from memory), I think refundable if you go ahead and buy.
I otherwise managed to try on a standard CTi brace (phoned the company and got name of nearest fitter, physios mostly) and, as a 5'5" female in fairly high-spec ski boots, it worried me that it was too long and would catch on the boots. They supposedly, so the company said, don't do different lengths as Donjoy do. Pity, as looked a nice and lightweight brace otherwise.
The CTi brace Custom, which is very expensive, seems tailored to thigh and calf size (only, they said) - which to me seems a tad silly as these surely change with age, female hormones, muscle mass and training/activity and so on. I didn't go into specifics on other custom designs for other makers.
I'm still debating whether to get one if not ( over a neoprene wraparound spring sided one which I have acquired and may be sufficient to give some support and confidence). The top range braces are still quite heavy and cumbersome in some ways; something I'd prefer to do without if I can, I think.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Grizzler, my cti doesn't catch..the pointy bit just sits comfortably behind the tongue. I am 5ft 4in
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@holidayloverxx, Guess that just proves the point if having a proper selection & fitting service to suit the individual's own ski boots, individual leg length/shape and so on.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Grizzler, my CTi is off the shelf; there wasn't enough time to order a custom but it all worked out. It easily adjusts to the change in thigh and calf size - mine are much bigger now than when I got the brace. I took my brace to Pro-feet when I got my new boots to make sure they were comfy. I also have to get the mojo over the top so it's all a bit of a gubbins but it works
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I currently sufferinf from a bad acl injury and want to get back skiing this wionter.. doing my research wearing some REALLY good shock absorbing boots and insoels is a must as well as knee supports!
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I came of a motorbike in 1980 and stretched my cruciates in my left knee ( tibia still moves 0.5-1 inch forward and backward in relation to the Femur). Even though I had an op the result was that they couldn't do any thing to help because they would probably make it worse. Advice was to keep the muscles fit and built up. I have ski-ied in a variety of braces ( neoprene tubes, with and with out metal work. Last season I tried Ski Mojos. These are both an assist for the legs but when the attaching neoprene bands and straps are done up snugly it acts as a knee brace. Excellent support and a big boost in confidence - ask Suzi Snowflake about the difference in my skiing.
Do a search on the internet and give them a go. SOme French resorts stock them and I think there is a supplier in Tignes ( you can try them before you buy)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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