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Ski-ing with a torn ACL - looking for brace tips!

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hello,
It's great reading through everyone's posts here. I'm about to go skiing after a 16 year break. Last time I skied I tore my ACL ligament aged 25. I skied a lot as a child and teenager and it was a real passion. I haven't had my ACl repaired but don't tend to have much day-to-day trouble with it - although I don't do high impact sports. I took my two kids skiing last year, but felt too nervous to ski and just lounged around the resort. But I soon discovered there is nothing more dull than being in a ski resort not skiing at all! I'm trying to get back on skis this year and we're heading to the Dolomites for Easter. My plan is to take it super-easy and only ski for 1-2 hours a day and have a private lesson first to get my nerve back.

I saw a fantastic physio who gave me lots of exercises but he didn't recommend wearing a brace, just a support. I'm now having a last minute panic and think I should wear a brace for protection. So my question is, does anyone ski with a torn ACL and a brace? If so what type. Plus any tips are welcome!

Thanks!

Very Happy
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I have the Mueller Hg80 hinged brace. However I still have half my reconstructed Acl left - which does not give me enough stability to sprint flat our or return to hockey. The brave was recommended to me by my physio.
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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?
@tarabearking,
Hello,
i went on my 1st ever skiing holiday in 1993 (sauze d'oux) and tore my ACL on the 2nd day (sidestepping through spring slush at the bottom of the last run of the day slope) Sad
Like you after years of it beating me, I booked a trip to LDA in April 2013!!!
I am heading to La Thuile on Sunday for what will be my 8th ski trip in 3 years Laughing Laughing
My knee is not great by any means, but I do ski with a good brace & it has been a godsend.
I have had some major wipeouts & never felt even a twinge Laughing
I bought a Bledsoe Ultimate CI brace off ebay for £70 (is worth a lot more!!) & it is amazing, keeps the knee solid.
If you dont want to pay out for a Donjoy, Bledsoe or Breg etc etc, then have a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treatment-Cartilage-Comfortable-Stabiliser-Rehabilitation/dp/B004NP2QPK/ref=sr_1_6?srs=1649000031&ie=UTF8&qid=1458157675&sr=8-6&keywords=knee+brace&tag=amz07b-21

I bought one for my first trip back on the slopes in 2013 & still have it (as a backup) snowHead
Get back on the slopes - you will be glad you did - I am an addicetd snowhead now (and thankfully so is my wife) snowHead
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I skied for quite a few years with a torn ACL and only light neoprene type sleeves on the knee NOT proper hinged braces. But my knee was pretty strong. Can you do single leg bodyweight squats on it - if so it's probably strong enough for skiing. Naproxen or Ibubrofen is also your friend.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
PS - I also have the Mueller Hg80 hinged brace but found that the McDavid Ps 11 was way better at stabilizing the knee.
I use that as a backup to my backup Laughing
I pack them all in different bags when travelling, just in case Razz
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Thanks so much for the advice. I can do single leg squats but am no lean machine! I'm a 40 year old mum with a desk job! Spring snow is my biggest fear as that's how I did my acl!

My physio recommended a neophene skin but will look at other options for more protection too.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I had a very bad knee injury 2011 (tibial plateau fracture, ruptured ligaments, displaced meniscus, basically the full works). The following season I used a brace as my knee had not really returned to full strength. But after a further year I ditched the brace. I feel a brace is a good tool for getting through a rehab, but you shouldn't rely on one after that point. Let the knee build up its own strength.

It's a bit late for this season, but by far the best thing is exercise and strength training. Have a relaxed holiday with some easy skiing just to find your feet again and start training for next season as soon as you get home.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@tarabearking,

You should get a brace specifically for ACL ruptures.
There are various makes eg Donjoy, CTi?

It needs to be fitted correctly and they are expensive so don't just buy one off the shelf or online get it fitted by an Orthotist or is could be a £600 mistake.

Jonathan Bell
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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.
You don't want to buy one that over supports your knee else your muscles will not be able to strengthen up on their own.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
@yetijames, I would suggest that the strengthening takes place in the gym not while skiing.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@tarabearking, Once you have got past starting skiing again, try telemark -- much safer for the knees...
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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.
@yetijames, a brace such as a CTI brace doesn't support or assist the knee/relieve the muscles at all. It's to stop further damage, eg by a twisting fall. The device that helps take load off the knees is a ski Mojo, a quite different kettle of fish.

I was glad of my CTI brace when I fell backwards between my skis at the top of s T bar in November rolling eyes but if I have a normal day skiing with no falls, it has served no purpose, really. Like a life jacket when you don't fall overboard!
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
A brace that is not fitted is just a placebo. There is a lot of debate as to what effect they really have, probably because most people in recovery don't put themselves in the situation of really testing the brace. It's a bit like an air bag in a car.

I have an Ossur. it was pricey - £800 - as I went for the slim carbon version. It is lighter and slimmer. Without going into detail I had an accident the other day, and the brace protected my bad knee well. The same cannot be said for my other leg, but I think I got away it.

It's really a money thing like any safety kit. You need to know it will work if/when you really need it.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Thanks! @Jonathan Bell, - I've left it too late to buy a properly fitted ACL brace now. I'm going to just take it super easy on the slopes. I downloaded your tips from your clinic -excellent advice! Thanks.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@tarabearking, Also get in touch with Townsend Design (based in the USA but a really good company) when researching your options. I use one their off-the -shelf Rebel CI (Combined instabilities). It was fitted by a specialist technician and the company sent a variety of thigh and shin/calf sections so it could be fitted exactly to my knee and still not catch on my ski boots. It was also considerably cheaper than any of the usual suspects (only 500 Euro 8 years ago while the Donjoy and CTi models were more than double that).
http://www.townsenddesign.com/Townsend_Design/Ligament_Bracing.html
http://www.townsenddesign.com/Townsend_Design/Rebel.html
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@tarabearking, my CTi brace was "fitted" by a specialist but as it happened by measurements meant that an off the shelf "medium" fits perfectly. No waiting.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I'm off on Saturday so as usual left it too late to get anything strong sorted. The neophene is so flimsy. Crying or Very sad

Thanks so much for the tips! Happy skiing to all of you heading to the slopes for Easter! snowHead
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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?
pam w wrote:
@tarabearking, my CTi brace was "fitted" by a specialist but as it happened by measurements meant that an off the shelf "medium" fits perfectly. No waiting.


Same here
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So good to be average, @holidayloverxx wink
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@tarabearking, I ski with a ruptured ACL...I was advised to use a fitted brace, which cost roughly CHF 800. I wear it for all rotational sports, and as others have mentioned it is like a lifejacket, only needed when things go wrong. I stupidly didn't wear it 2 days this season, when i thought i'd just be bouncing around on piste - 2nd day had lovely fresh powder, after a few hours of skiing off piste, my knee collapsed - moral of the story, always wear the fricking brace Very Happy .
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@tarabearking, if you still have time to get it, different injury, but still - I got the Mueller Hg80 hinged brace this year. Had a knee operation (catriladge) in december and went skiing exactly 3 months after
My physio recommended to get a support since my knee is still not 100%, especially on lateral moves
I did all week - took long luch breaks, kept myself on blue and red runs (in the mornings, blue only on the afternoon) and skipped the last hour - it was great, yes by the second day my bad knee hurted more than the "good" one
And yes iboprufen was liberally used
But I do believe the support did it's job
I got it from Amazon and if you have Prime you'll get it next day delivery
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
I have had loads of problems with the Mueller knee braces ended up pushing my acl even more.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Last time I got a brace from amazon when I last injured my knee it totally wrecked it even more. I say avoid cheap nasty over suppotive braces from china from amazon.
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