 Poster: A snowHead
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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!
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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 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?
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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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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.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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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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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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@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.
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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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@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.
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@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.
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@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  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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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.
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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:
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@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
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@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
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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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| 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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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So good to be average, @holidayloverxx 
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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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@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 .
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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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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I have had loads of problems with the Mueller knee braces ended up pushing my acl even more.
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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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