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Rigid braces, ACL deficiency or protective - yay or nay?

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Sorry if an old question...
I was planning to get some decent Donjoy (e.g. Armor) or CTi braces for when I return to skiing & boarding, and also for more strenuous walking, mountaineering etc. This was both as a preventative measure against further/repeat injury and to give me maximum support on ligament deficient knees.
At present, on the assessment and advice of both my Consultant (Ortho/Sports Trauma) and my specialist knee rehab Physio I am going down the non-surgical route for both knees' ACLs and associated MCL, bone/tissue trauma etc (hopefully eventually heals).
However, whilst my Physio has no problem with brace wearing, and thinks that it's often recommended for skiing (though doesn't per se claim brace or ski expertise), my Consultant was horrified at the idea, telling me in no uncertain terms not to wear one ( we're just talking proper rigid hinged ones here). Basically, therefore, according to him it's either ski without and get strong enough (via surgery if required or just by physio & exercise) or don't ski.
He seems to be coming from the injury transfer line of thought - risking injuring hip, upper femur etc rather than knee again. It is something which I have read about and, having tried one of the contraptions on, completely covering top of ski boot to mid thigh, it does seem a fair and worrying point. (Not to mention saving £1,000!)
So, any informed opinion? Do you use such a brace having weighed the risk, or avoid for this reason? Any views on the actual risks, with or without?
Cheers.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@Grizzler, i have a cti brace. Because of stretched MCL. I woule be amazed if there would be transferred risk to other joints. It isnt that heavy duty. I am at the point of 4 years post injury of thinking i dont really need it. It ia all about strength. That said my injury is much less severe than yours
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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?
Not quite your situation but I had an ACL replaced about 8 years ago. I have always skied with a knee brace since then. A couple of times a ski has got a bit stuck in snow and there has been a twisting of the knee -but no damage done. Was it because of the brace or would no damage have been done anyway? No idea but I don't ski without it.
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@Grizzler, isn't this a little weird?

Advice of trained, experienced, specialist medical professional vs. anecdotal evidence (i.e. None) of random strangers on the interpipes?

If you don't like consultant 1's opinion, surely the things to do include getting a second opinion or doing a literature search on pubmed?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I damaged my ACL reconstruction (only half left) a few years ago. The consultant did as much as he could to get me walking again (after damage the reconstruction it collapsed while sprinting causes cartilage damage). The Physio recommend a hinged brace (mueller Hg80 IIRC) for while skiing (obviously not normal gym work). Didn't ask the consultant about braces (mainly because he was suggesting I shouldn't be skiing again... Thankfully Physio disagreed.). Skied several times since with it and it is doing the job nicely.
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@under a new name,
I am not saying that I do not "like" my consultant's opinion at all. I am simply asking if anyone else here has been given advice as to risk, and has weighed it. Equally, as seems so far, if they have not been warned of risks.
It is, I gather from research which I have already carried out, a controversial area. As you can see from my post, I already have 2 specialist healthcare professionals giving me contradictory advice.
I do also consider the views of actual skiers and boarders to be equally relevant if they have used or not used ACL braces and found pros or cons, experienced no or any problems with the ACL or transferred injury etc.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Grizzler, hmmm, while I am all for stimulating discussion, I (personally) view fora such as SHs as being down the pub on line. And the anecdote is as valid for decision making as anecdote from down the pub.

Clearly, it is controversial, and clearly you do have two professional opinions albeit from rather different specialities. I'm utterly unconvinced that war stories from those on here are a helpful input to what you choose to do.

But I'm just that skeptic standing at the bar nursing my warming ale.
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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!
I would be more interested in e.g. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28259710 , https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28195986
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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.
@under a new name, maybe op is hoping someone who has actual knowledge on the subject such as Jonathan Bell might contribute his two bobs worth between pints🙂
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