Knee Supports

A snowHead

Hi all,

I'm thinking about this for my girlfriend, not me.

She has a knee that seems to be weak and has in the past just randomly given way, so naturally, when we go skiing I'm thinking about her having a knee support which is good.

I don't believe she has a diagnosed condition, but I don't want a weak knee to give her a problem when we're out there.

I've been looking at the ones on Snow and Rock but thought I'd ask here first.

Does anyone recommend / have experience with a particular support?

Thanks in advance,

Si

A snowHead

I'm not medically qualified but have had injuries to both knees in the past 5 years requiring surgery, so have more than a little experience of physios and rehab work. Last season was definitely my best ever, so the rehab has certainly been effective.

I asked this very question to my physio - she told me that the benefits of knee supports are mainly psychological, the physical support they give is very limited and has no evidence to back up claims to reduce injuries - unless you go to one of the rigid carbon fibre, £500+ contraptions specially designed for ACL support.

What does, however, give major improvements in injury reduction and skiing performance is a properly planned strengthening/conditioning programme. So, my advice would be go to a decent physio (see the Bodyfactor adverts in Snow & rock catalogue - someone like them would be good), get her knee checked out & get a "prepare to ski" programme for her!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

gra, thanks for that.

I will investigate physios too.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Mr.Si, money spent on a physio will be better spent.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Time spent down the gym doing single leg presses/BOSU jumps/ quad curls & cycling etc subject to physio advice more helpful.

Having run the gammut of braces & supports including a clinically recommended Donjoy I'm back down to double wrap tubigrip which keeps the joint warm, provides a bit of compression and aids proprioception, as well as psychologically telling me I've got something supporting my knee.

"Just giving way" was symptomatic of torn cartilage for me BTW.

You'll need to Register first of course.

indeed...she needs good muscle strenght in her legs for skiing and is very unlikely to have it going about her daily business... IMV

A good physio can set you on the right path...but it is her determination to keep that regime going on her own that will be the tester.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Mr.Si, I agree with everything said, and would also suggest a little exercise that can be done while simply sitting and watching telly! Sit on the floor, possibly but not necessarily with back supported against the sofa, one knee bent foot on floor, other leg - with foot flexed, not with toes pointed - stretched out six inches or so off the floor. Then very slowly move that straight leg from side to side, without dropping it to the floor. Repeat a few times, alternating the legs. Your girlfriend will soon feel what that's doing to the quads! wink

I like exercises that one can do in front of the box at home, reduces the guilt factor! I sometimes stand on my Bosu ball, sometimes use free weights. And, since I always sit on the floor, there are other floor exercises that can be done eg a variety of hamstring stretches.

After all it is free

I wore an articulated knee brace for a while after an injury but it was mainly for the biomechanical feedback; it really does seem to remind you as you flex that the knee needs a little favouring and it also pulled the kneecap back a bit thus aiding stability. Since then I've done exercises on the balance cushion, plenty of cross country running and mountian biking so it feels pretty strong now. I have a mate whose knee gives way but that is post op after a football injury.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Nothing i can say that hasn't been said above.

After suffering with a "knee that constantly gave way" I was referred by my GP to a physio and on to a second "specialist" physio and then on to an orthopaedic surgeon. Each part of the chain diagnosed cruciate ligament problems. The referral letter to the surgeon from the physio described my knee as a "car crash".

However, after mri scans it turned out that nothing was actually torn, just loose and my knee joint was getting bumped around a lot and isn't held together tightly by the ligaments. This causes bleeding inside the joint and apparently explained the giving way sometimes. I asked about knee braces and was told that they would only ever be of minimal use to give slight support. The surgeon's advice was exercise and weight training to strengthen my quads etc...

2 years later, my legs are stronger and I have not had any problems in a long time. I ski, cycle, windsurf and run. No knee bother.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

This is proving interesting and very helpful, thank you.

I wonder if it's something to do with Tap Dancing, as she's done tap for 19 years now.

I think she tries to "play it down" but I'll try and get her to a GP or Physio soon. Or at least, some exercises that will help her.

snow reports

Mr.Si, I'm sure my tap-dancing friend has knee problems from her dancing, possibly cartilage problems, and what she describes as 'slack ligaments' .

I just thought I would add my two pence worth here.

I suffer from weak knees, partly due to my joints being hypermobile (thats double jointed) and partly due to being flat footed, which causes my ankles and foot to have greater movement in them while running, etc than they should. This puts stress on the ligaments and muscles in my knees.

I found that my knees really suffered when I go skiing after a period of time 'off' from skiing, but that they are generally ok if the skiing muscles have been used recently, which supports what others have said above.

I did buy some knee supports to keep the joints warm and aid compression, but I found them annoying to wear. If my knees have been playing up during the day, I sometimes wear the supports only at night, to reduce swelling rather than for 'support'. For this purpose, any knee support does the trick, tubigrip or otherwise, you dont need to spend too much. Stengthening the muscles around the joint is much more worthwhile.

You know it makes sense.

Oh - someone else with hypermobile joints. That's what I have to.

Knees have been much better since going to the gym. Ankles still a problem on a day to day basis (I appear sometimes to "fall off" flat shoes that same way that other women fall off high heels), but I find the support from snowboard boots means that ankles don't give me a problem whilst doing boarding.

Knees are sometimes stiff after a days boarding (feel swollen, but don't look it), but I find that the hot tub and pool are the best cure for that.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

If you wear supports do not get standard neoprene... get the breathable more comfy versions.

A snowHead

defo go see a physio, even simple things like balancing on one leg whilst in the shower/brushing teeth can have a very positive improvement.....I had a very sore knee, which the physio diagnosed as being due to a tight hamstring from a combination of broken femur and playing hockey on artificial surfaces. Stretching the hamstring fixed the knee!!

A snowHead

Well I did my patella tendon in at football a few years ago. (Actually a new pair of boots that put rotation into the knee.) Sad

....... I had a regime of physio that sorted it out. Ever since then, before I go skiing, I do some simple exercises for a month. 10x slow lunges. 10x step downs and back up on stairs. And the weirdest one is standing on one leg with eyes (eye) closed and open to help static standing ballance. I do these evey day and it takes 10 minutes)

cheers
Bob

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I spoke with her last night and she's gonna see about seeing a physio but won't let me pay. However...! I have to buy her another ski lesson.

Sounds like a deal to me!

Looks like the sensible option is going to take place... snowHead

Help!!

Knee Supports

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