Do knee braces even work ?

sickboy3636
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sickboy3636 6/5/2017 6:08pm
6/5/2017 6:08pm
My experience when my knee went wasn't moto but while playing college football. I played my entire career without them. I switched positions and they were a requirement for defense. I fought tooth and nail against wearing them until they pulled me from practice and demanded I put them on. 45 minutes later I destroyed my knee. My feeling is, the small amount that the interior of the joint has to move to severe the acl is extremely minute. Just the deviation a knee brace allows from the skin fat and muscle can give enough movement to tear nearly every ligament in the joint. I'm not saying that they never saved a knee, but I know, my career was ended minutes after strapping a custom set on.
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TbonesPop 6/5/2017 8:15pm
6/5/2017 8:15pm
I now wear knee braces (Leatt C frame) due to an injury to a knee last year where I tore cartilage from a hyper extension. I didn't like other braces because I had a really tough time gripping the bike with other brands. The C Frames were very easy to transition to without losing grip on the bike. The key to good knee braces is the fit. It literally has to be an extension of your body and can't be loose or moving around. As others have said, if they are sliding down they are either the wrong fit/size or they need to be properly adjusted. When they are properly fitted on your body it's a great item of protection. I set the C frame to the least amount of hyperextension range so I don't hyper extend it again - that sucked before. I now won't ride without knee braces, (or Neck brace). I know they are expensive, but I think it's worth it. Took a knee injury to convince me, but now I'm sold.
Sargent Rock
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Sargent Rock 6/5/2017 8:54pm
6/5/2017 8:54pm
Certain situations.....my knee two years ago would have been torn in half "if" I hadn't been wearing a ten year old custom CTi2. I still have damage now, but can ride, snow ski and train. Clock is running though, most likely will have to repair in next year or two.
RandyS
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RandyS 6/5/2017 9:26pm
6/5/2017 9:26pm Edited Date/Time 6/5/2017 9:26pm
Knee braces are like neck braces, both sides firmly entrenched in their beliefs. I bought a set of *s a dozen years ago because my knees were starting to hurt(years of skating and snowboarding). Wore them once, I would never put on another set unless I had so much damage that I couldn't function without them. I'm in the "the human body was built to give in extreme situations" camp.

The Shop

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GoggleFiend904 6/5/2017 10:08pm
6/5/2017 10:08pm
Ive seen them snap in multiple places from impact and didnt affect the riders knee at all on more than one occasion. Ill keep wearing them
Turbojez
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Turbojez 6/5/2017 11:44pm
6/5/2017 11:44pm Edited Date/Time 6/5/2017 11:49pm
My opinion:

If you had some previous knee injuries - you need braces, no way around it.

You have healthy knees and strong legs - you don't. Braces make your legs weaker, as they stabilize what should be kept in place by muscles.

One thing that's really tempting for me in regards to braces: They protect about half of your thigh. I Imagine this could come handy when you fall in the tight, rutty corner and have your leg pressed hard against the bar.
fox1nz
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fox1nz 6/6/2017 3:10am
6/6/2017 3:10am
If anything, at least they make ya feel a little bit like Iron Man..
Motofinne
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Motofinne 6/6/2017 4:02am
6/6/2017 4:02am Edited Date/Time 6/6/2017 4:02am
Yes, absolutely.

With that said, there isn't a knee brace that will guarantee that you'll never tear your ACL or something like that. I have had 2 ACL injuries and one meniscus injury on my right knee. They prevent some injuries in some scenarios just like a helmet or your boots. I will never ride without knee braces, if i forget them home i load up my Sprinter van and head back home.

I would have had more knee injuries without by braces. Last year i tweaked my right knee again really bad but i was fortunate and nothing got broken in it and i had to only rest for 2-3 weeks because of the over extension. I'm 99% sure that i would've torn something without the brace.
FIREfish148
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FIREfish148 6/6/2017 5:52am
6/6/2017 5:52am
They add extra protection and stability for your knees but are harder on your hips IMO. Ive seen a lot of pros still blow out ACLS and have other problems while wearing them though. I would definitely buy some again if I wasn't so OCD and didn't hate how bulky they feel.
skypig
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skypig 6/6/2017 6:04am
6/6/2017 6:04am
One of my knees has had an ACL, and MCL reconstruction and the knee cap removed. (Streetbike/Kerb incident) Then I damaged the ACL again (unicycle/Doberman incident) and was told I needed another reconstruction, which I declined.

Unfortunately, I refer to that knee as my "good one".

The other was primarily damaged dabbing my foot at walking pace. (Wet stick, XR250)

I do not like wearing knee braces. I do not ride without them. CTi custom pair.
I've caught my foot in holes on sand tracks and things like that that I'm sure would have done more damage except for the braces.
They are the modern helmet: Won't protect against everything, could in some circumstances make things worse. Cost pleanty. Are not as comfortable as nothing. Mad to ride without them.
BobbyLight
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BobbyLight 6/6/2017 7:57am
6/6/2017 7:57am Edited Date/Time 6/6/2017 7:57am
Andy_Greenney wrote:
I tried riding without knee braces once when I forgot to pack them and couldn't manage a lap, seriously. I think some of it probably comes...
I tried riding without knee braces once when I forgot to pack them and couldn't manage a lap, seriously. I think some of it probably comes down to better boot protection, in the 80's the ankle might have taken more of a hit, that force will go somewhere so knee is the next stop. There is only so much protection that can be offered, and twisting has to be the hardest to cover, but the general all round protection they offer from side impact etc can't be beaten.

Had a friend that got caught in a first turn pile up, leg out with the bars coming down on top of his knee, snapped his femur where the brace ended, brutal at the time but a lot less trouble than a destroyed knee
So considering I have a hip replacement I probably should not wear knee braces huh? If I snapped my femur up near the hip that would not go well as a rod is running down it.
OW38B
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OW38B 6/6/2017 8:02am
6/6/2017 8:02am
KTMShane699 wrote:
I won't ride without them. They don't eliminate the forces applied, they simply transfer them to long bones which generally are stronger and heal better. If...
I won't ride without them. They don't eliminate the forces applied, they simply transfer them to long bones which generally are stronger and heal better.

If I forgot my knee braces...I'd turn around and leave the track without unloading.

Shane
OK, no doubt you are 100% on board with "Team Knee Brace".
AS64
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AS64 6/6/2017 8:33am
6/6/2017 8:33am
I bought a pair Asterisk knee braces, got them adjusted/fitted right and went out for a moto... after 3 laps I knew they were not for me. I took them off, put them back in the box and got a refund. I've never felt so "tight" while riding then when I did wearing the braces... You might say I pulled the pin too early, but I know what I like and knew those were just not going to work. I tend be pretty picky about my gear feel. Even a heavier mx pant will make me feel tight and not 100% on the bike, which is why I look for the lightest gear possible (which usually tends to be the cheapest). I do recognize that there is a benefit to having them in certain situations, and I may look at getting another pair in the future. Whatever I go with will be a custom fit, minimalist design like the CTI.
Iwannaride
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Iwannaride 6/7/2017 3:50pm
6/7/2017 3:50pm
The answer is "NOT REALLY". Braces were/are designed to protect and stabilize the joint for patients who have undergone ACL or similar procedures. Unlike MX walking, post surgery, is not a high energy activity. Post surgical braces are designed to aid with stability and protect the ACL graft as it heals. MX, on the other hand is a high energy activity and is held in place via straps! The majority of ACL injuries (That POP most riders describe) occur when the foot is planted and twisted. A brace does nothing to stop this motion. Think about it? Most basketball players comment that they were running down the court, planted their foot and turned when they felt it pop! I could go on

So what are braces good for when riding?
1. Psychologically they work because you've been told they do
2. They help stabilize the joint when riding which will reduce some injuries
3. Help to keep you from hyper flexion.
But they will not stop you from planting and twisting within the brace

FYI. I tore my pcl, mcl and wore braces to help with stability during healing and I continue to wear them because Orthopaedics is my job and the braces were given to me.

Pit Row

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