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Skiing & Knee braces
Are you going on a ski trip this winter? Need some help protecting your knees? Skiing is a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. However, it can also be a dangerous sport, and your knees are impacted the most. Whether you have a pre-existing knee injury or you want to prevent injuries from occurring, knee braces can help, and they can also help to improve your performance and recovery.
Benefits of using a Knee Brace
There are many benefits to using knee braces while skiing. Some of the benefits include:
- Prevention of knee injuries: Knee braces can help prevent knee injuries by providing support and stability to the knee joint. This is especially important for people who are at risk of knee injuries, such as those with a history of knee injuries or those who are overweight or obese.
- Improved performance: Knee braces can help to improve performance by providing support and stability to the knee joint. This can help to reduce the risk of injury and allow you to ski more confidently and efficiently.
- Accelerated recovery: Knee braces can help to accelerate recovery from a knee injury by providing support and stability to the knee joint. This can help to reduce pain and swelling and allow you to return to skiing sooner.
TYPES OF KNEE BRACES
There are many different types of knee braces available and the search for the right brace can be a bit confusing. We can break down bracing in terms of what they are trying to achieve, as each type will have its own specific benefits
General knee braces
- General knee braces provide support and stability to the knee joint without restricting movement.
- They are not made of heavy duty materials. They may have plastic stays on each side for some lateral support but do not prevent or restrict movement specifically.
- They will have more of a proprioceptive effect, which means the brace helps the neuromuscular system work to protect the knee during activity.
- These braces are a good choice for people who are looking to prevent knee injuries from occurring or just want that bit of protection and support.
- You can consider these types of braces on a spectrum from very basic sleeves eg Supporta Knee Wrap, Actimove Genu Motion, Medi Genumedi, Medi Genu Motion E-Motion.
- Braces that offer a little more support generally have plastic lateral stays and extra straps for support eg Supporta Knee Stabiliser, Genumedi PT, Orthocare Genucare Airx with stays, Bauerfeind GenuTrain, Bauerfeind GenuTrain A3.
Rehabilitative knee braces
- Rehabilitative knee braces provide more support and stability than General knee braces.
- They are made from more heavy duty materials and the stabilising features can vary from lateral metal hinge supports right up to carbon fibre construction that will totally minimise lateral and rotational forces.
- These braces are a good choice for people who are recovering from a knee injury or have a pre-existing injury. Categories of these include stability issues eg MCL or ACL, or generalised arthritic conditions.
- Choosing the right brace will depend on your knee history. Generally speaking if you have had a more recent ACL type injury, or an injury that has severely impacted your knee stability, then you are more likely benefit from a more heavy duty brace such as a Ossur Rebound Dual, Ossur CTi3 or CTI Custom. Top performer- Ossur CTi3
- If you have milder in-stability issue but your knee is in pretty good shape, then a brace with metal hinge support and supporting straps will work such as the Orthocare Genucare Stable, Orthocare Genucare AirX, Bauerfind Genu Train S, Ossur Formfit ROM, Medi Stabimed
Patellar tracking braces
- These are designed to help the patella (kneecap) track properly in the knee joint. They can be helpful for people with patellofemoral pain syndrome or patella tendon pathologies.
- These braces don’t generally create mechanical stability like Rehabilitative knee braces and will have an effect on the patellofemoral complex more specifically. They will also have generalised proprioceptive effect on the knee joint like General knee braces.
- The most popular patellofemoral knee braces are Orthocare Genu Luxa, OttoBock Genu Carezza. Our favourite- Genu Carezza.
- The most popular braces for patella tendon issues are Orthocare Patella tendon Support, Genumedi PSS, Orthocare Genucare Jumpers Knee.
Unloader knee braces
- Unloader knee braces shift the weight loading from one side of the knee joint to the other. They are quite a specific brace for specific problems.
- These are a good choice for people who have knee arthritis, specifically uni-compartmental conditions like OA or degenerative meniscal issues.
- There is range of bracing available and is dependent on the amount of unloading required. The best unloading is achieved with the Ossur Unloader One X.
- Other options to consider are Ossur Formfit OA Ease, Ossur Formfit Pro Knee OA
TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT KNEE BRACE
When choosing a knee brace for skiing, there are a few things to keep in mind:
The type of injury you have or are at risk of:
- If you have a history of knee injuries, or if you are at risk of knee injuries, you will need a brace that provides more support and stability (Rehabilitative Knee Brace).
- If you do not have any knee problems, you may be able to get away with a less supportive brace (General Knee Brace).
- The proprioceptive effect of a simple knee brace can go a long away in helping protect the knee.
The type of injury you have or are at risk of:
- If you have a history of knee injuries, or if you are at risk of knee injuries, you will need a brace that provides more support and stability (Rehabilitative Knee Brace).
- If you do not have any knee problems, you may be able to get away with a less supportive brace (General Knee Brace).
- The proprioceptive effect of a simple knee brace can go a long away in helping protect the knee.
The level of activity you plan to participate in:
- If you are an avid skier who plans to ski on difficult terrain, you will need a brace that provides more support and stability than a recreational skier.
The fit of the brace:
- The brace should fit snugly but not too tightly. It should not restrict your range of motion.
- Braces have sizing and measuring guides to follow.
Consider how the brace secures to your knee
- There is nothing worse than a slipping knee brace!
- The more simple knee braces are available in pull up and wrap around versions. The wrap around versions allow you to get a better fit as you can adjust more specifically to your knee contours. If you rather a pull up brace then make sure the brace has wraps around the top and bottom to allow you secure the brace.
- The softer, fabric braces generally have an anti-slip around the top.
Price:
- Knee braces can range in price from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. It is important to find a brace that fits your budget.
It is important to note that this is just a general guide, and the best type of brace for you will depend on the specific injury you have. It is always best to consult with a doctor or therapist to get their recommendations on the best type of brace for your individual needs.
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