knee brace
Thread started by
tortuga_veloce at 04.15.09 - 9:25 am
i injured my knee a while ago. (i believe it to be an LCL tear.) since monday, its started acting up again: tenderness, soreness, feeling of water on the knee.... i've tried to take it easy, but since my bike is my only transportation, i can't just stop riding. i'm thinking of investing in a knee brace, but i dont know which one to get. anyone else have this problem? suggestions?
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I don't know where to find one around here, but if you go to a real medical supply store, they should be able to get you exactly what you need. The pharmacy I worked at in TX had one, and the people in that department had to know everything about fitting, etc. for all their supplies.
danya04.15.09 - 9:29 am
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You should check out an sports store,like sports authority,sports chalet,ect. They have some decent braces that are quality and probably could wear it when your riding.
madmike04.15.09 - 9:41 am
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what kinds of qualities do i want to look for? stiff, tight, holes on the sides? i have to assume that whoever works there will know less than you guys.
tortuga_veloce04.15.09 - 9:45 am
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Get that checked out, knee injuries are nothing to screw around with.
Better than / in addition to a brace should be some physical therapy / working out to build up the muscles around your knee to better hold things in place.
Get a car!
JB04.15.09 - 10:17 am
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Most of them will have the basic hole in the middle,I say you should get the one with the 2 straps that are above and below the knee cap,it dosnt hold mobility down in your knee so you can still ride and have the full protection of a knee brace.
that should help you and still keep you out and about,
madmike04.15.09 - 10:18 am
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And idk if that'll work for bike riding,it worked for me in high school when I was playing football,I had all the mobilty I needed,the only set back was that it kinda sucked putting on and off and gave me a rash =/
madmike04.15.09 - 10:23 am
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or an lcl injury the braces with hinges are crucial. this is to support lateral movement (duhhhh!) around the knee while still giving it full range of motion. the prices of the knee braces will vary even with the hinge option, but just make sure its secure and not going to come off.
_iJunes04.15.09 - 10:31 am
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thanks ijunes. im going to check that out.
for the next few days, i guess i'll be commuting on my left leg only. it's a good thing i have the cliplessness.
tortuga_veloce04.15.09 - 12:16 pm
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the best advice i can give is to 1) check your fit to your bike(s) and 2) lower your gear inches.
tfunk40804.15.09 - 12:54 pm
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but if you insist, something like http://www.pro-tec-athletics.com/IT-Band_c_169.html might help.
tfunk40804.15.09 - 12:57 pm
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depending on the amount of hurt, mcdavid makes a brace without the patella cap, the circle in the middle, which is essentially two straps one above and one below the knee
of course this is designed to help with instability, not really force compression, so for riding, it might be easier.
continue stretching yoru hamstrings, and calves, and massage and ice. you can't really fix your knee if its flawed, but you can strengthen the muslces around it to support it better.
_iJunes04.15.09 - 1:01 pm
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Chill on all the brace talk, especially pricey ones with hinges. I agree a minor neoprene one might help but much better than that is to treat the swelling and aggravation on the LCL (tendinitis). Make a point every day, at the end of the day, to rest on a couch with your leg up and ice it. And take the max daily dose of Ibuprofen. There's a reason orthopede docs call it "Vitamin i". Most knee pain goes away after being treated with RICE (Rest Incline/Ibuprofen, Compression, Elevation).
0gravity04.15.09 - 1:03 pm
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the it band won't much really help cause all its doing is applying compression to the area.
check your saddle height, you might be tweaking your lcl as you pedal up and down but there isn't enough leg clearance so your knee moves slightly outward as you pedal.
im dealing with an MCL right now myself...
_iJunes04.15.09 - 1:03 pm
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he's had a previous tear though.
_iJunes04.15.09 - 1:04 pm
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