Got a knee brace, now how to ride...

F

fancyduncan

New User
Joined
29 May 2010
Messages
3
Visit site
I blew out the PCL in my right knee in November, but my doctors failed with figuring that out until a few months ago. Now I have a big fancy knee brace which they claim will be "just fine to ride in". Yet they say it must be in contact with my skin to prevent it from slipping, and it's pretty thick in the knee area. Here's the brace: http://www.vqorthocare.com/Products/Bracing_Supports/Ligament_Knee/Eagle.php

Any advice on how to ride with this without it slipping or absolutely shredding my saddle? I thought about really tight full seat britches and full chaps, but then there's the showing situation. Thanks for your thoughts!
 
It shouldn't slip with full seat breeches - maybe even better than skin!! For riding at home maybe try a saddle cover? A fleece one with slits cut in the bottom of the flaps for the stirrup leathers? Or full chaps over as you suggested maybe although you may have issues with sizing!! Alternatively maybe there will be some breeches that will go over it? But probaby not full seat as they may not have enough stretch. Dublin breeches tend to be more generous in the leg cut that some others such as Toggi which I find very tight in the knee and calf (my legs are NOT slim!!). Is this a short or long term solution for your injury?
 
If you're just doing flat work showing (eg not working hunter) how about a neoprene brace just for showing? May not b enough support but could be worth a try as would be more discreet.
 
Hmm, I like the saddle cover idea. I actually tried trotting with the brace today and realized that the brace protects just the right spots, almost eliminating the need for chaps. I haven't seen any full saddle covers that you can ride in, though. Only ones covering the seat. Do you know where I could find one?
 
The person who events my mare has a knee brace she has till wear until she has an operation at the end of the season. She has special little fleacey pads which go over the brace which i think she got with the brace, or from where she got the brace from. She is currently eventing novice with the brace on so no issues with riding/jumping with one on :)
 
I'm getting a cover with mine, but it's not fleece. So she can really event with it? I could not feel my horse at all when I got on. Guess it's just adjustment. Thanks for the feedback!
 
Yep she events with it on, she has to show a letter from her doctor/physio to say they are happy for her to ride when she arrives at the event and she had to send one to BE. The cover protects tack really well, there is no way she would ride in my shinney new k2 dressage saddle without !! So far no marks on the saddle !! She doesnt seem to have any problems with feel etc when riding in it.
Good luck !
 
okaay, i did my ACL back in November, have had full reconstructive surgery. bought a fancy brace and took it to show my specialist. he said that basically they don't work, they tried them extensively in other sports (particularly American Football, v high incidence of cruciate injuries) and the brace relies on the strength of its hold on the skin (not slipping at all) for its stabilising efficacy, the moment it slips you lose the support. they had guys wearing really good braces re-injuring themselves... specialist told me that strengthening up my muscles (quads in partic) was the best answer by far i'm back riding again (carefully, on certain pretty trustworthy neddies only, for now) without a brace, tried riding in it once but because it touched the saddle inside the knee, it made my lower leg stick out, i had to really work to bring it back in to touch horse's side, more stress on my knee than leg just hanging down normally, seemed counterproductive tbh.
sorry, that might not be what you want to hear... good luck!
 
Hi

Im interested to see your doctor has said knee braces dont work??

I have torn my (wait for it!!) ACL (not even attached) MCL (now held together with scar tissue) and damaged my meniscus -its called the terrible triad.

After having an MRI scan seeing specialists and I have a very good extreme sport physio I have to have re-constructive surgery. But as they have said I cant ride for at least 6 months after Ive chosen to either wait until my knee completely goes or try to last the event season.

So to do this I have been advised to wear a knee brace. Its a GTI one and cost around £500 but is brilliant it does not support the knee it just holds the knee where my ligaments dont so in other words my knee cannot move in the wrong places so cant get any worse.

I ride all day, teach do the yard and yes event a few horses in it.

It too a little bit of getting used to but now I forget its on (until I get a funny look!). Ive got pads over the hinges on the sides to protect the saddles.

I had to get a letter from my physio saying I was allowed to ride and that he advised to wear the brace as BE will not let you ride otherwise.

Although its not a cure it means i can have surgery when I want.
 
well, i'm only going on what he said. i had an "unhappy triad" 8 yrs ago (similar sort of thing to yours but not as bad i guess, ACL and meniscus were definitely damaged) and then this time did ACL and Medial collateral ligament (dislocated knee when MCL went). had op 3 months ago. i'm sure if my Specialist (one of top knee surgeons in the country apparently, does a lot of Premiership footballers and was recommended to me by a Prem Football Club's head physio) believed a knee brace would protect my knee, he'd have me in one all the time... he doesn't want to have to try to reconstruct my ACL again, i have a limited amount of hamstring left for him to borrow!
were you riding at Hambleden? if so, you walked past me, i saw a really interesting knee brace on a rider and was v tempted to ask about it!
 
My daughter rides in one of these - she has a badly damaged knee following a motorbike accident and then operation 18 months ago - initially she just used it for gentle hacking and in the school - now she is jumping 1mtr courses in competitions wearing it - to be honest the thing that upsets her most about it is that people just stare at it and don't bother to ask why she is wearing it - I think one person wondered if it was a "fashion accessory".

If you like I will get her to pm you with any advice/information that may help.
 
yes was at hambelden!

So how are you finding riding now after the op? was the rehab hard work??
I agree its not a fix but if it helps me last Ill give it ago not looking forward to not riding for 6 months!!

sounds like we have done similar things!

The children I teach think I look like a transformer, which makes me laugh!
 
ha pearcider, wish i'd accosted you now!
rehab was quite hard work, and it's not totally there yet, op was really worth it though. i'm riding a little, here and there... if i had a trustworthy one here i'd be riding every day but my youngsters aren't 100% trustworthy yet.
it doesn't hurt at all to ride, it feels just the same as the other one (so far), but i know i've ridden later, it aches a bit. Specialist didn't say 6 month ban to me, he said 9 months till it is totally up to twisting, full sports etc.
good luck with yours, hope your knee holds up well till end of season.
 
well if you see me at another event come and say hi it would be great to her all about the op etc from a fellow riders point of view.

glad your on the mend. Im hoping to get my rehab time down but am limited to what exercises I can do now (thinking of swimming in my brace...would I look silly?!!)

Ive heard the rehab is tough but worth it. I cant feel my knee when I ride but like you if I do a lot eg a few quirky ones or 2 comps in one weekend I can feel it and it swells up. The docs say I have managed to block out the pain which sounds impressive, although I think Im just tough (haha)!!

Im looking forward to seeing how different it feels when its done.

Good luck with the rest of your recovery and keep my up date...
 
okay, will do. i should have said that i haven't been banned from riding but from falling off, hence the caution about riding tricksy ones for now... if i fall off while it's still healing and twist it, i'll stretch the still-healing new ligament he's constructed, and end up with a baggy, unstable knee again. No thanks, not doing more time on crutches if i can help it, hence the patience (just) at the moment. so, what i'm trying to say is that you could prob ride far sooner than 6 months, as long as it's a fairly trustworthy neddy.
 
haha I think thats why Im not to ride, in case I fall off!

Apparently it will stop the acl recovery? I dont have many sensible ones, so going to listen to what the pros say and just wait until Im allowed to play again. Ive decided to do a charity swim while Im in rehab if Im allowed to keep myself occupied.

at least they can fix us!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top