I was talking with an orthopedic surgeon regarding the use of knee braces as a preventative measure when riding--I currently wear Asterisk braces and have healthy knees, for a 46 year old. Anyway, his recommendation was to ditch the braces and replace them with a knee guard (some type of neoprene wrap with a knee cup).
His reasoning was that knee braces won't protect against the common riding injuries (torn ACL, MCL, etc.), just ask RC he tore is while wearing a custom CTi, my Doc said. And, from a surgery point of view, a knee is easier to repair with potentially less rehab time (he stressed potentially). He noted when the flexibility of the knee joint is taken out of the equation, the stressed points become the upper (femur) and lower (tibia/fibia) leg bones. In his opinion, a broken femur is much more dangerous requiring surgery to repair and up to a year or more to rehab--not to mention potentially lethal :ohmy: due to the close proximity of the femoral artery (I think, going from memory here). He also noted that a tib/fib break, though not potentially lethal, can take 20 or more weeks for rehab.
I have heard this argument brought up before and thought I would ask for insight from members of this forum.
His reasoning was that knee braces won't protect against the common riding injuries (torn ACL, MCL, etc.), just ask RC he tore is while wearing a custom CTi, my Doc said. And, from a surgery point of view, a knee is easier to repair with potentially less rehab time (he stressed potentially). He noted when the flexibility of the knee joint is taken out of the equation, the stressed points become the upper (femur) and lower (tibia/fibia) leg bones. In his opinion, a broken femur is much more dangerous requiring surgery to repair and up to a year or more to rehab--not to mention potentially lethal :ohmy: due to the close proximity of the femoral artery (I think, going from memory here). He also noted that a tib/fib break, though not potentially lethal, can take 20 or more weeks for rehab.
I have heard this argument brought up before and thought I would ask for insight from members of this forum.