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After some advice on knee braces if anyone has needed them for similar issues.
I smashed my knee up fairly badly in a skiing accident about 15 months ago (tibial plateau fracture plus a lot of soft tissue damage). Haven't been on the mountain bike since, but road biking is getting easier and with summer approaching I'm thinking about off road riding again.
I'm a bit worried about the consequences of falling off though. Got a partially ruptured ACL and still missing a fair bit of muscle mass. Obviously taking things easy is the way to go, but only need a moments loss of concentration and even a slow speed but awkward crash could set things back.
Initially I was thinking of an MX knee brace, looking around there are a few that are designed to prevent knee injuries as well as being a knee pad and are intended to deal with worse than I'll be dishing out on a mtb for the time being.
The Leatt X frame looks like it could work, it only has a hinge on the outside so no chance of hitting something bulky on the top tube while pedalling. The CTI ODS also looks a good option, seen it mentioned a few times on mx forums etc and looks very low profile.
Anyone got any other recommendations? Given the cost that might be involved I'm particularly keen on anything that I could use for skiing too once I'm up to it again, so removable padding/kneecap protection are good, unless it's slim enough to fit a normal knee pad over it for mtb use.
Edit: I'll be discussing this with physio and surgeon when I can, before someone says this
I have a torn ACL and if I went for a run I'd have to wait 3 days before I could have another.
Recently bought a patella strap and have just done runs on 3 consecutive days with no pain at all. Cost less than a tenner, give one a go.
Lots of guys on MX bikes wear knee braces, (mostly when its too late) but I never see them on cyclists.
Nowadays theres most likely smaller ones for cycles.
ve been worrying about falling off and landing on tha leg for years.Had ACL surgery 6 years ago
Since my collarbone broke 8 weeks ago I have been walking a few miles everyday, but the knee still feels wrong in the mornings and other times. The muscle build up didnt happen or do much ,as far as I can tell and I dont thnk I'll ever run. So obviously I dont want it getting worse.
I had a POD knee brace which I wore a few times on the moto, but it got in the way and wasnt very comfortable. I couldnt wear it on a cycle
Just got the patellar strap out yesterday as the housemates knee was playing up.She says it helped. I used to use it for walking and riding after I did my ACL and it felt more secure
Which POD did you have? I was thinking of buying one for use on the Enduro bike. I was thinking of getting the K8 obviously its a lot of money if its too uncomfortable to wear.
It was the K300 MX brace
Timely thread as I've got some knee pain after riding a lot for the first half of the lockdown.
It's in a knee that has had an ACL rebuild many years ago and on which I ski without a brace (I have a hinged brace on the other knee after ACL partial tear - lots of physio nut no op).
Riding along got pain in patella region - never got any with ACL issue it just collapsed regularly - so I'm hopeful this is different issue, but it's taking a while to calm down and it's so nice atm I want to be back out on the bike. Can't see GPs / physio being v available to deal with such an elective problem at the moment so
@zippykona - wondering about this patella strap. Is it something like this
Patella Strap
I used knee braces on the mx bike, I wouldn't want to cycle in them
When I said Enduro bike I meant one with an engine, just to be clear on that 🙂
Shattered patella and cartilage damage here. I looked at knee braces but they are just too bulky. Ive used heavy duty knee pads since and the Ion K-pact are the best ive used.
I would not run at all now but I may look at a patella strap after reading the above. Collagen supplements have helped me and I don't think it's just a placebo.
Pedlar, that's the kind of thing. It seems to keep your knee lined up.
Could never figure out how something so small could be any use but it just works.
Pod k4 has worked well for me over the years. I don't trust my knee not to crumble under me when landing jumps. I'm more DH so don't really pedal much with it unless on an ebike.