Bushwalk Australia

Can anyone recommend a knee support brace that is comfortable to wear all day?

Iv'e tried a few but they are either hot and sweaty, not supportive or just too uncomfortable for steep bushwalking.
Anyone with unstable knees? What do you use?

Nuts wrote:Anyone with unstable knees? What do you use?

These

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en ... king-pole/

I was a bit reckless when I was young, had a motorbike crash and generally stuffed my knees up quite a bit. Not limping stuffed but weight-bearing-hill-climbing stuffed. So for the past ten years or so I've worn a pair of knee braces. I'm afraid that I don't know the brand or anything but they were bought at a pharmacy and are those compression ones. They really help too, I think in the sense that they keep things in place with light and constant pressure. Perhaps different knee complaints might warrant a differing approach. Mine occasionally slip up or down too but across a whole day there is very little to maintain. I'd recommend trying them and seeing if they help.

Painkillers and Oil of Wintergreen.
I too have never found a brace that isn't too hot for walking but for skiing I use those blue neoprene patella stabilisers you buy at the chemists for about $80- , which reminds me I need a new pair

in my 2011 medical supplier catalogue, I counted 86 different types of knee braces!

Even my supplier gets puzzled when I need them to explain to me the differences between similar braces.

Perhaps we can make some recommendations depending on which structures in your knee needs support? Where is your pain? Do you know if you have any laxity in your LCL, MCL, ACL or PC ligaments, meniscus or tendons? Do you know which joint in the knee is worn out like your tibfem joint? Patellofem joint?...

It's not an exact science. Requires abit of educated guessing and lots of trial and error unfortunately.

Hi Nuts,

I agree with some of the comments above ... you really need to know the specific problem with your knee/s to come up with the right solution. It could be one of the many types of knee braces around as NP mentioned (specific to the issue/s with your knees) or it could be quite different, for example, some specific rehab exercises to build the muscles around your knee to keep it more stable. Best not to self diagnose (or rely on advice from a forum, as well meaning as it might be). If you don't know for sure the specific problem/s with your knees, take the time and get some professional advice, go and see a sports physiotherapist (a physio trained specifically to diagnose and treat injuries caused through sport and physical activity). They will advise you the best course of action for your knees. Might be a bit more costly in time and money in the short term but it will give you better results over the longer term. (Especially important for you given you guide for a living). Good luck!

Cheers,

JB

I have Patella Chondromalacia, managed for a long time now with physio, exercises. I don't take any medication, have been through a progression of braces starting with a custom brace and ending in what I could tolerate, basically an generic elastic support with a patella hole. That and using walking poles where possible seems to have kept it 'no worse'. The pain is most pronounced including stiffness for the days after a walk, heavier packs or long steep descents. Iv'e had discussions about surgery but the prognosis is for perhaps a few years relief.. unless i give up carrying a pack..

More recently, and too the point, a partially torn MCL. It first occurred several months ago, managed the WA's easy enough then my knee just gave way... just turning around in the kitchen... anyhow.. much worse for the first few days than it has been since (though it is still a bit unstable which is a worry) I seem to be able to throw it out every week or two). I'm trying to be patient with yet another set of exercises.

So.. the brace recommended was (in this case) just a generic chemist brace (like I have used in the past) to give some basic support for tracking and some pressure over the tear. Iv'e heard & read a variety of opinion on appropriate bracing, including contention over whether they actually do anything at all to help.

In my case, perhaps just in the mind, having something giving 'any' support but at least some warmth (at least) helps. Either way i'm sure that there would be something more suitable (than the everyday elastic brace) to both the injury/injuries and walking?

I do have some medical experience.. enough to sort through internet advice.. but it is good to hear from people who understand both bushwalking and physio (pm if you prefer)
Also good to get ideas from others with similar (manageable) injuries.

If I cant get it stable a sports physio may be next, it has been ok for a few weeks now and i'm hoping to do some steeper walks.

Thanks for the interest.

(youv'e changed states J'bean? )

I

Nuts wrote:I have Patella Chondromalacia...

Which is what, in layman's terms?

I have a weak left MCL (from a bad tear about 13 years ago) and a loose right kneecap that is managed through regular exercises taught to me by a Physio. Plus probably a few other minor wear-and-tear issues. If either one plays up too much, I use one of those neoprene braces with the hole. It works. Probably minor protection from snakebite, too . . .

Hi Nuts,

If the instability/giving way continues I'd definitely go back to the sports physio and get it re-assessed to make sure that there is nothing that was missed the first time or that you haven't done any further damage - to the MCL, ACL, meniscus.

If the chondromalacia is still a problem even with the exercises (assume they include exercises to strengthen the VMO?) and there are no other issues, I'd also consider asking your physio whether some McConnell taping can help you? (It's a specific taping technique to help reduce patellofemoral pain), it helped me heaps.

NNW - chondromalacia patella is a softening of the cartilage that lines the back of the kneecap, often the kneecap doesn't track properly which causes/increases the irritation and pain at the front of the knee/behind the kneecap. Exercises that strengthen Vastus medialis (the quad muscle at the inside front of the knee), help improve the tracking of the kneecap. Taping specifically for this problem can also help, especially until the VMO gets strong enough to do its job properly.

[N.B. I'm not a physio but have a sports science/coaching background, work in high performance sport and have a long history of knee injuries (both knees) - ruptured MCL, chondromalacia, meniscus tears x 2, osteochondral defect on the back of my patella (chunk out of the back of my kneecap caused by a fall), fat pad impingement, ITBFS ... I'm sure there's something I missed! ) . After my MCL tear (many years ago), I wore a brace for that for a while (until it repaired itself), did a stack of knee rehab exercises (including lots of VMO ex's), used taping - different types depending on what the issue was. Walking poles are also one of my best friends when walking, especially for steep descents (more open terrain, obviously difficult to use if it's very scrubby or you're scrambling).

Nuts, I moved back to Perth last December (I'm originally from Perth, I just had a 17 year interlude in Sydney!). However I received an offer to good to refuse when we were in London recently so am heading to the UK to work in January. Will be doing most of my walking there (or Europe) for the next little while!

Cheers,

JB

Jellybean wrote:NNW - chondromalacia patella is a softening of the cartilage that lines the back of the kneecap, often the kneecap doesn't track properly which causes/increases the irritation and pain at the front of the knee/behind the kneecap. Exercises that strengthen Vastus medialis (the quad muscle at the inside front of the knee), help improve the tracking of the kneecap.

That sounds like my right knee. Except that it's been a problem since my late teens. Nice to finally have a medical term for it (possibly).

ps: Thank you.

Thanks Jellybean!! thought i'd had problems, sounds like you've had one of everything..

Another member has been helping as well. I'm looking through some braces that may be suitable. The MCL tear is the immediate problem. Unfortunately I also have tracking problems/gait associated with the chronic injury and the brace for CP pulls from the inside, at odds with trying to relieve pressure from the MCL. The Chondromalacia isn't really anything other than slow downhill and pain afterwards (if pushed too far). I do have a range of exercises to strengthen inner thigh muscles, not the most disciplined with these but I should try harder it seems.

The MCL gives way like it too clicks out/lets my knee click of tracking somehow, it can even happen with a subtle change of direction mid-step (movements you don't even realise occur without injury). Iv'e done a fair bit of walking over winter (in WA ) carrying daypack weight and it seems to be ok while tight, perhaps warm. Still pretty daunting not knowing what will happen leaping between boulders though , the confidence thing is a big part of such injuries.

Iv'e been involved with several local physio J'bean, perhaps i'll see if I can find someone more experienced with performance/sports injury.

Cheers!

Just to add that while I understand there are a number of possible injuries involving knees (and dozens of braces for each) there are many braces in the kneewarmer/'some general support' category. I guess the purpose of the topic was in hope of someone raving about one that they wear. Not too hot (ie neoprene), doesn't bunch up behind the knee (ie futuro elastic type)..

north-north-west wrote:

Jellybean wrote:NNW - chondromalacia patella is a softening of the cartilage that lines the back of the kneecap, often the kneecap doesn't track properly which causes/increases the irritation and pain at the front of the knee/behind the kneecap. Exercises that strengthen Vastus medialis (the quad muscle at the inside front of the knee), help improve the tracking of the kneecap.

That sounds like my right knee. Except that it's been a problem since my late teens. Nice to finally have a medical term for it (possibly).

ps: Thank you.

Try leaning over something putting pressure on your lower leg (ie making a bed etc) The pain under your kneecap will let you know straight away if this is a similar injury.
There are exercises specific for it NNW, perhaps in addition to those you are doing? If it gets too bad you should probably also have someone assess whether bio-mechanics are an issue, whether you have a hereditary gait, whether a tension type brace might help? (if you can tolerate wearing one) Walking poles help where you can use them, far less pain in the days after a walk (for me).

Or these Nuts ... a pair of these would solve everything.

rucksack

Mechanical Pants ?? I like them! What do they weigh?

Yes, I'm afraid that they are not exactly lightweight, but remember, those mechanical pants do the walking for you - your knees just go along for the ride. The only thing to watch out for is that little guy in the bottom right hand corner, the one wearing the red kitchen glove on his head. He's trouble. But don't be deterred. You've made a tent, and if you can polish up your welding and pop riveting skills, you could be only a short step away from walking without pain. Your knees will love you.

rucksack

This forum is great, iv'e had advice from a physio, coach, doctor, naturopath.. and now a comedian
(a grommet pack would be easier r/sack)

Nuts wrote:

north-north-west wrote:

Jellybean wrote:NNW - chondromalacia patella is a softening of the cartilage that lines the back of the kneecap, often the kneecap doesn't track properly which causes/increases the irritation and pain at the front of the knee/behind the kneecap. Exercises that strengthen Vastus medialis (the quad muscle at the inside front of the knee), help improve the tracking of the kneecap.

That sounds like my right knee. Except that it's been a problem since my late teens. Nice to finally have a medical term for it (possibly).

ps: Thank you.

Try leaning over something putting pressure on your lower leg (ie making a bed etc) The pain under your kneecap will let you know straight away if this is a similar injury.
There are exercises specific for it NNW, perhaps in addition to those you are doing? If it gets too bad you should probably also have someone assess whether bio-mechanics are an issue, whether you have a hereditary gait, whether a tension type brace might help? (if you can tolerate wearing one) Walking poles help where you can use them, far less pain in the days after a walk (for me).

It's probably mainly to do with the hip being a bit wonky, which was probably caused by an untreated injury when I was about 13. Probably exacerbated by twelve years of martial arts training. And a lot of other stuff.
And the exercises I do are designed specifically for it, I just didn't pick up the name the physio gave the condition when he treated it. In fact, I didn't even realise it was a common enough condition for it to have a special name all its own.

You can get chomdrmalacia in any joint, iirc the common knee condition is also called runners knee.
Substitute 'worn out' 'buggered' etc. ironic that its associated with excessive exercise as I believe a similar condition occurs in people suffering chronic obesity...(of course- anyone come in if anything to add or correct)