Every injury imaginable can occur on a ski slope.
Although never guaranteed, protecting and managing those forces which impact the knee may be done via a protective brace.
There are three primary ways of injuring the knee while skiing:
- When a ski catches an edge and the force twists the knee.
- Being run into by other skiers, this injury is referred to as a valgus or varus-inducing force at the knee. This can cause MCL and LCL injuries.
- For inexperienced skiers, they can run into objects such as trees and the knee is hit at the front. This can cause posterior translation at the tibia, which can result in PCL injuries.
Additionally, there are high speeds and other less experienced people on the mountain to contend with. Bracing can be an effective method of protecting your knee from injury or re-injury.
Requirements of a Quality Knee Brace
At Orthotics Plus, we break bracing into two categories of requirements:
- Symptomatic control – for skiers with sore knees who want compression and warmth to make their knees feel controlled, comfortable and stable.
- Biomechanical control – for skiers requiring a more rigid structure from their brace to try and protect the knee from undesirable movements and forces.
This article will include both types of knee braces.
7 – Bauerfeind GenuTrain
The GenuTrain is a compressive sleeve brace with padding inside. This low cost brace is suitable for those with
- An irritable knee
- Mild to moderate pain levels
- Tendonitis
- General inflammation
It’s not structural but does provide symptomatic relief. They’re quite comfortable and can be worn all day.
They are relatively expensive for a sleeve brace (around the $160 AUD mark), but they’re also very good quality.
6 – SecuTec Genu
The Securetec Genu is Bauerfeind’s rigid brace. It is a mid-price brace for the category (approx $699).
It is of quite a solid construction. It has long lever arms, which is good for control of the limb.
The double edge sword is that the length of the lever arms might interrupt where your ski boot finishes. So, you may want to consider something shorter if you are wearing tall boots.
5 – Bauerfeind GenuTrain S
The GenuTrain S is a compressive knee sleeve, and shares similarities to the GenuTrain.
It has a silicon patella ‘doughnut’ made from a compressive weave that helps to control swelling. This compression is a medical grade compression and is quite firm.
The brace has moderately flexible uprights and straps top and bottom, front and back to provide a degree of control of the ACL and the PCL. It has struts on either side to control the MCL and the LCL as well.
It’s an easy-to-wear brace. It’s slightly less bulky than some of the rigid braces.
It is suitable for people who have generalised knee pain and need support. At Orthotics Plus, we do not recommend this brace for recovery from a bad ligament injury.
The brace is mid-tier (approx $345) and a sound option.
4 – DJO Armor
The DJO Armor is a rigid knee brace that provides a good amount of medial-lateral support.
This brace has a short tibial section, so when wearing ski boots, it doesn’t have to sit inside the ski boot. An additional benefit of the Armor design is the rigid shell of the brace being away from the shin, so people who do not tolerate load on this region find it more comfortable.
Not suitable for everyone, but for skiers with limited space, it’s a good option.
3 – DJO Defiance
The DJO Defiance is a high-end custom knee brace.
We suggest it has excellent control and is very comfortable.
They can be custom-made to suit all kinds of leg shapes. You can get them shortened to fit inside a ski boot or the length that you want.
One positive is that wearers are less likely to get shin pressure with this type of brace because most of the structure is at the posterior aspect of the knee brace.
The biggest negative is the price, being high cost ($1800+).
2 – Ossur Rebound Dual
The Ossur Rebound Dual is a very low-profile, comfortable brace that offers structural support for ligament instabilities.
It provides anterior translation restriction via the front strap.
It has a contoured front shell, so there is low shin pressure, making it easy to wear during a long day on the slopes.
As a mid-cost brace (approx $900 AUD) it offers excellent value for money.
For people with ACL issues or knee instability, this is a multipurpose brace that should be considered.
1 – Ossur Custom CTi
At the top of the list is the Ossur CTi Custom, which is a brace that can be customised to the wearer. At Orthotics Plus we have the capacity to conduct the 3D scanning and measuring required to measure for this brace.,
It is made out of carbon fibre and is very rigid. It will provide maximum control of the limb.
It also offers maximum protection from physical impacts as it is extremely strong, both in its capacity to withstand force and prevent unwanted movement.
It has a ski boot attachment, allowing the transmission of forces away from the knee into the hip.
The drawbacks are the shin pressure, as a lot of the structure is located at the front of the leg, however, this is a trade-off for maximum control and anterior protection. This is the brace of choice for many Olympic level skiers and extreme athletes.
The Custom CTi also has a lifetime warranty and a fit guarantee.
Pricing for a custom CTi begins at around $1500.
Please allow a minimum of 3 weeks for us to measure, manufacture and fit this brace prior to your trip.
Accessing the Right Knee Brace for You
This list is simply a suggestion and does not serve as a definitive guide for you.
What’s number 7 on our list, may actually be number 1 for you.
The best way to determine what brace is most suitable is to book an appointment with an Orthotist, such as Orthotics Plus.
They can assess you, discuss the situation, try a few on and you can determine which one suits your budget, lifestyle and preferences.
Your anatomy and tolerance for comfort are unique to you.
Notes on Buying Knee Braces Online
There are thousands of knee braces available online. We suggest avoiding the purchase of a brace online, especially if buying a brace for biomechanical control.
At Orthotics Plus we suggest braces that actually function, and then match options up with your leg shape, your condition, and your requirements and instruct on proper fitting and use.
Do You Need a New Brace for the Slopes this Winter?
Then please contact Orthotics Plus.
- We have multiple clinics throughout Melbourne
- You can try on braces during your assessment
- We are experienced in treating many knee conditions
- Our senior clinicians are university trained with a minimum of 10 years of experience.
Please view our clinic locations page to find the closest clinic to you, and we hope to see you on the slopes!