After ACL Surgery: Four Advices For Wearing A Brace Or Not
1.
Dr. Jeff Abrams
Princeton, New Jersey
Braces are good for additional protection and to prevent hyperextension. Some careful individuals who live in good weather may go without them.
2.
F. Alan Barber MD, FACS
Plano, Texas
A sports brace will protect your reconstruction and allow you to return to pivoting sports as early as 12 weeks after surgery (patellar tendon autograft). However, if you do not care to return this quickly, the graft naturally strengthens over time. No brace is required 12 months after surgery. In other words, if you are willing to take it easy until 12 months after surgery, a custom made knee brace is not necessary.
3.
Dr. Don Johnson
Ottawa, Canada
Bracing after surgery is optional. One of the reasons to have a reconstruction is to avoid the use of the brace in the long term. Most patients will have a brace pre-op. This brace is used in the early post-op period to prevent re-injury due to a slip or fall. If the knee is stable after the ACL reconstruction, there is no need to use a brace.
4.
Dr. Hugh West
Salt Lake City, Utah
Over the last 10 years, I have used bracing less and less. At this point, I very rarely use a brace after surgery or brace patients when they return to sports. In my experience, bracing can sometimes slow rehabilitation and doesn't really offer much of an advantage in protecting the ACL from injury or make it heal faster.
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FUNCTIONAL ACL KNEE BRACE
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151 comments
Christopher
I tore my ACL and meniscus in high school playing soccer at the beginning of my senior year of high school. I had to watch my team win and make it all the way to the state championship game. Nothing was harder than not being able to contribute or take part. Back then I didn’t know too much about physical therapy and didn’t take it as seriously as I didn’t have much support from family during my recovery process. This took a toll on me physically and psychologically to the point where I didn’t play the game I loved for years.
Fast forward a couple years through college and post undergrad I still can’t play soccer confidently and my strikes are no where near as powerful as the were pre surgery. I’ve gone through so many braces, sleeves, kinesiology tape, you name it to find more support and comfort that it has just become exhausting and expensive. I still find mobility is an issue and during the game I am always doubting the stability within my knee. I feel I will always be a step under my past potential until i can feel comfortable that my knee has the support it needs.
After finding this site and reading all the success stories I would love to give bracelayer a try and finally find a product that works. Thanks!