Injury prevention or post-injury use?

The CTi is designed to offer maximum protection against injury and re-injury. In extreme sports a ligament knee support is seen as a preventative measure, the same reason you wear a helmet, protective clothing, a neck brace, boots, etc. The use of a rigid ACL brace is just part of the standard protective equipment.

For some, only when they have suffered ligament damage, do they realise the importance of bracing. It is commonly accepted that once you’ve had a ligament injury there is an increased risk of it happening again as there is often an inherent weakness in the joint. In addition, there are long term effects for those who have suffered ligament damage as they are more likely to suffer from degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis of the knee.

Common knee injuries

Of all sporting injuries, damage to the knee is one of the most common.

Just think about what a knee can be subjected to in sports such as football, rugby, squash, and tennis.

Consider how easy it is to stress the knee joint from a particular direction by twisting or changing direction quickly.

Now think of the forces going through the knee when we compete / participate in sports like motocross, skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, mountain biking etc. The potential for stress to the knee increases dramatically.

As sports have evolved, the demands on athletes’ bodies and the potential for injuries have increased dramatically.

The major knee ligaments are the ACL, PCL, MCL and LCL. Any of these ligaments can be stretched, strained or torn leaving the ligaments permanently damaged if surgery is not successful.

Unfortunately, many people only find out about ligament protection once they have an injury to protect. So whether it is to protect an existing injury or to prevent against an injury, knee bracing becomes a very important piece of kit for your chosen sport. Choose carefully.