22 February 2018
There are few worse feelings than when an injury prevents you from doing what you love. Especially if it means cancelling an expensive ski holiday that you’ve been looking forward to for months, because of a minor injury prior to hitting the slopes.
Some of the common injuries that can scupper your winter break:
All of the above can occur in varying degrees of severity, in any age group, at any fitness level. Activities that involve added force to the knee, or lots of twisting and turning on your legs (such as football, skiing, netball, hockey) carry a higher risk of a knee injury. Treatment for this type of injury varies from conservative (non-surgical) to surgery in the most severe of cases.
But before you get on the phone with your travel insurance providers and assume that skiing is out of the question, it might be worth visiting an orthotist. Special braces, such as the CTi knee brace are designed to provide maximum support and protection following a knee ligament injury.
A CTi brace is made with carbon fibre (a lightweight and strong material) with hinges allowing the knee a certain degree of movement. Once an injury to the knee has occurred, the knee is weak and therefore more prone to further damage. The CTi brace prevents the small twisting movements within the joint and restricts the injured ligament’s movement.
Peter, director of Bays Brewery in Devon, came to us with a medial tear to his meniscus following an accident, having previously been advised to cancel his skiing holiday by a consultant.
Luckily, Peter visited our Kingston clinic en-route to the airport and we were able to assess his injury and fit him with a CTi brace within hours. He then went on to enjoy five days of uninterrupted skiing in Chamonix without any pain or issues.
Peter says: “Having seen the consultant initially I really thought I might have to lose out on the whole holiday – which wouldn’t have been ideal obviously. I told the consultant that I was going skiing and asked what I could do, to which he said ‘I wouldn’t go’. I replied with a ‘well I’ve booked it, so I’m going' and he recommended I get a brace.
“After doing a bit of research online I decided to come into LOC and have a CTi brace fitted. I then went skiing, carefully of course, and was able to have a great time with no problems whatsoever – the fact they can fit it all in the same day is brilliant too if you need it last minute. I’d really recommend LOC if you’re considering something similar.”
Knee braces can also be used for a number of other injuries, be it for prevention or stopping an existing injury from getting worse. The ski season brings with it getaways filled with enjoyment, but also sadly sometimes injury – you can find out about some of the most common winter sports injuries on this page.
If you’ve been unlucky enough to suffer a knee injury and think a brace could be of use for you – don’t hesitate to contact us.
We have the following facilities and amenities at our Kingston Upon Thames location:
We also have the Gait Laboratory for orthotics patients and Onsite Manufacturing for speedy turnarounds and adjustments whilst you wait.
We have the following facilities and amenities at our Cambridge location:
We have the following facilities and amenities at our Bristol location:
For more information, visit Litfield House Medical Centre.
LOC’s clinic is based in the University of Salford’s Podiatry Department and provides treatments for orthotics, scoliosis, pectus deformities, positional plagiocephaly and club foot.
It is also the base for LOC’s northern OSKAR clinic which is run by Sam Walmsley, clinical director of LOC, in conjunction with Elaine Owen MBE MSc SRP MCSP.
Due to COVID-19, we have had to temporarily close the Salford clinic and are operating out of another clinic in Bolton.
508 Blackburn Rd,
Astley Bridge,
Bolton
BL1 8NW
For more information, please visit The Good Health Centre
