MCL brace

[BigSkyGirl]

I wonder if anyone has any suggestions about what I should consider when looking for an MCL brace.  Although it's been some time since I tore my MCL it still doesn't feel "right".  At the time the PTs just thought I was baggin' it at PT but now I think the MCL is harder to come back from than the ACL was.  Heck, they fix the ACL and things are good, the MCL heals on it's own....so they say....

I still have quite a bit of laxity with the MCL and I don't think there's much I can do about it now.  I just thought a brace might provide some confidence.

I can go up and down stairs and play golf and such and I've done some running but it seems like I'm "afraid" to run and push the knee  like I should.

[vinnic]

Hey Big, so sorry to hear about the laxity issues.  Don't know much about mcl braces but just thought I'd throw out Townsend, DonJoy, and Ossur (CTi2 previously by Innovation sports)...  I'm not sure if they make particular braces for the mcl, but I believe I recall mention of the other the ligaments while doing some research on my acl brace.  (I used a CTi2 for my partial acl tear for twelve years and love it; now my OS prescribed the DJ Defiance Fourcepoint and I can't seem to get used to it...and I have heard fantastic things about TOWNSEND).  Best of luck in your search - please post if you do end up getting one. 

[bracebaz]

Hi BSG,
I've used breg, townsend djo bauerfiend bledsoe braces over the last 10yrs for ligament tears & laxity, to date my townsend 99 rebel was the best for comfort & stability, I use a djo playmaker for daytime use when i'm not exerting my knee to much, & use my bledsoe axiom-d when playing badmington as it protects all my ligaments, if you just want a soft shell brace the djo playmaker's a good brace for mcl & lcl prob's.
Hope this helps
Good luck baz

[BigSkyGirl]

Thanks Baz, there are soooooo many braces out there I'm glad to get the feedback from someone who has experience.  I did do some light running the other day and things felt good, maybe I just need to strengthen my quads - esp the VMO - and that would help.

[bracebaz]

Hi bsg,
Building your quads up helps a lot with laxity, i've built mine up a lot over the last year and it's helped to where I can use the playmaker during the day, I've been using a functional brace all the time until I got my quads big, i'ue been going a couple of days a week without my brace for the last couple of weeks and the knee's not given out, I couldn't have done that a year ago,
Good luck
Baz

[BigSkyGirl]

Yeah, I really think I should have worn the brace longer.  Everyone was so focused on the ACL and it's really been the MCL giving me more trouble.

I think that would give me more confidence in my knee, my quads are definitely still small and weak.