Chafing under knee brace

[mdawson7]

Hi,
I was hoping someone might be able to help me.  I wear a Donjoy Defiance ACL knee brace when I play sports, mostly baseball and now racquestball.  I have actually had 3 ACL surgeries over the years and have always had chafing problems with the brace.

After my first surgery I wore a neopren sleeve under the brace but that was think and hot but I still got some chafing on the back of my knee from the straps.  I switched a the lycra knee sleeve after my second surgery but since that is thinner I got worse chafing.  So I started to wear under armor leggings under the sleeve and brace.  That helped a ton but is obvioulsy hot with baseball pants on in the summer.

I just started playing racquetball and didn't want to wear the leggings so I just wore the knee sleeve. After playing today I got bad chafing again.

Any suggestions out there on how I can prevent this?  The braces have all been custom fit so that is not the problem.

Thanks!

[Audice]

With my Townsend Premier custom brace was a tubular cotton knit sleeve to use if the brace chafed. You might find something of the same sort at a surgical supply pharmacy. I can't vouch for how well it would work because I didn't have an occasion to use it but it might be worth a try...Ellie

[mmrocker13]

What abour something like body glide in the areas that are chafing?

[mdawson7]

I was wondering if there was some sort of cream or something.  That might work.  I'll check it out.  Thanks!  Anyone ever use Body Glide before for something like this?

[bracebaz]

Hi,
I use either tubigrip doubled up, which is a tubular cotton sleeve, but mostly a neoprene sleeve I put talcum powder on my leg & in the sleeve as this helps stop sweating.
Baz

[Audice]

Baz wrote: "I put talcum powder on my leg & in the sleeve as this helps stop sweating."

A friend who had to wear a knee brace at one time said that he would rub anti-perspirant on his leg to stop the sweating.

[mmrocker13]

I was wondering if there was some sort of cream or something.  That might work.  I'll check it out.  Thanks!  Anyone ever use Body Glide before for something like this?

I used body glide on the hinge areas of my unloader, as they tend to rub (or rather, on my skin where the hinge areas rubs). I prefer it over stuff like aquaphor in that case, b/c bodyglide is nonstaining and washes out of clothing, etc.

[mdawson7]

Thanks!  I'll try that and see how it works!

[dm]

If you have just one particular strap or area that chafes, like the strap right behind the knee is a big one for me, I use a couple layers of polar fleece (my preference) or fake sheepskin fabric from the fabric/crafts store between the strap and my skin. Gives a bit of "breathability" right where that strap is, and the material absorbs/wicks away sweat, and the material is washable and resuable. you can also cut the fabric a bit wider than the strap, so that the edges of the strap/strap pad don't chafe either.

For commercial brace liners, a brand called "bracesox" is one I've tried and found lightweight, thin enough to not be hot to wear, and comes in several material types. This company even sent me a sample to try.

[mdawson7]

I'll look them up too.  Thanks!