Asterisk knee brace/pad system?

[Curtis]

I'm looking into gettng a set of these, is there anyone on here who uses them or knows of anyone who does. I've only seen a few around but haven't had the opportunity to talk to anyone who uses them. I've been to the web site, there not alot of info there other then sizing charts.
thanks

[Mountain Dewd]

I've read some praising reviews of them in the past, isn't it a mx product?

[Oldfart]

After I blew out my knee skiing the first time. Did it good, ACL MCL and torn meniscus, I specifically asked the orthopod if it was worthwhile wearing braces on both knees for sports like skiing. His comment was, we fix the knee so you don't need a brace. And he was not aware of any study showing that a brace like the asterix had any benefit to prevent an injury. Braces like that and the two GIIs I have at home from rehab, do not really hold the knee together so much as limit flexion, and provide a proprioceptive benefit. What the brace actually does is tell your skin when the knee is going the wrong way so you muscles respond and hopefully stop the leg from doing the wrong thing. You see after surgery nerves in the knee are disrupted and you lack the sensory feed back from them. I don't know if that applies to an injured knee liganment too. In fact I still have a numb shin, but only on one of the legs which had surgery. I have done both left and right ACL's.

This info was all learned from friends who have also blown knees recently and from the questions we asked our knee surgeon.

Unless you have a buggered knee, I don't think there is any benefit to wearing a brace. Perhaps there are actual doctors or physios on this site who have better info than me though.

[Curtis]

^^ yeah they were designed for MX racers.


^OldFart
I know of what you speak I've had 5 knee operations, an ACL repair 22yrs ago then a replacment 10yrs ago and the rest were scopes. Your rigth about the numbness issue, my knee will give out when I'm walking around. I'm not looking for flexion limitation I'm looking to avoid more ACL/PCL/MCL and meniscus damage.
I currently use a Donjoy brace that I've added knee/shin gaurds to, not the best solution. After a weekend of riding my legs are rip to shreds from the pads and the brace, because they have been modified to work with the pads, they don't stay put, and are always getting caught on my seat, and top tube.
I'm hoping these braces will stop all that and I can just ride and not be worring if my brace will catch on something.

PS how your knee now.

[Slamigo]

My brother has dual asterisk braces and he likes them a lot. They have saved his knees a couple of times now. They prevent hyperextension and give you good support.
I am going to pick up a set this year as well. They aren't cheap however. ($1000 for the pair)
The other thing is that you have to fiddle around with them a lot to get the proper fit. Everyone's leg is different, so you have to shave padding here and there to suit.
My bro swears by his and he's had both knees reconstructed (ACL tendon graft).

[Curtis]

Originally posted by Slamigo
My brother has dual asterisk braces and he likes them a lot. They have saved his knees a couple of times now. They prevent hyperextension and give you good support.
I am going to pick up a set this year as well. They aren't cheap however. ($1000 for the pair)
The other thing is that you have to fiddle around with them a lot to get the proper fit. Everyone's leg is different, so you have to shave padding here and there to suit.
My bro swears by his and he's had both knees reconstructed (ACL tendon graft).

Very cool to here, I don't mind meesing with something to get it to fit...... Direct from Asterisk they're $567 US and they ship them to you in 3-5 days, total cost will be under $850 and my insurance plan should cover most of it. I went to my knee surgeon and asked for a prescription for them. There's still a chance the insurance company won't cover them but I figured I'm sick of operations and fussing with a modified brace. And at my age knee injuries don't heal so fast.

I just ordered a pair, should be here next week.

[Spaz]

I fit and sell custom and OTC knee braces and I have never heard of Asterisk until now. Looking at their website they look like really nice braces, I would be careful ordering sports medicine products online though. If anybody does get one send me a pm, I would love to have a look at one up close. If you wanted to do some comparison shopping we fit braces from 4 different manufacturers. Check out www.kintecfootlabs.com for more info. I manage the North Van location.

[some dude]

Unless you have knee problems - don't wear a brace - that's the advice I've had from every physio and surgeon I've talked to. The best "brace" is your own muscle. Lifting weights and stretching help a lot - I know longer wear a brace on my ankle as I strengthened it back to better than it was.

[Spaz]

Originally posted by some dude
Unless you have knee problems - don't wear a brace - that's the advice I've had from every physio and surgeon I've talked to. The best "brace" is your own muscle. Lifting weights and stretching help a lot - I know longer wear a brace on my ankle as I strengthened it back to better than it was.

I agree 100%.

[Slamigo]

Originally posted by Curtis
Very cool to here, I don't mind meesing with something to get it to fit...... Direct from Asterisk they're $567 US and they ship them to you in 3-5 days, total cost will be under $850 and my insurance plan should cover most of it. I went to my knee surgeon and asked for a prescription for them. There's still a chance the insurance company won't cover them but I figured I'm sick of operations and fussing with a modified brace. And at my age knee injuries don't heal so fast.

I just ordered a pair, should be here next week.

Yeah, my bro is 35 and I am 33. My bro hurt his knees back in the '80s skiing. (Dr. Don Johnson fixed him up. He's kind of an expert in North America)
Myself, I just have really lax ligaments. I train, lift weights, etc, but my knees (elbows, thumbs, shoulder) can still extend too far if pushed.
My bro hurt his knees twice last season and both times he was only out about 10-15 days. If he hadn't been wearing the braces, it would have been much, much worse. Even then, the 10-15 days was mainly just to be a little extra cautious, plus one time it was in winter so the riding sucks out here anyway.

[Flow]

Anyone else used this brace on a torn ACL?