Knee brace for hyper extension.
Can anyone recommend a good, reliable brace for hyper extension of the knee. I've had a look on the internet at various styles. Am I right in thinking a brace with sturdy hinges is the best type to go for? My walking is drastically affected by this issue and any help, advise or recommendations would be much appreciated.
To add to what I've already said, beware of fixed braces. These are the kind you will likely be offered. They are basically like a wellington boot in very thick stiff plastic with the front cut out. The problem with them is that they are rigid and heavy, so that you will have difficulty getting up and down stairs. After enquiring in vain about getting a Dynamic Walk, I was fitted for a rigid brace, but one that had a flexible ankle, so that in theory I would be able to climb and go down stairs. It was made, I tried it on, was depressed by its size and weight...but fortunately for me, despite its weight, it made absolutely no difference to the knee. It still hyperextended. At this point, the orthotist asked me about the DW and agreed to order one. It really depends on what is wrong with your leg- i.e. is it so weak that it needs a rigid brace to 'prop' it, or is your main problem hyperextension? The DW doesn't do all the work for you; wearing it, by 'over-riding' the springs you can still hyperextend. But what you feel is a gentle 'nudge' which encourages you to bend the knee normally instead of using it as a prop. It does this so successfully that you should find that after a few weeks' wearing it, you use the knee correctly even when you're NOT wearing it. And what's clever is that because it's carbon steel, although it weighs nothing, it does support the back of your leg. In effect, you get the benefit of a heavier device. When I went for the final appointment, I put it on to go away in and was warned not to wear it initially for more than a few hours a day because the body has to get used to it. I ignored this advice because it was so instantly comfortable. About three days later,I got the most peculiar pains in my shoulders and ribs (of all places!). It was the body adjusting, and it felt really odd, but... my own fault and it only lasted a week. Good luck.
A Swedish Knee Cage certainly sorted the problem for me and well worth checking out. http://www.chaneco.co.uk/orthotic-product.asp?prodId=120&specialoffer=