Hike with a Knee Brace?

“Does anyone hike with a knee brace or knee wrap? If so, what do you use? I have knee pain(side of knees) when going down hill and use a neoprene wrap with an open knee which works. However, the wrap gets real hot, sweaty, and mildly uncomfortable. I was wondering what anyone else may have had success with.”

“I use an Ace knee support that's all cotton, except for the side supports which are some kind of coiled wire. The biggest problem I have with it is remembering to put it on in the morning, and remembering to take it off at night. It works pretty good for me.”

“WB, I've used one of those - the blue job in fact. Yes, it does get hot and sweaty, but I think the heat is intended to help rather than be a problem.

Since I started using the trekking poles, I'm having less trouble on that downhill rush. The poles absorb the shock of braking instead of the knees.”

“That's also what I have used when I've needed one. When I injured my knee on a hike I continued on with an Ace bandage. That sucked. I haven't tried anything ohter than those two things. I've been working on reconditioning my knee so I won't need the wrap anymore.”

“Hmmm, maybe we should start a bad knee club?”

“My wife has trouble with toe cramping when we hike. So bad she sometimes has to stop, take off her shoes and massage her feet.

Anyone else have this problem?

I don't think it's the shoes. We've tried several types. We've also experimented with toe spacers and drinking more electrolytes.”

“Is she drinking more fluids as well? I realize the electrolytes are in a liquid form, but if she's getting dehydrated, that will cause cramps too.

I get cramps in my feet sometimes, but not too bad.”

“I get cramps in my feet whenever they get too hot, too cold, or wet. Wet and cold is a really bad combo. In my case it's a low blood pressure/circulation problem. I just have to keep them warm and dry as best I can and suck it up when I can't.”

“I also use trekking poles, that really seems to help me. My knee brace (ACE) has an open area for the knee cap, like yours, but is made from some kind of stretchy material that breathes rather well, it also has some side support that looked kinda flimsy, but really works.

I usually only use it when I really need it, so the muscles don't get weak.”

“She seems to drink plenty of water on the trail. Off the trail, however, she's addicted to Diet Coke. I keep trying to get her to replace those with water, or at least iced tea or something.

These were warm weather hikes so that rules out cold. Could be getting too hot though. Maybe she needs a shoe that breaths.”

“Sounds like the one I use, mtnsteve. It does help. I guess I only need a little support.

IJ, I know you say you've tried different kinds of shoes, but did those include a light boot? I wonder if she's flexing her toes a lot and getting cramped up that way. With a boot, she won't feel the need to move her toes so much.”

“Have her try eating something salty, I have found with me that sometimes stops the cramps in my legs....a banana is good for the potassium as well.”

“You might also try side stepping down the hill... it tends to slow you down naturally and alters the stress points.”

“I use the same thing. I found the heat and sweaty-ness bareable. Tried the cottonish ace brace but doesn't give me enough support. What's more important, your knees or sweaty knees?”

“I purchased one of those neoprene knee braces after I had some serious trouble on one hike. I found that the extra weight of it in my pack prevented a reoccurrence. It did help out one of my buddies on one hike but I’ve never used it and don’t carry it any more.”

“Two words for hiking with bad knees, trekking poles.”

“Or: lighter pack.”

“Geobeet. There is no need for a bad knee club. Any kind of club is sufficient if you want to give someone bad knees. Even a baseball bat will work.”

“No, I son't use knee braces. With very low blood pressure (from medication) plus a heart that only pumps about 85% of normal, I have enough problems. It does not help me to slow or restrict the blood circulation.

And I have two knees that need replacing. But one benefit of backpacking is the strengthening of the leg muscles. They help hoid me up and take the pressure off the knees.

My right knee is in real bad shape. It is my best knee. At a watershed barrier, or most all drops of three or more inches, I have to negotiate my way down. Naturally, uphill is easier than downhill, since I am not dropping all the weight on the knees. What I'm explaining is that I am experienced at hiking with knee problems.

."I was wondering what anyone else may have had success with."
wolfmans brother

I have had success with "going slow!" So, that is my advice to most people with knee problems. GO SLOW! Fortunately, I can take leave for several months from work for backpacking. I start with short distances and short hikes. Sometimes I even start with a few day hikes. Then there are a few short overnights w/o food, etc., a very light pack. I slowly work my way to more difficult challenges and after about six weeks I can do 5 to 8 miles daily of rough hiking on the AT in GSMNP, slowly.

Within two weeks I'll be in GSMNP for a spell. In Oct. I plan to cross it on the AT and return. About 140 miles with 27 night stops. You'll have my trip report by mid-November.

Love you all. Have some good hikes and remember, GO SLOW!”

“nowslimmer -

You da man! I'll have to bring you up when one of my weekend athlete friends starts complaining about aches and pains.”

“Yes, a baseball bat will work! Just ask this satisfied customer:

”

“aargh!”

“I'll have to bring you up when one of my weekend athlete friends starts complaining about aches and pains.'
Violin

Sorry, Violin. I'm not for hire to put people out of their aches and pains! Well, maybe.

LOL”

“BTW, a little bp-ing can cure a lot of aches and pains. I recommend it for almost all aches and pains.”

“i have 3 knees...right knee...left knee..and a wienie!!”

“Does that third one need a brace when you're hiking?”

“no but i have to tie it off so it doesn't erode the trail when it drags..”

“OPIE's third knee in brace:

”

“OPIE's third knee in brace:

”

“Miss Opie will clear up all lies-

I keep ace ace wrap in my pack & lots of Ibuprophen-
I don't wear it unless it hurts too badly.
Lots of water or sports drink with
sodium will help with cramps-
Push bananas & carbs ber hiking too.”

“ive had a bad knee for a long time. i find a ace bandage works good for me. a brace i find makes my knee sweat. also i walk with a hiking stick. but id like to try hiking poles someday because i saw geobeet using them and he looked so COOL using them.. hehehe”

“I've had 5 knee surgeries to go along with hip & ankle surgeries. Two valid points I have seen - Trekking poles & slowing down. Knee braces were invented so someone could make money. The only help would be to add warmth & increase blood flow to the knee when it is really cold. Neoprene knee braces that are too constricting can actually impair blood flow & cause more problems by not allowing proper range of motion. Just my 2 cents.”

“arky,
that's what I believed to until last weekend. with a lot of downhill movement I get major pain in both knees particularly the right. I wore a neoprene brace on the right knee all weekend. at the end of our trip my left knee was screaming and my right was fine. you might say it could be psychological but i tend to be very skeptical to begin with so who knows.”

“I use one, sometimes two hiking poles. I put some of my weight on them. With one pole I use both hands and use it as a third leg. On downhill stretches it/they not only take most of my weight, but they block me from speeding up. And someone already suggested side stepping. It is necessary on steep areas of a trail.”

“On 8/6 I hiked up Mt. Marcy and had major knee pain on the way down.

On 9/1 I hiked up Mt. Iroquois, Mt. Algonquin, and Wright Peak, plus another 1000 feet through Avalanche Pass, and had little or no knee pain.

I have to attribute this to one or both of the following:
- I took a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement pretty consistently for two weeks prior to the second hike
- I wore the big ugly neoprene braces on the second hike (as seen in Artex's pics and Pennsy's pics)

Pennsy was kind enough to tell me, "Now you not only walk like an old man, you also look like an old man."

Oh well. The braces weren't that uncomfortable, it seems like a pretty good trade-off.”

“Yeah, you were moving along great Fritz, I remember you praising the braces a few times during our trek. Amazing what a little neoprene can do.”

“I wore knee braces on hikes until I quit playing softball. Softball, as it turned out, was the culprit - not bp'ing.

Still, tho - neoprene is the beat thing since sheetrock...”

“beat = best”

“A few years ago I was using a neoprene knee brace. It was from hiking in snow (w/o snowshoes) and postholing. After the first posthole, my knee weakened.

I carry a neoprene band on my pack just in case. It wraps around just below the knee and is comfortable. The full knee brace is uncomfortable, and left a funny tan line on my leg. Not that it matters, with the ankle tan and the shorts tan . . . .”