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dodgy knees!!!

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billrol

Post subject: dodgy knees!!!

Posted: Apr 05, 2008 - 08:13 PM

Joined: Apr 05, 2008
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

Hi, I'm new to this lark so bear with me.I do have one admission to make ....... I don't board Shocked

....... ....yet Laughing

Here's my story.

I went skiing twice whilst in the forces over 20yrs ago and loved it. But, for a number of very boring reasons, didn't go again until 6yrs ago with my family. We all love it. The kids are great and are blasting down the mountains on all sorts of slopes (off piste is next for them I think). However, there is a black cloud looming in the not too distant future. I've already had two knee ligament reconstructions (Mackintosh and Jones) to my left knee, both of which are now non-existent and have developed osteoarthritis in that knee and the other is pretty poor also (medial & lateral menisectomy and microfracture to the femoral articulating surface). I've recently had an arthroscopy and clean out of the joint and have been told that I will need a Total Knee Replacement within the next 5yrs. I and my family still want to enjoy the thrills of the mountains and particularly throwing ourselves down them at speed (controlled of course). SO, in your opinion, which is easier on the knees, skiing or boarding? I would naturally be regular on a board, but would it be more beneficial to be goofy, and lead with my good-bad knee!!!?

I've also been looking at the ski-mojo http://skiallday.co.uk . This appears to be an advancement of an older American system called CADS (Constant-Force Articulated Dynamic Struts) http://cads.com which were endorsed by Dr Richard Steadman http://www.knee1.com .My understanding of these is that a knock-on effect of it is to reduce the stress through the knees, though (quite rightly) the company would not endorse this claim. Any thoughts?

I have been toying with the idea of boarding for a while but need some advice regarding my knees so that I can keep going for longer ... the kids are also wanting to board now so it would be a good time to all learn together (minus mom - "I'm not getting on one of those things"). I was thinking of doing the LTBIAD at Tamworth, any one done it and is so what was it like?

Any thoughts, tips, advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers. Very Happy

Bill

MattR

Post subject: RE: dodgy knees!!!

Posted: Apr 05, 2008 - 09:06 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2004
Posts: 2209
Location: Sweden, look, snow!
Status: Offline

My right knee is shafted after a big fall off a bike in the early 90's, i tried to stand on some skis (in the shop, as my GF at the time was a skier) even putting the skis on and pointing them both straight forward was agony! (twisting load on the knee)

The snowboard allows you to put the bindings on at whatever angle allows minimum twisting in the knees. Skiing doesn't.
Also, if you crash, the skis can apply quite big loads to your knees before the binding releases. The board bindings allow you to triangulate the loads, two legs and a board across the bottom.......

Of course, if you set them up wrong, say goodbye to your knees!

The other issue with boarding is you to tend to fall on to your knees too. So get some GOOD pads, hard shell with plenty of padding, like the 661 pads ( i use these to protect my knees)

Some of the other guys (n gals) on here use proper 'bionic man' knee supports, they may be able to advise too.

Jeff-Pelling

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 05, 2008 - 09:10 PM

Joined: Oct 31, 2004
Posts: 322
Location: Fernie, BC
Status: Offline

I'd hesitate to offer advice re: the knee. At the risk of telling you to suck eggs, you need to get some face to face specialist advice - by 'specialist' I suppose I mean someone who deals regularly with snowsport injuries/rehab. There may be people on the forum with that type of expertise, but most of us are just enthusiasts who at best could offer anecdotal advice.

But for what it's worth, and not wanting to put anyone off trying snowboarding, maybe stick to what you know and sound like you're already good at. Most snowboard injuries come as a result of a lack of control, and being a beginner you'll obviously have less of it. If it were me, I'd worry about my knees in that situation.

Let your kids try it out, see if they stick with it, and go riding with them - you on skis, them snowboarding. - when you get the chance.

Whatever you decide - all the best. I hope you get to enjoy the mountains for years to come.

MattR

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 05, 2008 - 09:54 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2004
Posts: 2209
Location: Sweden, look, snow!
Status: Offline

yer, what he says too, especially regarding a specialist.

The last one i saw (10 years ago) has given me a list of do's and don't's to stop me ending up in your state.

skipaheartbeat

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 06, 2008 - 11:46 PM

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 26
Location: ayrshire
Status: Offline

Hi there

I'm certainly no expert, but have to say having worked in orthopaedics for years as an occupational therapist, i would strongly concur with the specialist advise. See a sports physio, and i mean one that is sports specialist, not a general outpatient one (no offence to physio colleagues who are general OPD physios, its just they are more general and tend to spend time on injuries from all parts of body, arms, legs, back etc). I don't want to freak you out, but if you already have OA, I'd say that any skiing / boarding is gonna make your knee much worse - inlfammation around the joint, whether in the joint space or capsule, will be easily aggravated by strenuous exercise. A TKR is a harsh route, but will reduce your pain big time, however the replacement isn't likely to withstand snowsports that well, since the joint capsule that keeps everything safe and strong, is much less intact and relies heavily on scar tissue to make it good even just for walking. Secondly, for the new joint to osseointegrate (attach to the bone) takes an awful lot of rest and time. My advise (having just twisted my knee learing to board only just today(!)) to prevent the need for a TKR would be to stick to gentle slopes doing what you know, and like your friend above says, get a good support (maybe even one that has a hinged bar in it at the knee joint - these are used post ligament surgery as I'm sure you are aware), talk to specialist, and discuss your options before going on a board.

Hope all goes well for you and you manage to ride/ski many slopes in the future:)

skipaheartbeat

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 07, 2008 - 12:28 AM

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 26
Location: ayrshire
Status: Offline

PS Try the Chartered Physiotherapists website for a list of physio's that are sports related. Just need to put your postcode in and you'll get a list and details of their speciality. Also the CSP are good for advise re getting expert opnion and who is likely to help,so feel free to call them. Trust me, the physio's pay ALOT to be registered with them and are made to keep up to date(coming from one who pays alot to be registered with the British Association of OTs!!!)

http://www.csp.org.uk/director/physiotherapyexplained/physio2u.cfm

Another website is the HPC website where all healthcare professional allied to medicine HAVE to be registered and also have to keep up continual professional development (checked by virtue of ability to discuss and research topics and general written theory/practice, submittion of a written log essential along with supervisory notes), if you want to check credentials

http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutregistration/theregister/register_info/

Let me know how you get on - would love to hear from a professional point of view!

Kirsty

skipaheartbeat

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 07, 2008 - 12:41 AM

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 26
Location: ayrshire
Status: Offline

sorry me again!! you can also try this...a list of private physios....

http://www.physiofirst.org.uk/common/findAphysio.asp

but i would say, most physio's would expect an xray, or at very least a radiographer and consultant report on you injury (s) in order to give advise.might be worth paying a few pounds (sometimes just £10) to get a copy, or £30 -50 for the xray, before going for inital consultation and forking out money just to find that out....ask on booking.

Good luck!

billrol

Post subject:

Posted: Apr 07, 2008 - 08:14 AM

Joined: Apr 05, 2008
Posts: 2

Status: Offline

skipaheartbeat and every one else,

Thanks for the advice. I have a background in trauma and orthopaedics and now work in trauma resuscitation (not that that will help my knees!! Furious

). I'm seeing my consultant on the 24th and have a shed load of questions for him which, I hope, will give me enough ammo to go to a sports physio specialist with (never know he might even refer me on the NHS Rolling Eyes

, or maybe not!!). I've also contacted a guy called Dr Mike Langran http://www.ski-injury.com for some advice.
It's really interesting to see the difference in attitude to this whole knee thing from here to the States and Canada. I've posted the same question on a couple of US/CAN sites (a good one for more mature riders is http://graysontrays.com ) and they appear more gung-ho and we are much more conservative with our approach (reverting to type I guess).
I will see someone soon, however I am a bit of a non-complier Stupid

so I'm also going to do the Learn to Board in a Day session at the Snowdome in Tamworth. I'm the type of idiot who wants to be able to do things at full tilt or just not bother, and I also know a very good analgesic Beer

. The TKR is not optional Thumbs Down

, so who knows maybe an orthopaedic consultant, sports physio specialist and my wife can beat some sense into me (they're not called physio terrorists for nothing!)
I'll let you all know how I get on.
Bill

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