Sierra Samaritans - National Ski Patrol

B R A C
Skis? CHECK!
Boots? CHECK!
Poles? CHECK!
Tension strain-reduction
knee brace? CHECK!
F
Knee Injuri
or millions of skiers and other sports enthusiasts,
the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is
as vulnerable as Achilles’ heel. As a patroller, you’ve
probably seen a fair number of knee injuries in your
time.You may have even been the victim of knee problems
yourself, collapsing to the snow and writhing
in pain after the telltale “pop” heard ’round the mountain
tells you, unmistakably, that you’ve joined the
ranks of the nearly
176,000 people in
the United States
who suffer ACL ruptures
each year. And
if you aren’t one of
those people, is it
just a matter of time
before you are?
By Michael Patmas, MD
What The Experts Say
hese days, roughly 50,000 ACL
T
reconstructions are performed each
year. With good rehabilitation, 85 to 92
percent of people who undergo surgery
will recover fully and eventually return to
full sports participation, according to the
American Association of Orthopedic
Surgeons. Few would disagree that bracing
the knee after injury and surgery can
aid the recovery process by offering structural
support, at least until the ligament
heals and surrounding leg muscles are
strengthened through rehabilitation.
But, is there a way to prevent a recurrence
of the injury—or even keep it from
happening the first time? By adding a knee
brace to our regular arsenal of equipment
and mountain gear, such as custom-fit
boots and top-of-the-line bindings, can we
16 Ski Patrol Magazine | Winter 2005