Acerbis Ars Knee Braces
ACERBIS ARS KNEE BRACES
CW EVALUATION
Hyper-extension prevention
FEW INJURIES ARE AS DEBILITATING—OR as painful—as a twisted knee. That's why knee braces have proven so popular with motocrossers, particularly those who have suffered torn ligaments and don't wish to relive the experience. Unfortunately, high-quality, custom-fitted knee braces are expensive, a situation exacerbated by deep-pocket insurance companies that often pick up the tab as part of the rehabilitation process. And low-cost, off-the-rack braces are usually nowhere near as effective.
Thankfully, for those whose insurance companies aren't as generous, there is a viable low-cost alternative. Acerbis USA (9402 Wheatlands Ct., Suite A, Santee, CA 92071; 800/6591440) now includes inexpensive, European-made knee braces in its Acerbis Racing System (ARS) apparel line.
Priced at $79 apiece, the ARS braces combine the mechanical-hinge design of the most expensive fixtures with the elastic-sleeve design of contemporary sports supports.
Available in sizes S-XL, each ARS brace is made of machine-washable blue neoprene, with rolled cuffs at the top and bottom to prevent fraying. A circular cutout in the front locates the brace on the knee cap (or patella), while another in the rear minimizes bunching when the leg is bent. A pair of velcro-fastened straps secure the brace above and below the knee, with the patella cup (a $16.49 option, which is pretty much required for motocross racing) affixed to those. A soft, terry-cloth inner lining precludes the use of an undersleeve as required by many other braces. The slim design lets the brace slip right under ordinary MX duds, and there aren't any sharp edges to tear pants where they rub against a bike's fuel tank.
The most important feature
of the ARS brace is, however, its hinged supports. A pair of nylon struts runs along the inside and outside edges of the knee, each hinged in two places to emulate the leg's natural bending motion. Unlike the best braces, though, the ARS's hinges are non-adjustable, and are set to lock when the leg is held straight. This fails to take into account the compressibility of soft tissue, which mandates that the hinges be set to lock earlier-typically at 15 degrees from full extension-in order to prevent the wearer from hyper-extending his knee.
Fortunately, in practice, the ARS brace works better than it should. It proved its worth by saving our tester's
knee during a nasty endo. Though he slightly hyper-extended his knee in the crash, his only real injury was a bruised thigh. Our only real complaints are that the patella cup doesn't cover your shin like a traditional knee/shin guard, leaving the area above your boot susceptible to roost; and that wearing the brace can irritate your skin if you don't wash it after each use.
There are no guarantees that knee braces such as these ARS units will make you impervious to injuries, but they definitely lessen your chances. That in itself ought to make a set a worthwhile addition to your offroad gearbag.
