May Become as Essential as a Helmet
far as injuries resulting from blocking and tackling, the properly trained knee can withstand much more than the untrained knee. However, players are getting bigger, faster and stronger. If a 250 pound player, comes in at 90 miles per hour and hits a planted leg at the side of the knee joint, something bad is going to happen even in the strongest of knees. That’s where knee braces come in. Marv Roberson who has been the trainer for 19 years at Brigham Young University, swears by them. He even designed his own and has used it for the last 4 years with the BYU football team.
All lineman and linebackers used them and after All-American tight end Gordon Hudson got a knee injury, then all running backs and tight ends also used the knee brace. Knee braces are mandatory at all times (practice or games) for linemen and linebackers. Trevor Matich, a BYU All-American lineman states, “We like the knee braces. If the pros don’t furnish me with one next year, I'll buy my own!” Marv Roberson beams proudly, “We've only had one knee lost in four years and that one wasn’t a varsity player! I’ve had them break in half and the player would walk away OK! We had 14 knees my first year and 7 knees the year before. We had to do something.”
The most common football knee injury is when the medial collateral ligament (inside of knee) is damaged by a blow to the outside of the knee (lateral side). Roberson claims that his knee brace will also prevent, in many cases, hyper-extension which involves damage to the Anterior Cruciate. There is some concern that knee braces may restrict movement.
Stallworth states, “I get into some pretty awkward positions when I’m making cuts. The knee brace might hinder that.” BYU Player strapping on his knee brace. helmet.
Knee Braces are rapidly growing in popularity and legis- Roberson counters by saying, “If everybody wears them then everybody is equal. That could happen, as it might become law in some states. And as for the cost, if they prevent knee injuries, how can you afford not to have them.” lation may soon be passed making them mandatory to wear in football games or even practice. The Lenox-Hill Knee If you would like additional information write: Marco Med, Brace has been around for some time now but it is for post Inc., P.O. Box 7402, University Station, Provo, UT 84602 The Marv Roberson Knee Brace sells for $65.00 per pair. operative knee or an already injured knee.
The new braces There are other knee braces on the market and you can on the market today are to be worn for INJURY PREVENbet, if knee braces become mandatory many more com- TION on a healthy knee. panies will offer knee braces. Some companies that we have heard about are Anderson, Tru-fit,DonJoy Collataguard, Nearly 75% of injuries in pro football required knee surgery. I believe that figure is somewhat less at the college Stromgren and McDavid. and high school levels. According to USA today: Dr. James We have heard some good reports from people on the Garrick of San Fransisco’s Center for Sports Medicine found Stromgren which sells for $48.95.
One test result showed about half of the Knee injuries in the NFL resulted in blockthat Stromgren was of superior strength. For further inforing and tackling, 30% were “accidental” often caused by a mation you may talk to your local sporting goods dealer teammate falling on another and 20% involved no contact. It has been my experience that knee injuries involving or write: Steve Arensdorf, P.O. Box 1230, Hays, Kansas 67601. no contact happened with a weak untrained leg. Proper The McDavid Knee Guard is also good and has made training with squats should virtually eliminate this kind of improvements since last year. You may purchase the McDavid knee injury.
I also believe a strong leg trained properly with squats, step-ups, leg extensions and leg curls can save McDavid Knee Guard, Inc., P.O. Box 9, Clarendon Hills, I!
90% of knee injuries in that 30% accidental category. As 60514 for further information.
From BFS Magazine — May/June 1985. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
