Blog Katie Allen September 2023

Rocking the new brace!

A few months ago, I posted that I had been cleared to purchase a new stabilizing knee brace and that I had received funding to support this expensive venture. As of this month, I officially started to wear the new 3D-printed stabilizing brace. For some context, I had a fibreglass brace about 15 years ago that I wore until I outgrew. This is my first brace since the old one and, my goodness, technology has changed.

After 2 knee surgeries in the last year, it was determined supporting my non-affected leg would help take some pressure off the knee that has CMTC. Both knees sustained a fair amount of damage through sports, but the 3 cm leg length difference (LLD), which was never addressed, also took quite a toll on the joints. When I was young, there was a fair amount of skepticism my condition would linger longer than a few years, but at 30, I have all my marks and still the same LLD.

Overall, I am thrilled with the new hardware. It is far more comfortable than my old brace and startlingly light. It has been a transition back into walking more anatomically correct, but overall, I feel far more confident running and moving around, which is a great feeling after many years of worrying about instability. Every new challenge and tool CMTC throws my way has its downsides, but so many of them have upsides too, especially when you get the support you need.