Wakeboarding and protecting knees

[homer12]

So the older I get, the more my knees seem to becoming a problem. Last season, I kind of hyperextended my right knee wakeboarding and landing on the wake wrong. Just yesterday, I did something worse to it where it popped from twisting at a funny angle and being bent close to my chest. It is pretty sore today but doesn't feel week so I'm thinking ligaments are OK, and maybe just a sprain.
I know wakeboarding can be brutal to the knees and other are in my same place here in age and trying to progress skills. I am 36 and no advanced rider but I'd like to get better. I can W2W no problem and some basic 180's and used to be able to land a back roll many many years ago and haven't tried in recent years.
What are some others wearing for braces to protect the knees or exercise routines you find help keep the legs strong and knees in as good as shape as you can?

[DaveNH]

I have to say to start that I'm not a wakeboarder, so take this for what it's worth. But, I do have creaky old knees, I'm 55.

I've worn Tru-Fit knee braces for years now when playing basketball or volleyball, also wear one on my right (forward) knee when slalom skiing. I find they provide good support, the straps allow some added pressure if you want it, and I like that they have some bulk to them. I just bought a Shock Doctor 870 to try it and so far like it a lot, will get a 2nd and retire the Tru-Fit's now. I choose to buy the braces with flexible side stays, if you are really worried you can get the same brace with metal hinges that give more positive protection against side force and hyper-extension. I think you'd be happy with either brand.

[jondavis08]

I'm right there with you Homer. 35 and the knees have been burning after every session this year. Really don't want to give it up anytime soon. Surfing is way to boring for me to do full time. Love to ski but wakeboarding is the most enjoyable


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[rossrips7]

Agreed^. Nothing quite like flying through the air or landing a new trick. I tweaked my knee at the beginning of the season and will probably start to wear a brace for piece of mind. 3 years ago I over rotated a backroll and shot my back leg into my chest causing my femur to go through the knee socket and smush the tibia like styrofoam. No fun!!


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[homer12]

Thanks for making me know others are in the same place. Rossrips you bring up another point to me and that's the mental aspect. After you've had some significant injury do you just block it out?


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[bandit628]

Enerskin knee sleeves are the s***! I wear one while wakeboarding and exercising. Comfy and sleek too so you can wear underneath pants if you need to. Mine really helped after my knee scope.

[markj]

Thanks for making me know others are in the same place. Rossrips you bring up another point to me and that's the mental aspect. After you've had some significant injury do you just block it out?


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I tore my ACL on a simple w2w crossing at 30. Had it repaired and mostly (75%) tore it again two years later, doing a back roll, while wearing a crappy brace. Now I have a cti brace. It helps, but I know deep down I could easily tear it again at 49. For me, the mental aspect permanently handicapped me. The thought of my knee folding sideways again and the expense of missing a lot of work is something I can't block out. Ever.

[jshack01]

homer12 With respect to exercises... I think a strong core has so many benefits you should work on that first. (Planks, Super Planks, Side Planks, Hip Bridges, etc). Once you've got your core there and can easily touch your toes I would move to dumbbell squats progressing to back squats or front squats and deadlifts. If you've never done this stuff before get a personal trainer to get you started. They can write up a program for you and approach it from a more holistic standpoint. I'm 47 and train 3 days a week during the summer and 5 during the off season. I've had some really nasty falls but so far I think my training has paid off in keeping me from any serious injury.

Wakeboarding is an athletic sport and you'll enjoy it a lot more if you invest a little weight/cardio training behind it. Keep in mind your focus is on a lean athletic goal and not putting on the pounds to gain massive muscle. Do that in the off season if that's your thing but lean out for the summer. Diet determines about 75% of ones success. This is the hardest part for me. I could go on and on about that but just invest in a little weight training and you should see benefits within a couple of months.

[DaveNH]

Adding to what jshack01 said, which I agree with completely - I'm another ACL guy, snapped it and damaged cartilage in 2001 playing basketball so had knee reconstruction, then in 2007 ruptured my left achilles playing basketball, then ruptured my left distal bicep tendon playing volleyball in 2010. So, I've had a lot of surgery and a lot of therapy. A good physical therapist can target a certain area for a certain activity and really help you make it strong. If you booked maybe 4 visits with a highly recommended PT, explained the stress of wakeboarding, they could target exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee joint and supervise you, then you could continue on with them yourself. Then add the braces and I think you'd feel much stronger on the water.