Asterisk brace adjustment

[MotoEnduro]

First a big thanks to Asterisk, they took back my old braces (too small) and promptly sent me the correct size. What a pleasure to deal with a company with such great customer service!

Now that I have the right size (hey these braces ARE pretty comfortable after all!), I am having trouble adjusting them.

I cannot straighten my leg fully, even though the adjusters on each side of the knee are turned as far as they will go. Is there any way to add more adjustment to make the brace extend just a little more, so I can have full range of motion in my knees?

Thanks

 

[A.J]

That's the first thing I noticed about them as well. After I put them on and got up out of the chair it felt really weird to walk without being able to fully extend my legs. Adjusters are at maximum extension also. One good thing is that the more I use them the easier it gets to adapt your walk to them. It's probably a necessary "evil" to have them work this way as I think that if you set them to full extension and there is any give in the flesh/brace then it would be to really easy to hyperextend your knee.....better to start stopping it a few degrees early?

 

[MotoEnduro]

I just can't see running or mtn biking without being able to straighten my leg. The brace puts so much pressure on the shin and thigh when straightened, its painful after a while. I wonder if somehow the cables can be loosened to give a little more play.

 

[BillyWho]

The stops engage a couple degrees before dead zero for the simple reason of the brace is more or less attached to soft tissue on your leg, and that alone alows a couple degrees deflection before the brace stop becomes really effective. Also your knee is most vulnerable in a locked out sraight position when riding, so we tried to anticipate that as well. I personally run them as tight as they go, but I've been doing that for the past 15 years, so I'm used to it by now.

MotoEndo, when did you get your braces, we've made a fair amount of changes over the last 6 months to add to the comfort of them, and one big one was re-shapeing the lower cuff and pad that sits on top of your shin bone. The change eliminates the pressure some people had with that area, call Brad at 1-800-459-2999 X206 and he'll set up how you can return them to retro-fit the latest stuff on them at no charge. If you still want longer cables after you get them back, call me at X205 and I'll set you up.

AJ, same goes for you if want to talk to Brad to make sure you have the latest, but in the end slightly bent is the best protection when riding.

Billy

 

[Speedway]

Mr. Billywho,
I too am having some problems, but I really love the braces, good quality stuff. Anyway, my left leg is smaller than my right, mainly in the thigh area as I broke my right femur after missing a deer on the trail, but not the tree, anyway, my right is calcified at the femur, I have large sized Astericks and my left is migrating down no matter how tight I get it, can I get a medium left instead, any thoughts?
Thanks

 

[BillyWho]

Hey be proud, David Vuillemin wears a large right and a medium left Cell also! Call Brad and talk to him about it, tell him your from DRN and you talked to me and see what he can do, there might be some other stuff we can try first to eliminate the problem before going to a different size, let me know how it goes.

Billy

 

[A.J]

Thanks Billy, actually I just received mine last week and the extension issue is not going to be a problem. Initially it felt odd but it didn't take very long to get used to them. I am surprised how comfortable they are with the sleeve, you almost forget you are wearing them. You guys have an excellent product here.

 

[fremontguy]

I don't have a problem with braces extending out but do have a problem keeping the adgustment screws where I want them-1/2 way in little window. Is there some sort of tweak to keep these adjuster screws from moving? Have to re-adjust before every ride.

 

[BillyWho]

fremontguy, they should stay where they are set, have never heard of any that move. Call me at 1-800-459-2999 X205, if we can't figure it out over the phone, I would like you to send them in next week so I can look at them and see what's going on.

 

[fremontguy]

Great product, great customer service. Thanks for speedy resolution Billywho.

 

[MotoEnduro]

Billywho,
I got my braces about 2 wks ago direct fromAsterisk. I guess they're the latest, but how can you tell? what things retrofit on them? If they are ok, then I'll call you for the longer cables.

Thanks,
MotoE

 

[BillyWho]

They are the latest, call me Monday and I'll get you sqaured away.

 

[Speedway]

Thank you Billy,
I called and spoke to Brad, and is taking care of the migration problem. Its been said before, but you have a first class product and a first class team of people. Thank you.

 

[stormer94]

I have a similar problem (sorry to horn in your post MotoEnduro, just didn't make sense to start another post with the same problem.)

I just got mine today (first braces ever, and I'm not hurt to start with, just some preventative medicine, I am hoping), and I spent about 45 minutes monkeying with them home in the living room, so I wouldn't be tempted to ride with them misadjusted. Did I miss some instructions?, I got a little wisp of a sheet that really didn't help me out much. I've got the braces adjusted so that I have maximum extension, and it's way short of what I think I should have, although I have not ridden in them yet. When I attempt to stand straight legged, I can't help but think the pain from having it grind into my shin is not worth the benefit of wearing them in the first place. I really didn't notice that much difference on adjusting the Tendon cuffs. Does it take a lot of force? I don't want to break the dang thing. The smashed into my shin bone thing would likely cripple me for life if I had to walk 100 hundreds to tech or to the bathroom from my pit area. I thought they were supposed to feel like you 'forgot you had them on'. The only way I'd forget I had them on, at this point, would be the period of time when the EMT's drug my unconscious carcas out from under the bike and I woke up in the ambulance 10 minutes later (at that point 10 minutes would be the length of time that I would not notice them on my leg). I'm being facetious, but you get the idea.

They are Extra Large, and I mearured out:
Kneecap: 16-3/8" to 16-1/2"
6" up from kneecap: 21-3/4"
6" down from knee cap: 17"

Also, in a separate little bag (with no instruction at all) there were four little fabric pieces that look like eye patches for a pirate. Also in the box with no instruction were what look like a giant sock with the foot cut off, or a sleeve, two of them. My guess is that they either go under the brace and you where them like a sock to protect your leg from the brace, or they go over the brace to protect your pants from the brace. I have no idea though, no mention.

To boil it down, what are the mystery pieces for, and how can I keep the thing from gouging my shins? I've had them off for about 1/2 hour, and my legs still feel crippled. There is no way I could walk in them for more than 12 feet.

I was hoping to use them this weekend for a 3 day trail ride with the buddies. (who all wear knee braces because they didn't BEFORE they got hurt) :)

HELP!!!

 

[CRguyStan]

Stormer94,
I unlike you and more like your ridinge partners got mine after blowing out my knee.
I'll admit they feel realy strange walking around in the house. My best advice is to now that they are adjusted wear them while riding.
The sleeve goes on first to act like a sock and make them comfortable, then the brace, then I fold the excess sleeve down the top and up from bottom to hold the excess laces in. Then gear up like normal. Mine are tight inside the top of my boots, but they buckle and then feel alright.

Ride about 30 minutes and get off and walk a few steps and then ride a little more. You will naturally get used to the extension limits while riding and then when you walk it feels totally natural. I used mine at an arenacross last Feb. and had them on from 9am to about 10pm when I was done. I tell ya my knees felt better than before I broke my knee. I didn't have the soreness the rest of the night like before.
As for comfort, the shin part does bug me a little while walking around alot, but while riding I don't even know that they are there. And I stand up while riding except for throwing it in turns.
Try em out, you will love them, and hopefully they will prevent you from the misery of us whom had to get cut.
Just my .02.
Stan

 

[oldguy]

Stormer the sock thingies are sleeves to be worn under the brace.
The pirate pieces are extra pads that go on each side of the knee cap they velcro to the plastic at the hinge.
Now your comfort problem- something is wrong in the fitting, they truly are forgettable once on. My son puts his on first thing in the morning and wears them all day- riding, walkiing, and chasing girls.
A random guess from your description is you have them adjusted to tightly. Try getting the cuff parts to fit snug-not tight then use the pull cords to snug them just enough to keep them from migrating.
Not to be a smart *** but do you have them on right side up and on the correct legs?

 

[stormer94]

Oldguy,

Fair question. ;) Yep, they are on the right legs, and they are even marked with stickers that say 'right' and 'left'. I suspect that if they were not, I'd figure it out sooner or later. I love how they explain that in the instructions, there is no diagram, and you really have no idea what some of the stuff is. "Place on leg, adjustable Tendon cuffs to the outside of the leg"... so, um, what exactly is the adjustable tendon cuff? How do I know it's outside? I know it's not rocket science, I'm kind of making fun of the poor instructions.

Maybe I got the wrong size, that's why I posted my size. If I don't cinch them up tight, when my upper and lower leg are at 90 degrees, the top piece that comes over my quad sticks way up off the leg. The more I cinch it down the more it comes back in contact with the leg. I've been wearing them around the house, just decided to "COWBOY UP" and take the pain and see if they wear in. I suppose I've had them on for an hour, and my shins are killing me. Periodically I take the wrench and adjust the tendon cuffs in and out, I can feel things moving, but it doesn't change the pressure point or discomfort level. If I let the thing migrate down about 2 inches, it feels much better on the shin, but I can't bend the leg because the pivot is not in the right spot... The other thing is now my legs are throbbing, and I can count my pulse by the throb, which means they are probably to tight, and/or the pressure point on the shin is pushing on a vein somewhere.

Not sure what to do. Nobody I know owns these, and I'm in the middle of nowhere Montana, and I'm guessing 'FIT' is subjective and something you have to see, so I'm not having high hopes for the process. But, I'm willing to try about anything. I really do want to use them. I've been racing with roofers knee pads for patela protection, and actually like them, but I'm sure these are a better solution if I can get them ironed out.

I think I've got big calves, maybe that's an issues.

I appreciate the help.
Bob

 

[MotoEnduro]

stormer I feel your pain :whiner: I had to deal with the same things you are describing.
First, I would call asterisk and make sure you have the right size. I was sent a medium and it turned out I needed a large, it made a big difference in the comfort level. Asterisk is good to deal with, they sent me the correct size, and took back my old ones.

Once I had the right size, I still couldn't straighten my leg enough, and the pain was unreal on my shin. I called them and they sent me longer cables for the hinges, that make the brace go straighter.

I also have the same problem when I bend my leg, the thigh piece comes way off my leg. I tried cinching them tighter, it helps keep the piece on my thigh a little more, but makes it more painful too from the tightness. I don't know what to do about it. Also my braces don't fit inside my Fox 360 pants too well, the seems are ready to bust! I'm going to have to find new pants :(

Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

 

[BillyWho]

Stormer,call and talk to Brad, it sounds like( and reading your measurements) that you might need to go the the XXL. Those "patches" are thicker pads for the side of your knee joints. They come stock with the thiner ones on, and the thicker ones are for people that are at the bottom of that particular size brace to snug up the joint area at either side of your knee. You can call me also if you like at X205, but I would talk to Brad and see if you need the XXL first. A quick explanation on the cuff... those metal strips that you tighten are used to adjust to different size quads and calves, they aren't used to hold the brace on. It usually only takes a couple turns of each screw on the upper and even less on the lower. You basically just want to take the slack out of the metal strips which adds a great deal of strengh to the cuffs.

Moto, the brace rising up when you bend fully has to do with the plane of your leg. Everybody has different plane, and we actually had plane adjustment in the first proto-types, but it was way to complicated to adjust properly for the end user. It doesn't deminish the effectiveness of the brace, and even custom made braces do the same thing quite often.

 

[MotoEnduro]

Thanks Billy for the explanation, I guess theres not much I can do to change the plane of my leg!
BTW: is asterisk thinking of making any neoprene covers for for the inside hinges, to protect the bikes graphics, and the inside of the pants?

 

[BillyWho]

Yes, when we get some clear are that is one of the things we are going to address. We want to make something really good, not just slap a piece of neoprene on, we'll get something as soon as we can though.

 

[Thump]

Hey Mister... you still got my braces? I am freaked out riding with my back ups.

 

[stormer94]

Billy,

I called and talked to Brad. He was very helpful. It sounds like I have big calves. He is suggesting that I send the braces in and fit them with the new cuffs, and possibly a bigger cuff for the calf than the xl. When I cinch up the little girdle looking thing on the back of the calfs the eyelets are like 5" apart, and I have almost no tension on the strings, and can barely get them buckled up.

I'llk post some pics of my leg so you can see how they are digging in.

Bob

 

[BillyWho]

A picture would help, I can customize it if needed when it gets here, after I see the picture.

 

[stormer94]

A picture would help, Hmm. Good thing I'm handy.

Try this:
http://stormerhobbies.com/asterisk/asterisk-shins.html

I don't have freakishly large calfs and feet that are only 6" long, it's a freak camera angle thing. ;)

(I'm working on my tan...) :scream: