Brace Specifically For Contact Sports
Huntersville, NC - BREG, Inc. announced it will unveil its newest product, FUSION XT, a premier functional knee brace specifically designed to protect against injuries associated with contact sports, at the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) 2005 Annual Meeting.
For the past 20 years bracing technology has remained relatively unchanged. In general, bracing technology has adequately protected the knee, reducing the occurrence of injury. The problem, however, is that traditional designs surround the knee in a rigid rectangular structure, thereby significantly limiting performance. This design not only restricts mobility, it also leaves the user vulnerable to injury when the knee extends outside the brace's frame, as is common in football-related injures. Additionally, many players complain that braces are heavy and uncomfortable, they often slip, and most importantly, they hinder the user's ability to move freely. These deficiencies have resulted in many players not wearing braces.
FUSION XT advances bracing technology. It protects the knee by working in tandem with it. Its ProForm technology utilizes Zytel, a strong yet flexible polymer that allows FUSION XT to conform to the shape of the leg, while remaining in place when running or cutting, thus permitting unhindered performance and enhanced protection by following the motion of the knee.
FUSION XT's precise, low-profile, contoured fit pre-tensions the medial side of the brace, allowing it to engage sooner, resisting knee displacement and greatly reducing injury-causing elongation of the ligaments. FUSION XT's advanced technology accommodates the changing axis of the knee throughout flexion and extension, thereby keeping the brace solidly in place to defend the knee.
"Today's athletes are bigger and faster, and not only want protection, but also need to perform at their highest level," said Brad Mason, president of BREG, Inc. "The football field is the ultimate testing ground for any knee brace, and FUSION XT delivers what no other brace can - it provides unmatched strength, comfort and protection, while allowing athletes of all levels the freedom to perform."
In field trials involving six Division 1 football teams, FUSION XT was reported to have performed significantly better than the players' existing braces, with 95 percent of all players and 100 percent of athletic trainers citing preference for FUSION XT for practices and games. Additionally, trial participants overwhelmingly reported superior comfort, unhindered mobility and limited or no migration of the brace.
"The FUSION XT brace is lighter, more comfortable and fits like a glove, while giving our players the protection they need to play hard," said Mark Coberley, director of athletic training at Iowa State University. "Our players even said they forgot they were wearing it, which is the best endorsement I can imagine."
With the introduction of FUSION XT, BREG expects to set a new standard for bracing in high-level sports. While BREG has braced players of the last five Super Bowl-winning teams, as well as a significant number of Division 1 football players, the company expects the level of professional and collegiate teams using BREG products to grow considerably. In anticipation of the FUSION XT release, a substantial number of college football teams have already expressed intent to use the brace for the upcoming football season, and BREG is ramping up inventory to accommodate future needs.
SOURCE: Orthofix International