The invention relates to body supports and teaching aids particular for use during skiing. Skiing to greater or to lesser degrees imposes strains on the muscles of the skier causing fatigue and encouraging a skier to adopt an incorrect stance or posture not conducive to good and correct skiing. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective body support and teaching aid that is effective during skiing and does not need to be removed during a temporary cessation of activity but allows substantial freedom of movement of the legs during walking and sitting. This objective is met by a construction comprising a first (upper) member adapted for location against the thigh area of the leg, a second (lower) member adapted for location against the calf area of the leg, a pivotal connection between the first and second members, the second member being connectable to the boot of a user, load bearing means in the form of at least one compression spring located on the support to provide a resistance to pivotal movement between the first and second members, and said load bearing means being deactivatable to permit substantially free pivotal movement between the first and second members.
RELATED APPLICATION (PRIORITY CLAIM)
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/090,219, filed Mar. 4, 2002. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/609,081, filed Jun. 30, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,110 which claims the benefit of Great Britain patent application Nos. 9915534.3, filed Jul. 3, 1999 and No. 9915800.8, filed Jul. 7, 1999.
The invention provides a device for protecting ligaments in a knee joint of a user. The device includes a knee brace positionable about a knee joint of a user and a boot wearable on a foot of a user. Additionally, the device includes a flexible tether member including a first coupling element coupled to the knee brace and a second coupling element coupled to the boot. The boot and knee brace are attachable and detachable via the first and second coupling elements. The flexible tether member is adjustable in length to dispose the flexible tether member in tension at least in a portion of a maximum foot range of rotation, where the maximum foot range of rotation of the user's foot relative to the knee joint causes hyperextension of a knee ligament.
