Everything You Need To Know About Robert Griffin III’s Knee Brace

Jul 29, 2013; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) prepares to throw the ball during afternoon practice as part of the 2013 NFL training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

After discussing the effects Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins could see in 2013 from him wearing a knee brace, Riggo’s Rag was lucky enough to talk with Brian Moore, the director at DJO Global, which makes the DonJoy knee brace Griffin is currently wearing and will wear throughout the season.

To give a little background information on the product, Moore told Riggo’s Rag the following.

“The knee brace that Robert Griffin III is wearing is the Defiance by DonJoy. The Defiance is a custom-made brace, which is made out of hollow carbon fiber, which allows it to have the greatest strength-to-weight ratio of any knee brace currently on the market (weighing in at less than 20 ounces).”

The one main thing that fans and the team worries about, is the ability of Robert Griffin III to move as he did last season, without causing any issues on his knee, specifically his ACL. That of course should be no problem after Moore told us.

“The Defiance features the four points of leverage, which is proven to decrease strain in the ACL by 50 percent. The purpose of the hinge is to re-teach the knee to flex during cutting and jumping, which in turn keeps the knee out of the at risk position, which is fully extended.”

According to Moore, the brace will allow Robert Griffin III to have no limitations on neither his throwing (planting), nor his cutting, along with any type of football motion he may have. One interesting feature the brace has, is its ability to “re-educate the neuromuscular system so that the knee and the brain talk.”

Jul 26, 2013; Richmond, VA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws the ball during 2013 NFL training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Beyond the stability that the knee brace will give, the “talking” between the two allows the most protection all-around.

According to Moore, wearing the Defiance knee brace would be most beneficial to Griffin (if he does wear one all season), as it is most appropriate for the types of cutting and collisions that happen in football.

He says, “some athletes would prefer to go to a lighter profile brace because of weight, however it truly is not the appropriate choice for the type of activity that these athletes are doing.” He did however say it is up to the athletes choice on what they do and don’t wear.

The most impressive thing about the brace is the fact that it should not limit his ability to play the game, which is what the Redskins want to hear. Without the ability to run the option and pistol formations effectively, the offense in a sense would sputter downward.

Moore also added in that several athletes have come back to win Gold Medals, Super Bowls, World Series, Super Crosses and a lot more wearing their knee braces. Additionally, there are several All-Pro and Super Bowl quarterbacks in the NFL today wearing the Defiance because of past injury (or for preventative reasons).

Here are a few other points Moore pointed out to us:

• The Defiance is worn on 23 of the top 25 AP NCAA Division I football teams
• Worn by the majority of NFL teams and endorsed by the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society.
• Official knee brace of the US Ski and Snowboard team.
• Official knee brace of Justin Sports Medicine, which cares for all Professional Rodeo athletes.
• DJO Global has sold over 1 million Defiance knee braces since its inception.