dj Orthopedics Introduces the Defiance DropLock for Quadricep Deficiencies.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2002

dj Orthopedics Inc. (NYSE:DJO), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and services for the orthopedic sports medicine market, today introduced the Defiance(R) DropLock, a custom-made rigid brace designed to aid in the treatment of quadricep muscle disorders, such as Post-Polio Syndrome, and for use in ACL rehabilitation protocols.

This latest version of the market leading Defiance knee brace offers a durable lightweight and easy-to-use, patent-pending drop lock hinge design, which provides a new method for controlling knee motion. The new DropLock joins dj Orthopedics' flagship Defiance brace, which carries an exclusive "Knee Guarantee" feature along with the Adjustable OA Defiance brace, which has been granted the "Ease of Use Commendation" by the Arthritis Foundation for its quick and effortless load adjustments.

As the newest addition to the Defiance platform, the DropLock features a unique combination hinge, which locks the brace at 10 degrees short of full extension providing for assisted gait or, at the turn of a switch, provides a free range of motion. In its DropLock configuration, the brace enables patients to easily move from a locked, standing position to an unlocked, seated position at the push of a button. The brace then automatically re-locks at full extension as the patient rises.

By turning of a switch on the brace, the DropLock configuration can be deactivated, providing patients with free range of motion. The unique ability of the new DropLock hinge to provide single source functional and rehabilitation bracing is an industry first.

dj Orthopedics is a global orthopedic sports medicine company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of products and services that repair, regenerate and rehabilitate soft tissue and bone, help protect against injury, and treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Its broad range of over 600 existing products, many of which are based on proprietary technologies, includes rigid knee braces, soft goods, specialty and other complementary orthopedic products and its recently introduced line of surgical products. These products provide solutions for patients and orthopedic sports medicine professionals throughout the patient's continuum of care. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at www.djortho.com.

This press release contains or may contain forward-looking statements such as statements regarding the Company's future growth and profitability, growth strategy and trends in the industry in which the Company operates. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are the risk that we may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy; our limited experience in designing, manufacturing and marketing products for the repair and regeneration segments of the orthopedic sports medicine market; our transition to direct distribution of our products in certain foreign countries; our ability to successfully develop or license and timely introduce and market new products or product enhancements; our dependence on our orthopedic professionals, agents and distributors for marketing our products; risks associated with our acquisition strategy and international operations; competition in our markets; the risk that our quarterly operating results are subject to substantial fluctuations; our high level of indebtedness and the restrictions imposed by the terms of our indebtedness; our ability to generate cash to service our debts; the effects of healthcare reform, managed care and buying groups on prices of our products; the uncertainty of domestic and foreign regulatory clearance and approval of our products; the sensitivity of our business to general economic conditions; uncertainty relating to third party reimbursement; pending litigation; and the other risk factors are discussed in our readily available Form 10-K filed on March 21, 2002 and the most recent Form 10-Q filed on August 13, 2002, both with the Securities and Exchange Commission.