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                                                                   Exhibit 10.53

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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2001

                                      AMONG

                              DJ ORTHOPEDICS, INC.

                                AND THE INVESTORS
                                  PARTY HERETO

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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<S>                                                                                                             <C>
SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS............................................................................................1

SECTION 2.  DEMAND REGISTRATION....................................................................................3

SECTION 3.  REGISTRATIONS ON FORM S-3..............................................................................5

SECTION 4.  PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.................................................................................6

SECTION 5.  HOLDBACK AGREEMENT.....................................................................................7

SECTION 6.  PREPARATION AND FILING.................................................................................7

SECTION 7.  EXPENSES..............................................................................................11

SECTION 8.  INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................................11

SECTION 9.  UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT................................................................................14

SECTION 10. SUSPENSION............................................................................................14

SECTION 11. INFORMATION BY HOLDER.................................................................................15

SECTION 12. EXCHANGE ACT COMPLIANCE...............................................................................15

SECTION 13. NO CONFLICT OF RIGHTS.................................................................................15

SECTION 14. TERMINATION...........................................................................................15

SECTION 15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS................................................................................15

SECTION 16. ASSIGNMENT............................................................................................15

SECTION 17. LEGEND ON CERTIFICATES; NEW CERTIFICATES..............................................................16

SECTION 18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT......................................................................................16

SECTION 19. NOTICES...............................................................................................16

SECTION 20. MODIFICATIONS; AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS....................................................................17

SECTION 21. SEVERABILITY..........................................................................................17

SECTION 22. GOVERNING LAW.........................................................................................18

SECTION 23. HEADINGS..............................................................................................18

SECTION 24. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES....................................................................18

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                                           REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated
                                       as of November 20, 2001, among DJ
                                       ORTHOPEDICS, INC., a Delaware corporation
                                       (the "CORPORATION"), and the INVESTORS
                                       (as herein defined).

         The Investors previously held common units or preferred units of
DonJoy, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("DONJOY"). Pursuant to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), dated as of October 26,
2001, by and among the Corporation, DJ Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Corporation (the "MERGER SUBSIDIARY"), and DonJoy, the Merger
Subsidiary was merged with and into DonJoy, with DonJoy being the surviving
entity. In exchange for the common units and preferred units of DonJoy, the
Investors received shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share of the
Corporation (the "COMMON STOCK") and certain other consideration as specified in
the Merger Agreement. The Corporation and the Investors deem it to be in their
respective best interests to set forth the rights of the Investors in connection
with public offerings and sales of the Common Stock.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
and obligations hereinafter set forth, the Corporation and the Investors hereby
agree as follows:

         SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

         As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

         "BOARD" means the board of directors of the Corporation.

         "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
Federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.

         "COMMON STOCK" has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble to this
Agreement.

         "CORPORATION" has the meaning ascribed to it in the caption to this
Agreement.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time
to time.

         "INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS" means those Investors listed on SCHEDULE II
hereto and includes any successor to, or assignee or transferee of, any such
person who or which acquires Registrable Shares in accordance with SECTION 16
hereof and agrees in writing to be treated as an Institutional Investor
hereunder and to be bound by the terms and comply with all applicable provisions
hereof and executes a counterpart signature page hereto.

         "INVESTORS" means the persons set forth on the signature pages hereof
and includes any successor to, or assignee or transferee of, any such person who
or which acquires Registrable Shares in accordance with SECTION 16 hereof and
agrees in writing to be treated as an Investor

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hereunder and to be bound by the terms and comply with all applicable provisions
hereof and executes a counterpart signature page hereto.

         "INVESTORS' COUNSEL" has the meaning ascribed to it in SECTION
6(a)(ii).

         "JPM DJ" means J.P. Morgan DJ Partners, LLC.

         "MATERIAL TRANSACTION" shall mean any transaction in which the
Corporation or any of its subsidiaries proposes to engage or is engaged,
including a purchase or sale of assets or securities, financing, merger,
consolidation, tender offer or any other transaction that would require
disclosure pursuant to the Exchange Act, and with respect to which the Board
reasonably has determined in good faith that compliance with this Agreement may
reasonably be expected to either materially interfere with the Corporation's or
such subsidiary's ability to consummate such transaction in a timely fashion or
require the Corporation to disclose material, non-public information prior to
such time as it would otherwise be required to be disclosed.

         "MERGER AGREEMENT" has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble to
this Agreement.

         "OTHER SHARES" means at any time those shares of Common Stock which do
not constitute Primary Shares or Registrable Shares.

         "PRIMARY SHARES" means at any time the authorized but unissued shares
of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock held by the Corporation in its
treasury.

         "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any prospectus subject to completion, and any such
prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect
to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Shares and, in
each case, by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including
post-effective amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated
by reference therein.

         "REGISTRABLE SHARES" means at any time, with respect to any Investor,
the shares of Common Stock held by such Investor which constitute Restricted
Shares.

         "REGISTRATION DATE" means the date of the final Prospectus included in
the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Corporation shall have
initially registered shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act for sale to
the public.

         "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean any registration statement of the
Corporation which covers any of the Registrable Shares, and all amendments and
supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective
amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all
exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

         "RESTRICTED SHARES" means with respect to any Investor (i) shares of
Common Stock issued by the Corporation to such Investor pursuant to the Merger
Agreement as set forth opposite the name of such Investor on SCHEDULE I, (ii)
any other shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Investor which such
Investor may be limited by Rule 144(b) from

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selling absent compliance with Rule 144 and (iii) any other securities received
by such Investor in respect thereof. As to any particular Restricted Shares,
such Restricted Shares shall cease to be Restricted Shares when (i) they have
been registered under the Securities Act, the Registration Statement in
connection therewith has been declared effective and they have been disposed of
pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) they have been sold in
accordance with Rule 144 or are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k), or
(iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.

         "RULE 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any
successor rule thereto or any complementary rule thereto.

         "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

         SECTION 2. DEMAND REGISTRATION.

                  (a)      At any time after the date which is 180 days
         following the Registration Date, if JPM DJ shall state in writing that
         it desires to sell Registrable Shares in the public securities markets
         and requests the Corporation to effect the registration under the
         Securities Act of Registrable Shares, the Corporation shall within 10
         days of such request give written notice of such proposed registration
         to all holders of Registrable Shares and shall offer to include in such
         proposed registration only Registrable Shares requested to be included
         in such proposed registration by such holders who respond in writing to
         the Corporation within thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice
         (which request shall specify the number of Registrable Shares proposed
         to be included in such registration). The Corporation shall, subject to
         SECTION 2(b) below, promptly thereafter use its best efforts to effect
         such registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Shares
         which the Corporation has been so requested to register for sale in
         accordance with the method of distribution specified in the initiating
         request. If JPM DJ so elects, the offering of such Registrable Shares
         pursuant to such registration shall be in the form of an underwritten
         offering in which case JPM DJ shall select one or more nationally
         recognized firms of investment bankers reasonably acceptable to the
         Corporation to act as the lead managing underwriter or underwriters in
         connection with such offering and shall select any additional
         investment bankers and managers to be used in connection with the
         offering.

                  (b)      Anything contained in SECTION 2(a) to the contrary
         notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not be obligated to effect
         pursuant to SECTION 2(a) any registration under the Securities Act
         except in accordance with the following provisions:

                           (i)      the Corporation shall not be obligated to
         use its best efforts to file and cause to become effective (A) more
         than three Registration Statements initiated pursuant to SECTION 2(a);
         PROVIDED HOWEVER, that if JPM DJ is unable to sell at least 75% of the
         Registrable Shares requested to be included in a registration pursuant
         to SECTION 2(a) as a result of an underwriter's cutback, then JPM DJ
         shall be entitled to an additional demand registration pursuant to this
         SECTION 2(b)(i), or (B) any Registration Statement during any period in
         which any other Registration

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         Statement (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 promulgated under the
         Securities Act or any successor forms thereto) pursuant to which
         Primary Shares are to be or were sold has been filed and not withdrawn
         or has been declared effective within the prior 180 days;

                           (ii)     the Corporation may delay the filing or
         effectiveness of any Registration Statement pursuant to SECTION 2(a)
         for a period of up to 90 days after the date on which the Corporation
         gives notice to the Investors pursuant to this SECTION 2(b)(ii) if at
         the time of such notice (i) the Corporation is engaged, or has fixed
         plans to engage within 90 days of the time of such notice, in a firm
         commitment underwritten public offering of Primary Shares in which JPM
         DJ may include Registrable Shares pursuant to SECTION 4, or (ii) the
         Board reasonably determines that such registration and offering would
         interfere with any Material Transaction involving the Corporation;
         PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Corporation may only delay the filing or
         effectiveness of a Registration Statement pursuant to this SECTION 2(b)
         for a total of 180 days after the date of a request for registration
         pursuant to SECTION 2(a); and

                           (iii)    with respect to any registration pursuant to
         SECTION 2(a), the Corporation may include in such registration any
         Primary Shares or Other Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the managing
         underwriter advises the Corporation that the inclusion of all
         Registrable Shares, Primary Shares and Other Shares proposed to be
         included in such registration would interfere with the successful
         marketing (including pricing) of all such securities, then the number
         of Registrable Shares, Primary Shares and Other Shares proposed to be
         included in such registration shall be included in the following order:

                                    (A)      FIRST, the Registrable Shares held
                  by the Investors requesting that their Registrable Shares be
                  included in such registration initiated pursuant to SECTION
                  2(a) (or, if necessary, such Registrable Shares PRO RATA among
                  the holders thereof based upon the number of Registrable
                  Shares requested to be registered by each such holder);

                                    (B)      SECOND, the Primary Shares; and

                                    (C)      THIRD, the Other Shares (or, if
                  necessary, such Other Shares PRO RATA among the holders
                  thereof based upon the number of Other Shares requested to be
                  registered by each such holder).

                  (c)      A requested registration under this SECTION 2 may be
rescinded prior to such registration being declared effective by the Commission
by written notice to the Corporation from JPM DJ; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
requested registration which has been rescinded shall count as a demand
registration for purposes of SECTION 2(b)(i) unless the request for withdrawal
shall have been the result of, or made in response to, a material adverse change
or event on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), or
operations of the Corporation.

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         SECTION 3. REGISTRATIONS ON FORM S-3.

                  (a)      Anything contained in SECTION 2 to the contrary
         notwithstanding but subject to SECTION 3(b), at such time after the
         date which is 180 days following the Registration Date as the
         Corporation shall have qualified for the use of Form S-3 promulgated
         under the Securities Act or any successor form thereto, the
         Institutional Investors shall have the right to request in writing an
         unlimited number of registrations of Registrable Shares on Form S-3 or
         such successor form of Registrable Shares. If the Corporation shall be
         requested by the Institutional Investors to effect a registration under
         the Securities Act of Registrable Shares in accordance with this
         SECTION 3, then the Corporation shall promptly give written notice of
         such proposed registration to all holders of Registrable Shares and
         shall offer to include in such proposed registration any Registrable
         Shares requested to be included in such proposed registration by such
         holders who respond in writing to the Corporation's notice within 30
         days after delivery of such notice (which response shall specify the
         number of Registrable Shares proposed to be included in such
         registration). The Corporation shall promptly use its best efforts to
         effect such registration on Form S-3 of the Registrable Shares which
         the Corporation has been so requested to register.

                  (b)      The Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any
         registration under the Securities Act requested by the Institutional
         Investors under SECTION 3(a) except in accordance with the following
         provisions:

                           (i)      the Corporation shall not be obligated to
                  effect any such registration initiated pursuant to SECTION
                  3(a) if (A) the Corporation shall reasonably conclude that the
                  anticipated gross offering price of all Registrable Shares to
                  be included therein would be less than $2,000,000, (B) such
                  registration is requested within six (6) months after a
                  registered offering of the Corporation in which any of the
                  Institutional Investors were given the opportunity to
                  participate or (C) the Corporation shall have effected two or
                  more Registration Statements on Form S-3 pursuant to this
                  SECTION 3 during the preceding 12-month period;

                           (ii)     the Corporation may delay the filing or
                  effectiveness of any Registration Statement pursuant to
                  SECTION 3(a) for a period of up to 90 days after the date on
                  which the Corporation gives notice to the Institutional
                  Investors pursuant to this SECTION 3(b)(ii) if at the time of
                  such notice (i) the Corporation is engaged, or has fixed plans
                  to engage within 90 days of the time of such notice, in a firm
                  commitment underwritten public offering of Primary Shares in
                  which the Institutional Investors may include Registrable
                  Shares pursuant to SECTION 4, or (ii) the Board reasonably
                  determines that such registration and offering would interfere
                  with any Material Transaction involving the Corporation;
                  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Corporation may only delay the
                  filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement pursuant
                  to this SECTION 3(b) for a total of 180 days after the date of
                  a request for registration pursuant to SECTION 3(a); and

                           (iii)    with respect to any registration pursuant to
                  SECTION 3(a), the Corporation may include in such registration
                  any Primary Shares or Other Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
                  the managing underwriter advises the Corporation that

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                  the inclusion of all Registrable Shares, Primary Shares and
                  Other Shares proposed to be included in such registration
                  would interfere with the successful marketing (including
                  pricing) of all such securities, then the number of
                  Registrable Shares, Primary Shares and Other Shares proposed
                  to be included in such registration shall be included in the
                  following order:

                                    (A)      FIRST, the Registrable Shares held
                  by the Institutional Investors requesting that their
                  Registrable Shares be included in such registration initiated
                  pursuant to SECTION 3(A) (or, if necessary, such Registrable
                  Shares PRO RATA among the holders thereof based upon the
                  number of Registrable Shares requested to be registered by
                  each such holder);

                                    (B)      SECOND, the Primary Shares;

                                    (C)      THIRD, the Registrable Shares held
                  by the Investors other than the Institutional Investors (or,
                  if necessary, such Registrable Shares PRO RATA among the
                  holders thereof based upon the number of Registrable Shares
                  requested to be registered by each such holder); and

                                    (D)      FOURTH, the Other Shares (or, if
                  necessary, such Other Shares PRO RATA among the holders
                  thereof based upon the number of Other Shares requested to be
                  registered by each such holder).

                  (c)      A requested registration on Form S-3 or any such
         successor form in compliance with this SECTION 3 shall not count as a
         Registration Statement initiated pursuant to SECTION 2.

         SECTION 4. PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.

         If the Corporation at any time proposes for any reason to register
Primary Shares or Other Shares under the Securities Act (other than on Form S-4
or Form S-8 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor forms
thereto), it shall give written notice to the Investors of its intention to so
register such Primary Shares or Other Shares at least thirty (30) days before
the initial filing of such Registration Statement (which notice shall specify
the form and manner and other relevant facts involved in such registration,
including the proposed manner of sale and estimated price) and, upon the written
request, delivered to the Corporation within thirty (30) days after delivery of
any such notice by the Corporation, of the Investors to include in such
registration Registrable Shares (which request shall specify the number of
Registrable Shares proposed to be included in such registration and shall state
that such Investors desire to sell such Registrable Shares in the public
securities markets), the Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause all
such Registrable Shares to be included in such registration on the same terms
and conditions as the securities otherwise being sold in such registration;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the managing underwriter advises the Corporation that
the inclusion of all Registrable Shares requested to be included in such
registration would interfere with the successful marketing (including pricing)
of the Primary Shares or Other Shares proposed to be registered by the

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Corporation, then the number of Primary Shares, Registrable Shares and Other
Shares proposed to be included in such registration shall be included in the
following order:

                  (a)      if the provisions of this SECTION 4 are invoked as a
         result of the Corporation's registration of Primary Shares, the order
         shall be as follows:

                           (i)      FIRST, the Primary Shares;

                           (ii)     SECOND, the Registrable Shares requested to
                  be included in such registration (or, if necessary, such
                  Registrable Shares PRO RATA among the holders thereof based
                  upon the number of Registrable Shares requested to be
                  registered by each such holder); and

                           (iii)    THIRD, the Other Shares requested to be
                  included in such registration (or, if necessary, such Other
                  Shares PRO RATA among the holders thereof based upon the
                  number of Other Shares requested to be registered by each such
                  holder).

                  (b)      if the provisions of this SECTION 4 are invoked as a
         result of the Corporation's registration of Other Shares, the order
         shall be as follows:

                           (i)      FIRST, the Other Shares and Registrable
                  Shares requested to be included in such registration (or, if
                  necessary, such Other Shares and Registrable Shares PRO RATA
                  among the holders thereof based upon the number of Other
                  Shares and Registrable Shares requested to be registered by
                  each such holder); and

                           (ii)     SECOND, the Primary Shares.

         SECTION 5. HOLDBACK AGREEMENT.

         If the Corporation at any time shall register shares of Common Stock
under the Securities Act (including any registration pursuant to SECTION 2,
SECTION 3 or SECTION 4 hereof) for sale to the public, the Investors shall not
sell publicly, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or
otherwise dispose publicly of, any Registrable Shares (other than those shares
of Common Stock included in such registration pursuant to SECTION 2, SECTION 3
or SECTION 4 hereof) without the prior written consent of the Corporation, for a
period designated by the Corporation in writing to the Investors, which period
shall begin not more than 10 days prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement pursuant to which such public offering shall be made and shall not
last more than 90 days after the effective date of such Registration Statement.
The Corporation shall obtain the agreement of any person permitted to sell
shares of stock in a registration to be bound by and to comply with this SECTION
5 as if such person were an Investor hereunder.

         SECTION 6. PREPARATION AND FILING.

                  (a)      If and whenever the Corporation is under an
         obligation pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement to use its best
         efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Shares, the
         Corporation shall, as expeditiously as practicable:

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                           (i)      use its best efforts to cause a Registration
         Statement that registers such Registrable Shares to become and remain
         effective for a period of 180 days or until all of such Registrable
         Shares have been disposed of (if earlier);

                           (ii)     furnish, at least five business days before
         filing a Registration Statement that registers such Registrable Shares,
         a Prospectus relating thereto or any amendments or supplements relating
         to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, to one counsel selected
         by the Investors (the "INVESTORS' COUNSEL"), copies of all such
         documents proposed to be filed (it being understood that such
         five-business-day period need not apply to successive drafts of the
         same document proposed to be filed so long as such successive drafts
         are supplied to the Investors' Counsel in advance of the proposed
         filing by a period of time that is customary and reasonable under the
         circumstances);

                           (iii)    prepare and file with the Commission such
         amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep
         such Registration Statement effective for at least a period of 180 days
         or until all of such Registrable Shares have been disposed of (if
         earlier) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
         respect to the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Shares;

                           (iv)     notify the Investors' Counsel promptly in
         writing (A) of the receipt by the Corporation of any notification with
         respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such
         Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
         thereto or any request by the Commission for the amending or
         supplementing thereof or for additional information with respect
         thereto, (B) of the receipt by the Corporation of any notification with
         respect to the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
         the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
         amendment or supplement thereto or the initiation or threatening of any
         proceeding for that purpose and (C) of the receipt by the Corporation
         of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
         of such Registrable Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the
         initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes, and, in
         each of the foregoing cases, such notice shall include a copy of the
         notification with respect to which the notice is being given;

                           (v)      use its best efforts to register or qualify
         such Registrable Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of
         such jurisdictions as the Investors reasonably request and do any and
         all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
         advisable to enable such seller of Registrable Shares to consummate the
         disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Shares owned by
         such seller; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Corporation will not be
         required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to general
         taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction
         where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this clause
         (v) or to provide any material undertaking or make any changes in its
         by-laws or certificate of incorporation which the Board

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         determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Corporation or
         to modify any of its contractual relationships then existing;

                           (vi)     furnish to the Investors holding such
         Registrable Shares such number of copies of a summary Prospectus, if
         any, or other Prospectus, including a preliminary Prospectus, in
         conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
         documents as such seller of Registrable Shares may reasonably request
         in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of such
         Registrable Shares;

                           (vii)    without limiting clause (v) above, use its
         best efforts to cause such Registrable Shares to be registered with or
         approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
         necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Corporation
         to enable the sellers holding such Registrable Shares to consummate the
         disposition of such Registrable Shares;

                           (viii)   notify on a timely basis each seller holding
         such Registrable Shares at any time when a Prospectus relating to such
         Registrable Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities
         Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus
         included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an
         untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and,
         at the request of such seller, prepare and furnish to such sellers a
         reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such
         Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the
         offerees of such shares, such Prospectus shall not include an untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
         to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

                           (ix)     subject to the execution of confidentiality
         agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
         Corporation, make available upon reasonable notice and during normal
         business hours, for inspection by any seller holding such Registrable
         Shares, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
         such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent
         retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the
         "INSPECTORS"), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent
         corporate documents and properties of the Corporation (collectively,
         the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
         exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the
         Corporation's officers, directors and employees to supply all
         information (together with the Records, the "INFORMATION") reasonably
         requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration
         Statement. Any of the Information which the Corporation determines in
         good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the
         Inspectors are so notified, shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors
         unless (A) the disclosure of such Information is necessary to avoid or
         correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement, (B)
         the release of such Information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
         other order from a court

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         of competent jurisdiction or (C) such Information has been made
         generally available to the public; the Investors agree that they will,
         upon learning that disclosure of such Information is sought in a court
         of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Corporation and allow the
         Corporation, at the Corporation's expense, to undertake appropriate
         action to prevent disclosure of the Information deemed confidential;

                           (x)      use its best efforts to obtain from its
         independent certified public accountants "cold comfort" letters in
         customary form and at customary times and covering matters of the type
         customarily covered by cold comfort letters;

                           (xi)     use its best efforts to obtain from its
         counsel an opinion or opinions in customary form;

                           (xii)    provide a transfer agent and registrar
         (which may be the same entity and which may be the Corporation) for
         such Registrable Shares;

                           (xiii)   obtain a CUSIP number for and issue to any
         underwriter to which the Investors holding such Registrable Shares may
         sell shares in such offering certificates evidencing such Registrable
         Shares;

                           (xiv)    cause senior representatives of the
         Corporation to participate in any "road show" or "road shows"
         reasonably requested by any underwriter of an underwritten or "best
         efforts" offering of Registrable Shares;

                           (xv)     list such Registrable Shares on any national
         securities exchange on which any shares of the Common Stock are listed
         or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities
         exchange, use its best efforts to qualify such Registrable Shares for
         inclusion on any national securities exchange (including, without
         limitation, the New York Stock Exchange) or the automated quotation
         system of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
         "NASDAQ"), as the holders of a majority of such Registrable Shares
         shall reasonably request;

                           (xvi)    otherwise use its best efforts to comply
         with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make
         available to its securityholders, as soon as reasonably practicable,
         earnings statements (which need not be audited) covering a period of 12
         months beginning within three months after the effective date of the
         Registration Statement, which earnings statements shall satisfy the
         provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
         thereunder; and

                           (xvii)   subject to all the other provisions of this
         Agreement, use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to
         effect the registration of such Registrable Shares contemplated hereby.

                  (b)      Each holder of Registrable Shares that sells
         Registrable Shares pursuant to a registration under this Agreement
         agrees that during such time as such seller may be engaged in a
         distribution of the Registrable Shares, such seller shall comply with

                                       10
<Page>

         Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act and pursuant thereto it
         shall, among other things: (i) not engage in any stabilization activity
         in connection with the Securities of the Corporation in contravention
         of such rules; (ii) distribute the Registrable Shares under the
         Registration Statement solely in the manner described in the
         Registration Statement; and (iii) cease distribution of such
         Registrable Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement upon receipt
         of written notice from the Corporation that the Prospectus covering the
         Registrable Shares contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omits a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
         make the statements therein not misleading.

         SECTION 7. EXPENSES.

         All expenses incurred by the Corporation in complying with SECTION 6,
including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including all
expenses incident to filing with the National Association of Securities
Dealers), fees and expenses of complying with securities and blue sky laws,
printing expenses, fees and expenses of the Corporation's counsel and
accountants and reasonable fees and expenses of the Investors' Counsel, shall be
paid by the Corporation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all underwriting discounts and
selling commissions applicable to the Registrable Shares and Other Shares shall
be borne by the holders selling such Registrable Shares and Other Shares, in
proportion to the number of Registrable Shares and Other Shares sold by each
such holder.

         SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a)      In connection with any registration of any
         Registrable Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
         the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless the holders of
         Registrable Shares included in such registration, each underwriter,
         broker or any other person acting on behalf of the holders of
         Registrable Shares and each other person, if any, who controls any of
         the foregoing persons within the meaning of the Securities Act against
         any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several (or
         actions in respect thereof), to which any of the foregoing persons may
         become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
         arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or allegedly untrue
         statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
         under which such Registrable Shares were registered under the
         Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus
         contained therein or otherwise filed with the Commission, any amendment
         or supplement thereto or any document incident to registration or
         qualification of any Registrable Shares, or arise out of or are based
         upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading or, with respect to any Prospectus, necessary to
         make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which
         they were made not misleading, or any violation by the Corporation of
         the Securities Act or state securities or blue sky laws applicable to
         the Corporation and relating to action or inaction required of the
         Corporation in connection with such registration or qualification under
         such state securities or blue sky laws; and shall reimburse the holders
         of such Registrable Shares, such underwriter, such broker or such other
         person acting on behalf of the holders of Registrable Shares and each
         such

                                       11
<Page>

         controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
         by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such
         loss, claim, damage, liability or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
         Corporation shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
         such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (including any legal or
         other expenses incurred) arises out of or is based upon an untrue
         statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
         made in said Registration Statement, preliminary Prospectus, final
         Prospectus, amendment, supplement or document incident to registration
         or qualification of any Registrable Shares in reliance upon and in
         conformity with written information furnished to the Corporation
         through an instrument duly executed by the holders of such Registrable
         Shares or their counsel or underwriter specifically for use in the
         preparation thereof; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the foregoing
         indemnity agreement is subject to the condition that, insofar as it
         relates to any untrue statement, allegedly untrue statement, omission
         or alleged omission made in any preliminary Prospectus but eliminated
         or remedied in the final Prospectus, such indemnity agreement shall not
         inure to the benefit of any holder of Registrable Shares, underwriter,
         broker or other person acting on behalf of holders of the Registrable
         Shares from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage,
         liability or expense purchased the Registrable Shares which are the
         subject thereof, if a copy of such final Prospectus had been made
         available to such holder of Registrable Shares, underwriter, broker or
         other person acting on behalf of holders of the Registrable Shares and
         such final Prospectus was not delivered to such person with or prior to
         the written confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Shares to such
         person.

                  (b)      In connection with any registration of Registrable
         Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, each holder
         of Registrable Shares included in such registration shall severally and
         not jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless (in the same
         manner and to the same extent as set forth in the preceding paragraph
         of this SECTION 8) the Corporation, each director of the Corporation,
         each officer of the Corporation who shall sign such Registration
         Statement, each underwriter, broker or other person acting on behalf of
         the holders of Registrable Shares included in such registration and
         each person who controls any of the foregoing persons within the
         meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any statement or omission
         from such Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final
         Prospectus contained therein or otherwise filed with the Commission,
         any amendment or supplement thereto or any document incident to
         registration or qualification of any Registrable Shares, if such
         statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
         written information furnished to the Corporation or such underwriter
         specifically for use in connection with the preparation of such
         Registration Statement, preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus,
         amendment, supplement or document by such holder of Registrable Shares
         expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the maximum amount
         of liability in respect of such indemnification shall be limited, in
         the case of each seller of Registrable Shares, to an amount equal to
         the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of
         Registrable Shares included in such registration effected pursuant to
         such registration.

                                       12
<Page>

                  (c)      Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of
         notice of the commencement of any action involving a claim referred to
         in the preceding paragraphs of this SECTION 8, such indemnified party
         will, if a claim in respect thereof is made against an indemnifying
         party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such
         action. The failure of any indemnified party to notify an indemnifying
         party of any such action shall not (unless such failure shall have a
         material adverse effect on the indemnifying party) relieve the
         indemnifying party from any liability in respect of such action that it
         may have to such indemnified party on account of this SECTION 8. In
         case any such action is brought against an indemnified party, the
         indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and to assume the
         defense thereof, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
         notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel reasonably
         satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the
         indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
         assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
         responsible for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
         the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; PROVIDED,
         HOWEVER, that if any indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
         that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to
         such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those
         available to the indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation
         involves or could have an effect upon matters beyond the scope of the
         indemnity agreement provided in this SECTION 8, the indemnifying party
         shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf
         of such indemnified party (but shall have the right to participate
         therein with counsel of its choice) and such indemnifying party shall
         reimburse such indemnified party and any person controlling such
         indemnified party for that portion of the fees and expenses of any
         counsel retained by the indemnified party which is reasonably related
         to the matters covered by the indemnity agreement provided in this
         Section 8. If the indemnifying party is not entitled to, or elects not
         to, assume the defense of a claim, it will not be obligated to pay the
         fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local
         counsel) with respect to such claim.

                  (d)      If the indemnification provided for in this SECTION 8
         is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or
         insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party with respect to any
         loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the
         indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
         hereunder, shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such
         indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or
         action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
         fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified
         party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
         resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as
         any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
         indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by
         reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
         statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to
         state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
         indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties'
         relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
         correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties agree that
         it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant hereto were
         determined by PRO

                                       13
<Page>

         RATA allocation or by any other method or allocation which does not
         take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. No
         person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
         Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution
         from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
         misrepresentation.

         SECTION 9. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT.

                  (a)      Notwithstanding the provisions of SECTION 8, to the
         extent that the Investors in a proposed registration shall enter into
         an underwriting or similar agreement, which agreement contains
         provisions covering one or more issues addressed in SECTION 8 of this
         Agreement, then the provisions contained in SECTION 8 of this Agreement
         addressing such issue or issues shall be of no force or effect with
         respect to such registration (but only to the extent covered by such
         underwriting or similar agreement), but this provision shall not apply
         to the Corporation if the Corporation is not a party to the
         underwriting or similar agreement.

                  (b)      If any registration pursuant to SECTIONS 2 or 3 is
         requested to be an underwritten offering, the Corporation shall
         negotiate in good faith to enter into a reasonable and customary
         underwriting agreement with the underwriters thereof. The Corporation
         shall be entitled to receive indemnities from lead institutions,
         underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities
         industry professionals participating in the distribution, to the same
         extent as provided above with respect to information so furnished in
         writing by such persons specifically for inclusion in any Prospectus or
         Registration Statement and to the extent customary given their role in
         such distribution.

                  (c)      No holder of such Registrable Shares may participate
         in any registration hereunder that is underwritten unless such holder
         agrees to (i) sell such holder's Registrable Shares proposed to be
         included therein on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
         acceptable to the Corporation and a majority of the holders of
         Registrable Shares initiating such request based on the number of
         Registrable Shares so requested to be registered and (ii) as
         expeditiously as possible, notify the Corporation of the occurrence of
         any event concerning such holder as a result of which the Prospectus
         relating to such registration contains an untrue statement of a
         material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         SECTION 10. SUSPENSION.

         Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Corporation may (not more than once with respect to each registration), by
notice in writing to each holder of Registrable Shares to which a Prospectus
relates, require such holder to suspend, for up to 90 days (the "SUSPENSION
PERIOD"), the use of any Prospectus included in a Registration Statement filed
under SECTIONS 2, 3 or 4 if a Material Transaction exists that would require an
amendment to such Registration Statement or supplement to such Prospectus
(including any such amendment or supplement made through incorporation by
reference to a report filed under Section 13 of the

                                       14
<Page>

Exchange Act). The period during which such Prospectus must remain effective
shall be extended by a period equal to the Suspension Period.

         SECTION 11. INFORMATION BY HOLDER.

         Each holder of Registrable Shares to be included in any registration
shall furnish to the Corporation and the managing underwriter such written
information regarding such holder and the distribution proposed by such holder
as the Corporation or the managing underwriter may reasonably request in writing
and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance referred to in this Agreement.

         SECTION 12. EXCHANGE ACT COMPLIANCE.

         The Corporation shall comply with all of the reporting requirements of
the Exchange Act applicable to it and shall comply with all other public
information reporting requirements of the Commission which are conditions to the
availability of Rule 144 for the sale of the Common Stock. The Corporation shall
cooperate with each holder of Restricted Shares in supplying such information as
may be necessary for such holder to complete and file any information reporting
forms presently or hereafter required by the Commission as a condition to the
availability of Rule 144.

         SECTION 13. NO CONFLICT OF RIGHTS.

         The Corporation represents and warrants to each holder of Registrable
Shares that the registration rights granted to such holders hereby do not
conflict with any other registration rights granted by the Corporation. The
Corporation shall not, after the date hereof, grant any registration rights
which conflict with or impair, or have any priority over, the registration
rights granted hereby.

         SECTION 14. TERMINATION.

         This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect
when there shall no longer be any Registrable Shares outstanding; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that SECTIONS 7 and 8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 15. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

         This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Corporation
and the Investors and, subject to SECTION 16, the respective successors and
assigns of the Corporation and the Investors.

         SECTION 16. ASSIGNMENT.

         Each Investor may sell, assign or otherwise transfer its rights
hereunder to any purchaser or transferee of Registrable Shares; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such purchaser or transferee shall, as a condition to the
effectiveness of such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart to this
Agreement agreeing to be treated as an Investor hereunder whereupon such
purchaser or transferee shall have the benefits of, and shall be subject to the
restrictions contained in, this

                                       15
<Page>

Agreement as if such purchaser or transferee was originally included in the
definition of an Investor herein and had originally been a party hereto.

         SECTION 17. LEGEND ON CERTIFICATES; NEW CERTIFICATES.

                  (a)      Each certificate representing Restricted Shares shall
         bear a legend containing the following words (in addition to any other
         legend required by law or applicable agreement):

                  "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
                  THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
                  DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2001, AMONG DJ ORTHOPEDICS, INC. AND
                  CERTAIN HOLDERS OF THE OUTSTANDING STOCK OF SUCH CORPORATION.
                  COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN
                  REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO
                  THE SECRETARY OF SUCH CORPORATION."

                  (b)      As expeditiously as possible after the sale of
         Restricted Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement that has been
         declared effective under the Securities Act, the Corporation shall
         deliver in exchange for any legended certificate evidencing Restricted
         Shares so registered and sold, new stock certificates not bearing any
         restrictive legends, provided that in the event less than all of the
         Restricted Shares evidenced by such legended certificate have been so
         registered and sold, the holder thereof agrees that a new certificate
         evidencing such unregistered or unsold shares will be issued bearing
         the appropriate restrictive legend.

         SECTION 18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

         This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein or delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto, contain the entire agreement among the Investors and
the Corporation with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all
prior and contemporaneous arrangements or understandings with respect thereto
(including, without limitation, the Members' Agreement, dated as of June 30,
1999, by and among DonJoy, the Investors and the other parties named therein).

         SECTION 19. NOTICES.

         All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to
any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument
delivered in person or sent by telecopy, nationally-recognized overnight courier
or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or such other
address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other
parties:

                                       16
<Page>

                  (i) if to the Corporation, to:

                  dj Orthopedics, Inc.
                  2985 Scott St.
                  Vista, CA 92083
                  Telephone:  (760) 734-3530
                  Telecopy:   (760) 734-3536
                  Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

                  with a copy to:

                  O'Sullivan LLP
                  30 Rockefeller Plaza
                  New York, NY 10112
                  Telephone:  (212) 408-2400
                  Telecopy:   (212) 408-2420
                  Attention:  Gregory A. Gilbert, Esq.

                  (ii)  if to the Investors, to their respective addresses set
                        forth on SCHEDULE I hereto,

         All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be
deemed to have been delivered (a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery
by telecopy, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the case of dispatch by
nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day following such
dispatch and (c) in the case of mailing, on the third business day after the
posting thereof.

         SECTION 20. MODIFICATIONS; AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.

         The terms and provisions of this Agreement may not be modified or
amended, nor may any provision be waived, except pursuant to a writing signed by
the Corporation and the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Shares
then outstanding.

         SECTION 21. SEVERABILITY.

         It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this
Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the law and public
policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.
Accordingly, if any provision of this Agreement would be held in any
jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such
provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating
the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be
invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.

                                       17
<Page>

         SECTION 22. GOVERNING LAW.

         All questions concerning the construction, interpretation and validity
of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any
choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether in the State of Delaware or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. In furtherance of the foregoing,
the internal law of the State of Delaware will control the interpretation and
construction of this Agreement, even if under such jurisdiction's choice of law
or conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction
would ordinarily apply.

         SECTION 23. HEADINGS.

         The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part
of this Agreement.

         SECTION 24. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE SIGNATURES.

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each
such counterpart hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all
such counterparts together shall constitute but one agreement. Facsimile
counterpart signatures to this Agreement shall be acceptable and binding.

                                    * * * * *

                                       18
<Page>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement on the date first written above.

                                   DJ ORTHOPEDICS, INC.

                                   By:  /s/ Cyril Talbot III
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Cyril Talbot III
                                       Title: Senior Vice President-Finance,
                                              Chief Financial Officer &
                                              Secretary

                                   J.P. MORGAN DJ PARTNERS, LLC

                                   BY:  J.P. MORGAN FAIRFIELD PARTNERS, LLC,
                                        ITS MANAGING MEMBER

                                   By:  /s/ Charles Orsatti
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Charles Orsatti
                                       Managing Member

                                   J.P. MORGAN PARTNERS (23A SBIC), LLC

                                   BY: J.P. MORGAN PARTNERS (23A SBIC MANAGER),
                                       INC., ITS MANAGING MEMBER

                                   By: /s/ Mitchell Blutt
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Mitchell Blutt
                                      Title: Executive Partner

<Page>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                   DJ INVESTMENT, LLC

                                   BY: FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC.,
                                       AS MANAGER

                                   By: /s/ David F. Grams, Jr.
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      David F. Grams, Jr.
                                      Principal

                                   FIRST UNION CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

                                   By: /s/ David F. Grams, Jr.
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      David F. Grams, Jr.
                                      Principal

<Page>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                   DJC, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      Title: President

                                   TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE TRUST II

                                   BY: TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE II, L.L.C.,
                                       ITS INVESTMENT MANAGER

                                   BY: TCW/CRESCENT MEZZANINE, L.L.C.,
                                       ITS MANAGING OWNER

                                   By: /s/ Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      Title: Managing Director

                                   TCW LEVERAGED INCOME TRUST II, L.P.

                                   BY: TCW (LINC II), L.P.,
                                       ITS GENERAL PARTNER

                                   BY: TCW ADVISERS (BERMUDA), LTD.,
                                       ITS GENERAL PARTNER

                                   By: /s/ Mark D. Senkpiel
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Mark D. Senkpiel
                                      Title: Managing Director

                                   BY: TCW INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, AS
                                       INVESTMENT ADVISER

                                   By: /s/ Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      Title: Managing Director

<Page>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                   CRESCENT MACH I PARTNERS, L.P.

                                   BY: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY,
                                       ITS INVESTMENT ADVISOR

                                   By: /s/ Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Jean-Marc Chapus
                                      Title: Managing Director

                                   By: /s/ Mark D. Senkpiel
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Mark D. Senkpiel
                                      Title: Managing Director

<Page>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                   LESLIE H. CROSS AND DEBORAH L. CROSS
                                   FAMILY TRUST

                                   By: /s/ Leslie H. Cross
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Leslie H. Cross
                                      Title: Co-Trustee

                                    /s/ Michael R. McBrayer
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Michael R. McBrayer

                                    /s/ Cyril Talbot III
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Cyril Talbot III

<Page>

                                                                      SCHEDULE I

<Table>
<Caption>

INVESTORS                                                              NUMBER OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES
<S>                                                                    <C>
J.P. Morgan DJ Partners, LLC
c/o J.P. Morgan Fairfield Partners
600 Cleveland Street, Suite 1100
Clearwater, FL 33755
Telephone: (727) 449-0067
Facsimile: (727) 449-0090

J.P. Morgan Partners 23A SBIC, LLC
c/o J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC
Attention: Official Notices Clerk
(FBO:  Mitchell J. Blutt, M.D.)
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1080
Telephone: (212) 899-3400
Facsimile: (212) 899-3401

with a copy to:

O'Sullivan LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Telephone:  (212) 408-2400
Telecopy:   (212) 408-2420
Attention:  Gregory A. Gilbert, Esq.

DJ Investment, LLC
c/o First Union Investors, Inc.
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC  28288-0732
Attention: David F. Grams, Jr.
Telephone: (704) 715-1780
Facsimile: (704) 374-6711

First Union Capital Partners, LLC
c/o First Union Investors, Inc.
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC  28288-0732
Attention: David F. Grams, Jr.

</Table>

<Page>

<Table>
<Caption>

INVESTORS (CONTINUED)                                                  NUMBER OF RESTRICTED SECURITIES
<S>                                                                    <C>
Telephone: (704) 715-1780
Facsimile: (704) 374-6711

with a copy to:

Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman, L.L.P.
Bank of America Corporate Center
42nd Floor
100 North Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Attention: Paul A. Steffens, Esq.
Telephone: (704) 331-7400
Facsimile: (704) 331-7558

DJC, Inc.
c/o TCW/Crescent Mezzanine LLC
11100 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Attention: Jim Shevlet
Telephone: (310) 235-5978
Facsimile: (310) 235-5967

TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Trust II
c/o TCW/Crescent Mezzanine LLC
11100 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Attention: Jim Shevlet
Telephone: (310) 235-5978
Facsimile: (310) 235-5967

TCW Leverage Income Trust II, L.P.
c/o TCW/Crescent Mezzanine LLC
11100 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Attention: Jim Shevlet
Telephone: (310) 235-5978
Facsimile: (310) 235-5967

</Table>

<Page>

Crescent Mach I Partners, L.P.
c/o TCW/Crescent Mezzanine LLC
11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Attention: Jim Shevlet
Telephone: (310) 235-5978
Facsimile: (310) 235-5967

with a copy to:

O'Melveny & Meyers LLP
400 South Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Mark T. Uyeda, Esq.
Telephone: (213) 430-6000
Facsimile: (213) 430-6407

Leslie H. Cross & Deborah L. Cross Family Trust
c/o Leslie H. Cross
3330 Caminito Daniella
Del Mar, CA 92014
Telephone: (858) 259-3731
Facsimile: (858) 792-9683

Michael R. McBrayer
4308 Horizon Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Telephone:

Cyril Talbot III
2511 Lozana Road
Del Mar, CA 92014
Telephone: (858) 792-7353

<Page>

                                                                     SCHEDULE II

                         LIST OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS

J.P. Morgan DJ Partners, LLC
J.P. Morgan Partners 23A SBIC, LLC
DJ Investment, LLC
First Union Capital Partners, LLC
DJC, Inc.
TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Trust II
TCW Leverage Income Trust II, L.P.
Crescent Mach I Partners, L.P.<Page>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.54

                              DJ ORTHOPEDICS, INC.
                                2985 Scott Street
                                 Vista, CA 92083

                                                              November 20, 2001

Leslie H. Cross & Deborah L. Cross
Family Trust
c/o Leslie H. Cross
3330 Caminito Daniella
Del Mar, CA 92014

                           NOTES AND PLEDGE AGREEMENTS

Dear Les:

                  Reference is hereby made to the following: (i) a Promissory
Note originally issued by each of you and the Leslie H. Cross and Deborah L.
Cross Family Trust (collectively, the "BORROWER") to DonJoy, L.L.C. (the
"COMPANY") on June 30, 1999, and amended and restated on June 28, 2000, in the
original principal amount, as so amended and restated, of $1,052,705.56, (the
"JUNE 1999 NOTE"); (ii) a Promissory Note issued by the Borrower to the Company
on June 28, 2000, in the original principal amount of $88,644.58 (the "JUNE 2000
NOTE"); (iii) a Promissory Note issued by the Borrower to the Company on July 7,
2000, in the original principal amount of $124,608.80 (the "JULY 2000 NOTE");
(iv) a Promissory Note originally issued by the Borrower to the Company on June
11, 2001, in the original principal amount of $150,610.29 (the "JUNE 2001 NOTE"
and collectively with the June 1999 Note, the June 2000 Note and the July 2000
Note, the "NOTES"); (v) a Third Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement between
the Borrower and the Company, dated as of June 11, 2001 (the "PLEDGE AGREEMENT")
and (vi) the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), dated as of
October 26, 2001, among dj Orthopedics, Inc. (the "PARENT"), the Company, and DJ
Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent (the "MERGER
SUB").

                  You hereby acknowledge that pursuant to Merger Agreement (i)
the Merger Sub was merged with and into the Company and the previous holders of
units of the Company received shares of the Parent Common Stock (as defined in
the Merger Agreement) in exchange for their units of the Company and (ii) the
Company assigned all of its right, title and interest in and to, and the Parent
assumed all of the Company's obligations under the Notes and the Pledge
Agreement. Accordingly, you hereby acknowledge that: (i) all references to the
Payee in the Notes shall refer to the Parent; (ii) all references to the Company
in the Pledge Agreement shall refer to the Parent; and (iii) all references to
"Pledged Securities" in the Pledge Agreement shall refer to the Parent Common
Stock that was issued to the Borrower pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

<Page>

                  Please acknowledge your agreement with the foregoing by
signing a copy of this letter where indicated.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      DJ ORTHOPEDICS, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Cyril Talbot III
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Cyril Talbot III
                                         Senior Vice President - Finance,
                                         Chief Financial Officer & Secretary

ACKNOWLEDGED AS OF
NOVEMBER 20, 2001:

/s/ Leslie H. Cross
------------------------------
Leslie H. Cross

LESLIE H. CROSS AND DEBORAH L. CROSS
FAMILY TRUST

By: /s/ Leslie H. Cross
    Leslie H. Cross
    Co-Trustee

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