BACKGROUND: Injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is common among young athletes and can impact knee stability and control. Wearing proprioceptive knee braces can improve knee control and may reduce the risk factors associated with injury and re-injury, although the effect of such braces after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed to determine the effect of proprioceptive knee bracing on knee control and subjective rating of participants post ACLR during three dynamic tasks. METHODS: Fifteen participants 2-10 years post ACLR performed a slow step down, single leg drop jump, and pivot turn jump with and without a proprioceptive knee brace. Knee kinematics in the sagittal (flexion - extension), coronal (abduction - adduction), and transverse (internal - external rotation) planes were collected using a 3D infrared system. Paired t-tests were performed to explore differences in knee angles and angular velocities between the no brace and brace conditions during the three tasks. After each task, subjective ratings regarding ease of the task were recorded. RESULTS: The brace reduced the peak knee external rotation angle and range of motion in the transverse plane during the pivot turn jump task, and significantly increased the maximum knee flexion angular velocity during the single leg drop jump task. The majority of participants reported that tasks were easier to perform with the proprioceptive brace than without. SIGNIFICANCE: This study confirms that proprioceptive knee braces can significantly influence knee kinematics during dynamic tasks post ACLR. The observed effects were clinically relevant.
- MeSH
- Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Knee Joint physiopathology surgery MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries surgery MeSH
- Proprioception physiology MeSH
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction rehabilitation MeSH
- Range of Motion, Articular physiology MeSH
- Braces adverse effects statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Exercise Test methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Scoliosis * rehabilitation therapy MeSH
- Braces * statistics & numerical data utilization MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
