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Effects of prophylactic knee bracing on patellar tendon loading parameters during functional sports tasks in recreational athletes

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated the effects of prophylactic knee bracing on patellar tendon loading parameters.

Methods

Twenty recreational athletes (10 male and 10 female) from different athletic disciplines performed run, cut and single leg hop movements under two conditions (prophylactic knee brace/no-brace). Lower extremity kinetics and kinematics were examined using a piezoelectric force plate and three-dimensional motion capture system. Patellar tendon loading was explored using a mathematical modelling approach, which accounted for co-contraction of the knee flexors. Tendon loading parameters were examined using 2 (brace) × 3 (movement) × 2 (sex) mixed ANOVAs.

Results

Tendon instantaneous load rate was significantly reduced in female athletes in the run (brace 289.14 BW/s no-brace 370.06 BW/s) and cut (brace 353.17 BW/s/no-brace 422.01 BW/s) conditions whilst wearing the brace.

Conclusions

Female athletes may be able to attenuate their risk from patellar tendinopathy during athletic movements, through utilization of knee bracing, although further prospective research into the prophylactic effects of knee bracing is required before this can be clinically substantiated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health & Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

    Jonathan Sinclair, Jim D. Richards & Paul J. Taylor

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  1. Jonathan Sinclair
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  2. Jim D. Richards
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  3. Paul J. Taylor
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Correspondence to Jonathan Sinclair.

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Institutional ethical approval was granted.

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Sinclair, J., Richards, J.D. & Taylor, P.J. Effects of prophylactic knee bracing on patellar tendon loading parameters during functional sports tasks in recreational athletes. Sport Sci Health 14, 151–160 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0420-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0420-3

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