Skip to main content

Functional knee brace use effect on peak vertical ground reaction forces during drop jump landing

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 20, pages 2405–2412 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to investigate the landing strategies used by non-injured athletes while wearing functional knee braces (FKB, BR condition) during a drop jump task compared with non-injured, non-braced (NBR condition) subjects and also to ascertain whether accommodation to a FKB was possible by non-injured BR subjects.

Methods

Twenty-three healthy male provincial and national basketball and field hockey athletes (age, 19.4 ± 3.0 years) were tested. Each subject was provided with a custom-fitted FKB. Five NBR testing sessions were performed over 3 days followed by five BR testing sessions also over 3 days, for a total of 17.5 h of testing per condition. Each subject performed eight trials of the drop jump task during each testing session per condition. Single-leg peak vertical ground reaction forces (PVGRF) and the time to PVGRF were recorded for each NBR and BR trail.

Results

The BR group mean PVGRF at landing was significantly lower (1,628 ± 405 N, 2.1 ± 0.5 BW versus 1,715 ± 403 N, 2.2 ± 0.5 BW, F 1,22 = 6.83, P = 0.01) compared with NBR subjects, respectively. The group mean time to PVGRF was not statistically longer during the BR condition (F 1,22 = 0.967, P = 0.3). Further, an accommodation trend was noted as percent performance difference decreased with continued FKB use.

Conclusions

The significantly lower group mean PVGRF while using a FKB could keep traumatic forces from reaching the ACL until the active neuromuscular restraints are activated to provide protection to the knee joint ligaments. Also, accommodation to FKB is possible after approximately 14.0 h of brace use. The results of this paper will assist clinicians in providing information to their patients regarding a FKB ability to offer protection to an ACL-deficient knee or to address concerns about early muscle fatigue, energy expenditure, heart rate, and decrease in performance level.

Level of evidence

Prospective study, Level I.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Notes

  1. Four subjects arrived late for the scheduled testing session and were not included in this test. The four subjects completed the remaining tests listed in Fig. 1.

  2. The group mean performance level is an average of all test sessions within each group (NBR and BR) of the respective outcome measure.

References

  1. AAOS (2004) Position paper: the use of knee braces. Rosemont, IL

  2. Barrack RL, Skinner HR, Buckley SL (1989) Proprioception in the anterior cruciate deficient knee. Am J Sports Med 17:1–16

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Besier TF, Lloyd DG, Ackland TR (2003) Muscle activation strategies at the knee during running and cutting maneuvers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35:119–127

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Beynnon BD, Fleming BC, Churchill DL, Brown D (2003) The effect of anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and functional knee bracing on translation of the tibia relative to the femur during nonweightbearing and weight bearing. Am J Sports Med 31:99–105

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Boden BP, Dean GS, Feagin JA, Garrett WE (2000) Mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury. Orthopedics 23:573–578

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Decoster LC, Vailas JC (2003) Functional anterior cruciate ligament bracing: a survey of current brace prescriptions patterns. Orthopedics 26:701–706

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. DeMorat G, Wieinhold P, Blackburn T, Chudik S, Garrett WE (2004) Aggressive quadriceps loading can induce noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. Am J Sports Med 32:477–483

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. DeVita P, Hunter PB, Skelly WA (1992) Effects of a functional knee brace on the biomechanics of running. Med Sci Sports Exerc 24:797–804

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. DeVita P, Lassiter TJ, Hortobagyi T, Torry M (1998) Functional knee bracing effects during walking in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 26:778–784

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dufek JS, Bates BT (1991) Biomechanical factors associated with injury during landing in jump sports. Sports Med 12:326–337

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fleming BC, Renstrom PA, Beynnon BD, Engstrom B, Perra G (2000) The influence of functional knee bracing on anterior cruciate ligament strain biomechanics in weight bearing and nonweightbearing knees. Am J Sports Med 28:815–824

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gilchrist J, Mandelbaum BR, Melancon H, Ryan GW, Silvers HJ, Griffin LY et al (2008) A randomized controlled trial to prevent noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury in female collegiate soccer players. Am J Sports Med 36:1476–1483

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Goldfuss AJ, Morehouse CA, LeVeau BF (1973) Effect of muscular tension on knee stability. Med Sci Sports Exerc 5:267–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Granberry WM, Noble PC, Woods GW (1990) Evaluation of an electrogoniometric instrument for measurement of laxity of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:1316–1322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Griffin LY, Albohm MJ, Arendt EA, Bahr RB, Beynnon BD, DeMaio M et al (2006) Understanding and preventing noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Am J Sports Med 34:1512–1532

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hashemi J, Breighner R, Chandrashekar N, Hardy DM, Chaudhari AM, Shultz SJ et al. (2010) Hip extension, knee flexion paradox: a new mechanism for non-contact ACL injury. J Biomech 44(4):577–585

    Google Scholar 

  17. Herrington L, Simmonds C, Hatcher J (2005) The effect of a neoprene sleeve on knee joint position sense. Res Sports Med 13:37–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ireland ML (1999) Anterior cruciate ligament injury in female athletes: epidemiology. J Athl Train 34:150–154

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kanamori A, Zeminski J, Rudy TW, Li G, Fu FH, Woo SL (2002) The effect of axial tibial torque on the function of the anterior cruciate ligament: a biomechanical study of a simulated pivot shift test. Arthroscopy 18:394–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kramer JF, Dubowitz T, Fowler P, Schachter C, Birmingham T (1997) Functional knee braces and dynamic performance: a review. Clin J Sport Med 7:32–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Krosshaug T, Nakamae A, Boden BP, Engebretsen L, Smith G, Slauterbeck JR et al (2007) Mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament injury in basketball: video analysis of 39 cases. Am J Sports Med 35:359–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Lephart SM, Abt JP, Ferris CM (2002) Neuromuscular contributions of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in females. Curr Opin Rheumatol 14:168–173

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Markolf KL, Graff-Redford A, Amstutz HC (1978) In vivo knee stability: a quantitative assessment using an instrumented clinical testing apparatus. J Bone Joint Surg Am 60A:664–674

    Google Scholar 

  24. Markolf KL, Burchfild DM, Shapiro MM, Shepard MF, Finerman GA, Slauterbeck J (1995) Combined knee-loading states that generate high anterior cruciate ligament forces. J Orthop Res 13:930–935

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Markolf KL, O’Neill G, Jackson SR, McAllister DR (2004) Effects of applied quadriceps and hamstrings muscle loads on forces in the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. Am J Sports Med 32:1114–1149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Matava MJ, Freehill AK, Grutzner S, Shannon W (2002) Limb dominance as a potential etiologic factor in noncontact anterior cruciate ligament tears. J Knee Surg 15:11–16

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. McLean SG, Beaulieu ML (2010) Complex integrative morphological and mechanical contributions to ACL injury risk. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 38:192–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. McNair PJ, Stanley SN, Strauss GR (1996) Knee bracing: effects of proprioception. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 77:287–289

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Olsen OE, Myklebust G, Engebresten L, Holme I, Bahr R (2005) Exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in youth sports: cluster randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med 330:449–455

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pope MH, Johnson RJ, Brown DW, Tighe C (1979) The role of the musculature in injuries to the medial collateral ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 61:398–402

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Quatman CE, Hewett TE (2009) The anterior cruciate ligament injury controversy: is “valgus collapse” a sex-specific mechanism? Br J Sports Med 43:328–335

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Reed-Jones RJ, Vallis LA (2007) Proprioceptive deficits of the lower limb following anterior cruciate ligament deficiency affect whole body steering control. Exp Brain Res 182:249–260

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Rishiraj N, Taunton JE, Clement DB, Lloyd-Smith R, Regan W, Woollard R (2000) Role of functional knee bracing in a dynamic setting. NZ J Sports Med 28:54–61

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rishiraj N, Taunton JE, Lloyd-Smith R, Regan W, Woollard R, Clement D (2009) The potential role of prophylactic/functional knee bracing in preventing knee ligament injury. A review. Sports Med 39:937–960

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Shimokochi Y, Shultz SJ (2008) Mechanisms of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. J Athl Train 43:396–408

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Shultz SJ, Schmitz RJ, Nguyen A-D, Ajit M, Chaudhari AM, Padua DP, McLean SG et al (2010) ACL research retreat V: an update on ACL injury risk and prevention, March 25–27, 2010, Greensboro, NC. J Athl Train 45:499–508

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Smith J, Malanga GA, Yu B, An KN (2003) Effects of functional knee bracing on muscle firing patterns about the chronic anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 84:1680–1686

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Solomonow M, Baratta R, Zhou BH, Shoji H, Bose W, Beck C et al (1987) The synergistic action of the anterior cruciate ligament and thigh muscles in maintaining joint stability. Am J Sports Med 15:207–213

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Stålbom M, Holm DJ, Cronin JB, Keogh JWL (2007) Reliability of kinematics and kinetics associated with horizontal single leg drop jump assessment. A brief report. J Sports Sci Med 6:261–264

    Google Scholar 

  40. Vandertuin JF, Grant JA (2004) The role of functional knee braces in managing ACL injuries. Athl Ther Today 9:58–62

    Google Scholar 

  41. Winter EM, Brookes FB (1991) Electromechanical response times and muscle elasticity in men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 63:124–128

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Wojtys EM, Huston LJ, Taylor PD, Bastian SD (1996) Neuromuscular adaptations in isokinetic, isotonic, and agility training programs. Am J Sports Med 24:187–192

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Yu B, Garrett WE (2007) Mechanisms of non-contact ACL injuries. Br J Sports Med 41:i47–i51

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to all the subjects for volunteering for this research project. Also, my deepest appreciation to Dr. Sanderson for allowing access to his Biomechanics Laboratory, to H. Lin, R. Cohee, and C. Munro for allowing access to gymnasiums, and to M. Gibson for organizing room bookings on the UBC Campus, as well as to A. Black (SunnyHill Hospital) for agreeing to accommodate our research testing if the primary testing site was not available. To I. Arthur (ORFU), and J. LaBreche and Dr. G. Sleivert (Pacific Sport Centre) my gratitude for providing the required testing apparatus. To T. Prior (Össur, Canada) many thanks for coordinating the payment plan for the FKBs. Without your assistance, completion of this project could not have been possible.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors have a financial conflict of interest with regards to this study and do not endorse one manufacturer over another.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ACTIN Health and Rehabilitation Inc., 5767 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6M 2V7, Canada

    Neetu Rishiraj

  2. Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre (Primary Care), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Jack E. Taunton & Robert Lloyd-Smith

  3. Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre (Orthopaedics), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    William Regan

  4. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Brian Niven

  5. Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Robert Woollard

Authors
  1. Neetu Rishiraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jack E. Taunton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Robert Lloyd-Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. William Regan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Brian Niven
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Robert Woollard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neetu Rishiraj.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rishiraj, N., Taunton, J.E., Lloyd-Smith, R. et al. Functional knee brace use effect on peak vertical ground reaction forces during drop jump landing. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20, 2405–2412 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-1911-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-1911-z

Keywords

  • ACL
  • Deceleration task
  • Knee brace
  • PVGRFs