Effects of knee bracing on the functional performance of patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the functional performance of subjects with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.


METHODS
Cross-sectional comparative clinical trial.


METHODS
A physical therapy outpatient department.


METHODS
Thirty-one subjects with unilateral ACL reconstruction for more than 5 months.


METHODS
Patients under 3 bracing conditions: (1) DonJoy Brace, (2) mechanical placebo brace, or (3) no brace. Running and turning 10 times on a 22-meter figure-8 runway, and running and jumping (and landing) on a semicircular path.


METHODS
Speed of running and turning, speed of running and jumping, and accuracy of landing after the jump.


RESULTS
Subjects performed similarly in conditions 1 and 2 in all the tests, but the speeds of running and turning were significantly slower in conditions 1 and 2 than condition 3 (p =.008--.000). Results of the run and jump tests were not different among all conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Knee bracing may not improve functional performance of subjects 5 months after ACL reconstruction. The use of such a brace could actually slow down running and turning, irrespective of the mechanical constraints of the brace. These functional outcomes need to be noted when such a brace is used on this group of subjects.
Wu
G K
GK
Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Ng
G Y
GY
Mak
A F
AF
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome