Influence of a knee brace intervention on perceived pain and patellofemoral loading in recreational athletes.
The current investigation aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention using knee bracing on pain symptoms and patellofemoral loading in male and female recreational athletes.



Twenty participants (11 males & 9 females) with patellofemoral pain were provided with a knee brace which they wore for a period of 2weeks. Lower extremity kinematics and patellofemoral loading were obtained during three sport specific tasks, jog, cut and single leg hop. In addition their self-reported knee pain scores were examined using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Data were collected before and after wearing the knee brace for 2weeks.



Significant reductions were found in the run and cut movements for peak patellofemoral force/pressure and in all movements for the peak knee abduction moment when wearing the brace. Significant improvements were also shown for Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscale symptoms (pre: male=70.27, female=73.22 & post: male=85.64, female=82.44), pain (pre: male=72.36, female=78.89 & post: male=85.73, female=84.20), sport (pre: male=60.18, female=59.33 & post: male=80.91, female=79.11), function and daily living (pre: male=82.18, female=86.00 & post: male=88.91, female=90.00) and quality of life (pre: male=51.27, female=54.89 & post: male=69.36, female=66.89).



Male and female recreational athletes who suffer from patellofemoral pain can be advised to utilise knee bracing as a conservative method to reduce pain symptoms.
Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK. Electronic address: jksinclair@uclan.ac.uk.
Jonathan K
JK
Sinclair
Allied Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
James
J
Selfe
School of Psychology, College of Science and Technology, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
Paul J
PJ
Taylor
Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
Hannah F
HF
Shore
Allied Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
Jim D
JD
Richards
D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D046788:Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Biomechanics; Brace; Knee; Patellofemoral