The effect of ankle bracing on landing biomechanics in female netballers.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate the impact of lace-up ankle braces on landing biomechanics.


METHODS
Within-subject repeated measures. Participants completed a drop jump, drop land, and netball-specific task in braced and unbraced conditions.


METHODS
Biomechanical research laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty female high school netballers.


METHODS
Leg, knee, and ankle stiffness, knee/ankle stiffness ratio, knee and ankle sagittal excursion, peak vertical ground reaction force, time-to-peak vertical ground reaction force, and loading rate.


RESULTS
In the brace condition leg stiffness increased bilaterally during the drop land (ES = 0.21, 0.22), ankle stiffness increased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = 0.37, 0.29) and drop land (ES = 0.40, 0.60), and knee/ankle stiffness ratio decreased in all three tasks (ES = -0.22 to -0.45). Ankle sagittal excursion decreased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = -0.35, -0.53) and drop land (ES = -0.23, -0.46), and decreased in the lead limb during the netball jump (ES = -0.36). Knee excursion decreased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = -0.36, -0.40) and in the lead limb during netball task (ES = -0.59). Lead limb TTP was greater during the netball jump (ES = 0.41).


CONCLUSIONS
Lace-up ankle braces may increase leg and joint stiffness and reduce joint excursion during landing but do not appear to affect landing forces. The observed effect on landing biomechanics may predispose young netballers to injury.
Sports Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ), 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: a.mason.mackay@gmail.com.
Anna Ruth
AR
Mason-Mackay
Sports Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ), 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: chris.whatman@aut.ac.nz.
Chris
C
Whatman
School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand; School of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), 55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: duncan.reid@aut.ac.nz.
Duncan
D
Reid
Sports Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ), 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: avlorimer@gmail.com.
Anna
A
Lorimer
D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
Injury risk; Kinematics; Kinetics; Netball