title: Effects of prophylactic knee bracing on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during netball specific movements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of a prophylactic knee brace on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during netball specific movements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty university first team level female netball players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants performed three movements, run, cut and vertical jump under two conditions (brace and no-brace). 3-D knee joint kinetics and kinematics were measured using an eight-camera motion analysis system. Knee joint kinetics and kinematics were examined using 2 × 3 repeated measures ANOVA whilst the subjective ratings of comfort and stability were investigated using chi-squared tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed no differences (p > 0.05) in knee joint kinetics. However the internal/external rotation range of motion was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced when wearing the brace in all movements. The subjective ratings of stability revealed that netballers felt that the knee brace improved knee stability in all movements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further study is required to determine whether reductions in transverse plane knee range of motion serve to attenuate the risk from injury in netballers.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Jonathan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK; Allied Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Unit, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
authors.forename: Jim D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D001915:Braces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biomechanics; Injury; Knee brace; Netball