title: Effect of External Ankle Support on Ankle and Knee Biomechanics During the Cutting Maneuver in Basketball Players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the high prevalence of lower extremity injuries in female basketball players as well as a high proportion of athletes who wear ankle braces, there is a paucity of research pertaining to the effects of ankle bracing on ankle and knee biomechanics during basketball-specific tasks.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of a lace-up brace (ASO), a hinged brace (Active T2), and no ankle bracing (control) on ankle and knee joint kinematics and joint reaction forces in female basketball athletes during a cutting maneuver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy, semi-elite female basketball players performed a cutting task under both ankle brace conditions (lace-up ankle brace and hinged ankle brace) and a no-brace condition. The 3-dimensional kinematics of the ankle and knee during the cutting maneuver were measured with an 18-camera motion analysis system (250 Hz), and ground-reaction force data were collected by use of a multichannel force plate (2000 Hz) to quantify ankle and knee joint reaction forces. Conditions were randomized using a block randomization method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control condition, the hinged ankle brace significantly restricted peak ankle inversion (mean difference, 1.7°; P = .023). No significant difference was found between the lace-up brace and the control condition ( P = .865). Compared with the lace-up brace, the hinged brace significantly reduced ankle and knee joint compressive forces at the time of peak ankle dorsiflexion (mean difference, 1.5 N/kg [ P = .018] and 1.4 N/kg [ P = .013], respectively). Additionally, the hinged ankle brace significantly reduced knee anterior shear forces compared with the lace-up brace both during the deceleration phase and at peak ankle dorsiflexion (mean difference, 0.8 N/kg [ P = .018] and 0.9 N/kg [ P = .011], respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hinged ankle brace significantly reduced ankle inversion compared with the no-brace condition and reduced ankle and knee joint forces compared with the lace-up brace in a female basketball population during a cutting task. Compared with the lace-up brace, the hinged brace may be a better choice of prophylactic ankle support for female basketball players from a biomechanical perspective. However, both braces increased knee internal rotation and knee abduction angles, which may be problematic for a population that already has a high prevalence of knee injuries.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Nardia-Rose
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Klem
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Sian A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001915:Braces; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ASO ankle brace; Active T2 ankle brace; joint forces; kinematics; kinetics; lower limb