[Effects of knee braces on sensorimotor capabilities of patients with ACL reconstruction]

In 25 test persons with Anterior-Cruciate-Ligament (ACL)-Operation the sensomotory capabilities of the affected and the unaffected side were examined by KAT 2000 (BREG Inc., Vista, C.A., USA) with and without knee-brace (Hypex knee-brace/Fa. Aircast-Europa GmbH). The results were compared with those of a control group. In all cases of test variations (both leg-static/both leg-dynamic/one leg-static) there were significant differences between testing with and without knee brace. In the one leg-static test there was an improvement of 30% (p < 0.01), in the both leg-static test an improvement of 24% (p < 0.01). The both leg-dynamic showed a similar result (23.8%; p < 0.01). These noticed adaptations may be mediated by improvements of proprioceptive and exteroceptive capabilities and a positive impact on the anticipative control of behavior. The results of the control group differ in only a few cases from the results in the group of patients. This may be judged as indicator for the variety of sensomotory capabilities in the general population.