Prophylactic ankle braces and knee varus-valgus and internal-external rotation torque

Although prophylactic ankle bracing has been shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of ankle sprains,how these ankle braces might affect the other joints of the lower extremity is not clearly understood.

To determine the effects of a prophylactic ankle brace on knee joint varus-valgus and internal-external rotation torque during a drop landing onto a slanted surface.

A repeated-measures design.

Biomechanics research laboratory.

Twenty-four physically active college students.

Participants were tested in a brace and no brace condition.

We measured 3 dependent variables:(1) peak ankle inversion-eversion torque, (2) peak knee varus-valgus torque, and (3) peak knee internal-external rotation torque. A force plate was used to collect ground reaction force data, and 6 motion analysis cameras collected kinematic data during the unilateral drop landing. An adjustable bar was hung from the ceiling, and a slant board was positioned over the center of the force plate, so that the ankle of the participant's dominant leg would invert upon landing. Peak torque was measure din both the brace and no-brace conditions. The average of the peak values in 3 trials for both conditions was used for the statistical analysis.

Ankle eversion torque was significantly greater in the brace condition (F1,23 19.75, P < .01). Knee external rotation torque was significantly greater in the brace condition(F1,23 4.33, P <.05). Valgus knee torque was smaller in the brace condition, but the difference was not statistically significant(F1,23 3.45, P .08).

This study provides an important first step in understanding the effects of prophylactic ankle bracing on other joints of the lower extremity. We found that prophylactic ankle bracing did have an effect on knee torque when the subject was landing on a slanted surface. Specifically, knee external rotation torque increased when the ankle was braced.