How do ankle braces affect braking performance? An experimental driving simulation study with healthy volunteers

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Factors Engineering
• Automotive Safety

Background:

• Growing interest in driving fitness and factors affecting it.
• Limited research on the impact of ankle orthoses on emergency braking.
• Need to understand how common ankle braces affect driving performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of four common ankle braces on braking performance.
• To assess the influence of these braces on reaction time, foot transfer time, and brake force.
• To determine if wearing ankle braces impairs the ability to perform an emergency stop.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a car cabin setup with specialized measurement equipment.
• Employed a crossover repeated measures design with 30 healthy volunteers.
• Tested participants with and without four specific ankle braces (Kallassy, CaligaLoc, Air-Stirrup, ASO).

Main Results:

• All tested ankle braces significantly increased foot transfer time.
• Reaction time was significantly prolonged with most braces, except for the Kallasy brace.
• No statistically significant impairment in brake force was observed across the braces.

Conclusions:

• Ankle braces demonstrably impair braking performance in healthy individuals.
• The use of certain ankle braces can lead to an increase in stopping distance, potentially exceeding 1 meter at 100 km/h.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering the impact of ankle orthoses on driving safety.