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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
An Inertial Measurement Unit Based Method to Estimate Hip and Knee Joint Kinematics in Team Sport Athletes on the Field
Published on: May 26, 2020
Effects of prophylactic knee bracing on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during netball specific movements
Jonathan K Sinclair1, Hayley Vincent2, Jim D Richards3
1Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Sport and Wellbeing, College of Health and Wellbeing, University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of a prophylactic knee brace on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during netball specific movements.
Design:
Repeated measures.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Participants:
Twenty university first team level female netball players.
Outcome Measurements:
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.
