Effect of Counterforce Brace Placement on Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults

This study aimed to determine the optimal placement of a counterforce brace in muscle activation and strength in healthy participants.

Seven healthy participants (14 hands) with no history of lateral humeral epicondylitis were randomly assigned to two groups from an initial pool of 12 participants. Group A (4 participants, 8 hands) wore a hard knob-padded counterforce brace near the lateral epicondyle, while Group B (Control Group) (3 participants, 6 hands) wore the brace in its customary location, aligned with the lateral epicondyle over the proximal third of the forearm near the muscle belly. Brace placement was assigned to the dominant hand for each participant, while the nondominant hand received the alternative brace placement (ie, the other position of the counterforce brace). Acceleration amplitude and integrals were dependent variables. The design allowed for comparison of outcomes from 2 different brace placements within the same individual.

The hard knob-padded counterforce brace positioned near the lateral epicondyle demonstrated better outcomes compared to the customary placement.

This study offers insights into the influence of counterforce brace placement on muscle activation and strength in healthy participants. In this study, placement of the brace at the lateral epicondyle showed better muscle strength and reduced acceleration amplitude, compared to traditional placement.