Publication Date

5-2024

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Rachel Tinius, Melissa Tolbert, Scott Arnett

Degree Program

School of Kinesiology, Recreation & Sport

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures account for 60% of sports-related injuries and the gold standard for treatment is surgical intervention to replace the damaged ligament to restore function of the ACL. Braces are typically used to return to previous physical activity levels; however, there are no clear guidelines on their utilization. Beyond the physical consequences of undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery, the psychological component is often ignored.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to better understand the impact of knee bracing on both biomechanical factors and confidence following ACL reconstruction. Two aims comprise the overarching purpose; the first is to gather information about the overall experience with ACL reconstruction with regards to bracing. The second aim is to examine changes in confidence and physical performance of a drop vertical jump (DVJ) task between braced and unbraced conditions among those who have had recent ACL reconstruction.

Methods: Survey data collected for Aim 1 included information on type of graft, bracing, time since surgery, and time in physical therapy. Participants completed a single testing session consisting of DVJ in braced and unbraced conditions with confidence surveys collected following each condition. Electromyography (EMG) and vertical ground reaction forces (VGRF) were collected during the testing sessions. Paired t-tests (normally distributed data) and Wilcoxon Sign Rank Tests (nonnormally distributed data) were used to compare conditions (braced vs. unbraced).

Results: For Aim 1, thirty-seven participants used a knee brace. Pain and physical impairments were commonly reported post- ACL reconstruction. In Aim 2, greater EMG activity of the biceps femoris was found in the braced condition, and greater reactive strength index by net impulse (RSI-NI) was found in the unbraced condition (p < 0.05). No changes in confidence were found between braced and unbraced conditions. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a large portion of the ACL reconstruction population utilizes knee braces in return to sport and report pain as a common occurrence. The use of a knee brace may alter biomechanical performance. Confidence did not appear to be impacted by bracing vs. not bracing among individuals in our sample.

Disciplines

Kinesiology | Kinesiotherapy | Life Sciences | Rehabilitation and Therapy | Sports Sciences

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