Effects of Cast-Bracing of the Knee on Physical Performance in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Effects of application of a hinged cast-brace on thigh muscle strength and physical performance tests were studied in eight healthy volunteers. The cast-brace was applied to one leg for four weeks. The subjects were free to move around. The extra loading by the cast-brace was determined in a progressive uphill walk test on a treadmill with measurements of oxygen uptake, heart rate and plasma lactate concentration. Submaximal oxygen uptake in the uphill walk test was raised significantly (average 9%) on the day after application. After four weeks of cast-brace wearing the submaximal oxygen uptake in the uphill walk test had decreased, but remained elevated (average 4%) even one day after removal. Heart rate was significantly higher (average 7%) during cast application and after removal. Plasma lactate concentration, however, was not influenced. To investigate the effect of four weeks cast-bracing various performance tests to judge the thigh muscle function were taken before application and after removal. No significant changes in peak torque of knee flexion and extension, in physiologic variables at submaximal running pace during treadmill exercise, maximal running speed, 60 m dash, or in jump height were found. In conclusion, cast-bracing of a healthy knee for four weeks has no significant effects on physical performance after removal.

The effect of prophylactic knee bracing on performance: balance, proprioception, coordination, and muscular power

“…In addition to the prophylactic knee brace’s questionable efficacies, many researchers are unclear on whether the prophylactic knee brace has an effect on various performance parameters. Several experimental studies have been carried out in order to investigate the effect of knee bracing on athletic performance and other parameters related to function [19, 22, 23, 36]. Since most studies report that taping has been shown to provide significantly less support than bracing, as it loosens during activity, it has been reported to be more difficult to apply, time‐consuming, and costly [10, 24, 31].…”

In Vivo Three-Dimensional Determination of the Effectiveness of the Osteoarthritic Knee Brace: A Multiple Brace Analysis

“…The majority of those studies have concentrated on the analysis of functional knee braces with use of arthrometers 2,3,5-8, [10][11][12][13][14][15] . Other studies have concentrated on the analysis of femorotibial translation through the use of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis techniques 4,9,16,17 , subjective evaluation of bracing by categorizing pain and functional ability [18][19][20][21][22] , and the determination of the effectiveness of different types of knee braces, such as cast bracing [23][24][25][26] . Although minimal research evaluating the efficiency of off-loading braces for the treatment of unicompartmental arthritic degeneration has been performed, a previous study with an initial fluoroscopic analysis determined that bracing is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee in nonobese patients under weight-bearing conditions 27 .…”

Die Anwendung äußerer Kniegelenkstabilisatoren - Einflussnahme auf mechanische Stabilisierung und körperliche Leistungsfähigkeit

“…Obwohl es im Hinblick auf die Beeinflussung der physischen Leistungsfähigkeit unter den einschlägigen wissenschaftlichen Studien keinen eindeutigen Konsens gibt, kommt es in der Mehrzahl der relevanten Publikationen zu keinen bedeutsamen Einschränkungen und falls überhaupt, dann ist dieser im Vergleich zum Nutzen als relativ gering einzustufen [16]. Es konnte ferner gezeigt werden, dass sich im Rahmen rehabilitativer Behandlungsmaûnahmen nach Entfernung der Orthese die leistungsphysiologischen Parameter wieder auf dem Ausgangsniveau befanden [19].…”