The effect of ankle bracing on knee kinetics and kinematics during volleyball‐specific tasks

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ankle bracing on knee kinetics and kinematics during volleyball tasks. Fifteen healthy, elite, female volleyball players performed a series of straight-line and lateral volleyball tasks with no brace and when wearing an ankle brace. A 14-camera Vicon motion analysis system and AMTI force plate were used to capture the kinetic and kinematic data. Knee range of motion, peak knee anterior-posterior and medial-lateral shear forces, and peak ground reaction forces that occurred between initial contact with the force plate and toe off were compared using paired sample t-tests between the braced and non-braced conditions (P < 0.05). The results revealed no significant effect of bracing on knee kinematics or ground reaction forces during any task or on knee kinetics during the straight-line movement volleyball tasks. However, ankle bracing was demonstrated to reduce knee lateral shear forces during all of the lateral movement volleyball tasks. Wearing the Active Ankle T2 brace will not impact knee joint range of motion and may in fact reduce shear loading to the knee joint in volleyball players.

Kinetic effect of the taping on the ankle during a change of direction in basketball players

“…Another relevant finding of this research shows a decrease of the ET in the ankle, with the use of taping in the breaking phase, describing possibly a greater control in the frontal plane of this joint, which has already been reported in some studies (Stoffel et al, 2010;West, Ng, & Campbell, 2014). Furthermore, similar results were obtained by Stoffel et al (2010), who described a decrease in the ET during a change of direction (45º) in soccer players.…”

Selected Kinematic Characteristics Analysis of Knee and Ankle Joints During Block Jump Among Elite Junior Volleyball Players

“…Kinematic variables are not only considered in jumping but also crucial in landing techniques. Some authors investigated lower extremity kinematics during landing from a jump [25,28,37,38]. Knee and ankle dorsiflexion angle, as the most common kinematics variables of the lower extremity, are essential in injury prevention, especially for ACL rupture.…”

“…Knee and ankle dorsiflexion angle, as the most common kinematics variables of the lower extremity, are essential in injury prevention, especially for ACL rupture. Biomechanically, increased knee valgus, high abduction loads, and small knee flexion angles lead to an increased risk of ACL injury during landing from a jump [22,37]. Furthermore, due to the effect of knee flexion on the patella-tendon-tibia shaft angle, a given load acting through the patellar ligament might place a greater strain on the ACL if the knee flexion angle is small [22].…”

Biomechanical Assessment of the Strength of Volleyball Players in Different Stages of the Training Macrocycle

“…An analysis of the literature on the subject reveals that there are many publications which present isokinetic studies involving volleyball players conducted both in Poland and in other countries. The isokinetic method is one of the methods which are used the most frequently to assess the strength capacity of the groups of muscles which act on the knee joint and evaluate the function of the knee joint after injuries have been sustained [14,15,16,17]. Such studies have involved, among others, the members of the national teams of Brazil [8], Spain [18], and Australia [10,19], as well as league players [5,20,21,22,23].…”