Effect of soft and semi-rigid ankle braces on kinematic and kinetic changes of the knee and ankle joints after forward and lateral drop landing in healthy young women

BACKGROUND: Ankle braces are commonly used to protect ankle joints from a sprain by restricting inversion. However, the difference between a soft brace (SB) and a semi-rigid brace (SRB) regarding kinematic and kinetic changes of the lower limb joints after forward and lateral drop landing is unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SB and SRB, on kinematic and kinetic changes after each drop landing in healthy young women. METHODS: Ten female adults were assessed for one leg while wearing SB, SRB or non-brace (NB). For assessing kinematic and kinetic changes after drop landing, the participant jumped and landed forward and laterally with one leg on a force platform. Knee and ankle joint angle and moment, peak ground reaction force (pGRF), time to peak GRF (TpGRF), the rate of force development (RFD) and GRF impulse (impulse) were measured. RESULTS: The results indicated that knee flexion angle, TpGRF, RFD, and impulse were significantly different between SRB and NB after forward drop landing. SRB demonstrated significant increases in RFD and decreases in impulse. CONCLUSIONS: Semi rigid brace may be beneficial in providing more restriction to the ankle joint for preventing ankle sprains during landing.