Restraining effect of the newly developed elastomeric knee brace for anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees using anterior displacement model.

Abstract

Knee braces are often prescribed for individuals with anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees. Although rigid functional knee braces are limited to certain contact sports, soft knee braces can be used in almost all sports. However, few studies have investigated the restraining effect of soft knee braces. We developed an elastomeric knee brace with anatomical straps and no rigid hinges to improve its suitability for athletic use. This study aimed to investigate the restraining force of the elastomeric brace and compare it with that of functional and soft braces. A custom-made anterior displacement knee model was used. The restraining force of the elastomeric, functional, and soft braces against 20 mm of anterior tibial displacement was measured in five sets of five repetitions using a tensile testing machine directly connected to the knee model. The elastomeric knee brace demonstrated a higher restraining force at all displacements than the functional and soft knee braces, particularly in the initial phase (0-10 mm). The decrease in the restraining force over repeated trials was less pronounced at 5- and 10-mm displacements, indicating that the elastomeric knee brace maintained a more stable restraining force. The developed elastomeric knee brace exerted a higher restraining force against anterior tibial displacement than the functional and soft knee braces, and this restraining effect was maintained even after repeated use.