Article

Functional knee braces are extensively used for partially and
completely torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patients and those who have
undergone ACL graft reconstruction, in order to support the healing ACL, improve
the joint's functional stability, and restore the normal joint kinematics.
RESEARCH QUESTION: Does wearing braces alter the arthrokinematics of the ACL
deficient knees during lung exercise? METHODS: For ten male unilateral ACL
deficient subjects, 3D knee models were reconstructed from CT images, acquired in
rest position. Sagittal plane fluoroscopy was then performed throughout a
complete cycle of lunge in braced and non-braced conditions. The 3D kinematics of
the knees were obtained using a 2D-3D registration method in which six anatomical
bony landmarks on the fluoroscopic images were matched with those on the 3D
models. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the tibial
anterior-posterior translations and abduction-adduction motions of the braced and
non-braced knees. A significant decrease, however, was observed after bracing in
the tibial internal rotation at 45 degrees flexion during eccentric (non-braced:
5.9 degrees (+/-6.7 degrees ) vs. braced: 2.4 degrees (+/-7.0 degrees );
p=0.045), and at 30 degrees flexion during concentric (non-braced: 2.3 degrees
(+/-6.9 degrees ) vs. braced: -1.6 degrees (+/-8.1 degrees ); p=0.001) phases of
the lunge cycle. SIGNIFICANCE: The immediate effect of knee bracing is limited to
controlling the tibial rotation of the ACL deficient individuals during the lunge
exercise. Hence, care should be taken in prescribing the lunge exercise for
rehabilitation of ACL injured patients with high anterior-posterior knee
instability, even when wearing knee braces.
CI - Copyright (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS