| Abstract: | Review of the literature, primarily articles published in the last few years, revealed that the subject of prophylactic (protective) knee bracing in athletes is highly complex and controversial. Published results of studies on knee bracing strongly suggest that it is ineffective in preventing ligamentous knee injuries, that it is time-consuming and often expensive, and most dramatically that it may contribute to a higher incidence of injury than when no external support is applied to healthy knees. Possible reasons for this include placing undue stress on the MCL (preloading), especially in varus knees, twisting or slipping of the brace during use, and changing directions of force as the knee moves during impact. Functional and rehabilitative knee braces, on the other hand, seem to have almost universal approval when combined with physical therapy and conditioning designed to prevent recurrence of knee injuries. The authors conclude that a need exists for effective prophylactic knee bracing and believe that, with continuing research, improved design, and rigorous testing, achieving this goal is possible. |
