Influence of a knee brace intervention on perceived pain and patellofemoral loading in recreational athletes.

Background: The current investigation aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention using knee bracing on pain symptoms and patellofemoral loading in male and female recreational athletes.

Methods: Twenty participants (11 males & 9 females) with patellofemoral pain were provided with a knee brace which they wore for a period of 2weeks. Lower extremity kinematics and patellofemoral loading were obtained during three sport specific tasks, jog, cut and single leg hop. In addition their self-reported knee pain scores were examined using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Data were collected before and after wearing the knee brace for 2weeks.

Findings: Significant reductions were found in the run and cut movements for peak patellofemoral force/pressure and in all movements for the peak knee abduction moment when wearing the brace. Significant improvements were also shown for Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscale symptoms (pre: male=70.27, female=73.22 & post: male=85.64, female=82.44), pain (pre: male=72.36, female=78.89 & post: male=85.73, female=84.20), sport (pre: male=60.18, female=59.33 & post: male=80.91, female=79.11), function and daily living (pre: male=82.18, female=86.00 & post: male=88.91, female=90.00) and quality of life (pre: male=51.27, female=54.89 & post: male=69.36, female=66.89).

Interpretation: Male and female recreational athletes who suffer from patellofemoral pain can be advised to utilise knee bracing as a conservative method to reduce pain symptoms.