The effect of ankle bracing on landing biomechanics in female netballers.

OBJECTIVES

Investigate the impact of lace-up ankle braces on landing biomechanics.

DESIGN

Within-subject repeated measures. Participants completed a drop jump, drop land, and netball-specific task in braced and unbraced conditions.

SETTING

Biomechanical research laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty female high school netballers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Leg, knee, and ankle stiffness, knee/ankle stiffness ratio, knee and ankle sagittal excursion, peak vertical ground reaction force, time-to-peak vertical ground reaction force, and loading rate.

RESULTS

In the brace condition leg stiffness increased bilaterally during the drop land (ES = 0.21, 0.22), ankle stiffness increased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = 0.37, 0.29) and drop land (ES = 0.40, 0.60), and knee/ankle stiffness ratio decreased in all three tasks (ES = -0.22 to -0.45). Ankle sagittal excursion decreased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = -0.35, -0.53) and drop land (ES = -0.23, -0.46), and decreased in the lead limb during the netball jump (ES = -0.36). Knee excursion decreased bilaterally during the drop jump (ES = -0.36, -0.40) and in the lead limb during netball task (ES = -0.59). Lead limb TTP was greater during the netball jump (ES = 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS

Lace-up ankle braces may increase leg and joint stiffness and reduce joint excursion during landing but do not appear to affect landing forces. The observed effect on landing biomechanics may predispose young netballers to injury.