Kinetic and 3D Kinematic analysis of netball movements: with and without prophylactic knee bracing

Abstract

Patellofemoral pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal pain conditions, with a multifactorial aetiology. It is reported that young females are at high risk of developing patellofemoral pain. During dynamic, fast-paced games athletes are exposed to high ground reaction forces, contributing to lower body injury occurrence during landing and high patellofemoral loads. Knee braces, such as knee sleeves, are commonly used for patellofemoral pain; however the underlying mechanisms on the patellofemoral joint remain unclear. An increase in understanding of joint mechanics during sporting and functional tasks could help our understanding of injury mechanisms and preventative interventions. The aim is to identify any changes in the kinetics and kinematics of the tibiofemoral joint and the patellofemoral loading experienced in healthy subjects during a range of functional movements with and without a prophylactic knee sleeve.