The effects of 6-weeks patellofemoral bracing on quadriceps muscle function

Background: Previous studies have indicated that wearing a patellofemoral brace during strenuous training resulted in a decreased incidence of anterior knee pain (AKP). However whether this effect is derived from quadriceps enhancement remains unknown. Study design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Methods: Ninety-eight military recruits, 35 'with-brace' and 63 without, underwent concentric isokinetic tests at 60 and 240°/s of the quadriceps prior to and following a 6-week basic military training (BMT). The randomly selected 35 subjects 'with brace' received a pair of patellofemoral braces (On-Track, DJ Ortho) and were instructed to wear these braces throughout training. Results: Baseline strength characteristics of the quadriceps were not significantly different between the braced and non-braced group (p > 0.05). No significant time-effect was observed in the braced group. There was a significant decrease in quadriceps strength at 60°/s after BMT in the non-braced subjects (p < 0.001) while at this speed these subjects had a significantly (p =0.02) lower strength compared to their non-braced counterparts. Conclusion: Patellofemoral bracing may be effective in preventing a decrease in quadriceps strength after prolonged strenuous training.