Effects of Prophylactic Knee Brace on the Isokinetic and Functional Tests in Elite Wrestlers after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Hamstring Tendon Autograft

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is one of the prevalent injuries among wrestlers. ACL reconstruction surgery with hamstring tendon (HST) is one of the common treatments of this injury. Physicians continue to prescribe prophylactic knee brace after ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation, but the effectiveness of brace on performance is debated. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of prophylactic knee brace on knee isokinetic and functional tests in elite wrestler after ACL reconstruction with HST autograft.
Ten elite wrestlers (age 26.1± 2.37 y) having undergone arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction with HST autograft between six to eighteen months before the study volunteered to participate in this study. Isokinetic variables (Average peak torque, max power, total work, and knee flexion to extension peak torque ratios) were measured by Gymnex ISO-1 isokinetic dynamometer at an angular velocity of 120°/s and functional tests consist of single leg vertical jump and cross over hop.
Average peak torque (p=0.005), max power (p=0.04), total work (p=0.003), in knee flexor and knee flexion to extension peak torque ratios increased significantly by using the knee brace, but no significant change was observed in knee extensor variables and functional tests (P≥0.05).
The results can be stated that the use of prophylactic knee brace improved isokinetic variables, especially in the knee flexor muscle in elite wrestlers after ACL reconstruction with HST autograft. The results suggest that wrestlers after ACL reconstruction surgery and rehabilitation can use prophylactic knee brace during sport activities to improve the knee kinetic variables and reduce the risk of re-injury.