Effect of Soft Neoprene Knee Sleeve on Effective Kinematic Variables on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Risk Factors in Male Wrestlers After Reconstructive Surgery with Hamstring Tendon Autograft

Medicine sport studies have shown that anterior cruciate ligament injury is among the most common sport injuries in many sports such as wrestling. Many wrestlers use neoprene knee sleeve to reduce the number and severity of the knee injuries. In spite of this fact, there is still a doubt about the efficiency of sleeve on reducing of the knee injuries. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of neoprene knee sleeves on effective kinematic variables on anterior cruciate ligament tear risk factors, in male wrestlers after reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft. Eighteen male wrestlers, who have undergone arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft between six to eighteen months before the present study volunteered to participate in this study. Maximum knee flexion and abduction, time to maximum knee flexion and abduction, Knee flexion and abduction in initial contact and peak ground reaction force have been measured with motion analysis system (Simi Motion) and force platform (kistler). Result of paired T-test showed that the application of the neoprene knee sleeve caused a significant increase in maximum knee flexion, time to maximum flexion and angle of knee flexion in max peak ground reaction force in single leg drop jump (P<0.05). According to the research findings, it can be concluded that neoprene knee sleeves can affect some selected kinematics variables efficient on anterior cruciate ligament tear risk factors and lead to the reduction of the risk of re-injury in wrestler after reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft.