Effects of a patellar strap on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during jump landings: an exploration using a statistical parametric mapping and Bayesian approach

Abstract

The aim of the current research was to investigate the effects of a patellar tendon strap on knee joint kinetics and kinematics during a vertical jump task using a statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and Bayesian approach. Twenty-eight (14 male and 14 female) participants performed a vertical jump task under two conditions (patellar tendon strap/no-patellar tendon strap). Biomechanical data were captured using an eight-camera 3D motion capture system and force platform. Participants also subjectively rated the comfort/stability properties of the patellar tendon strap and their knee joint proprioception was examined with and without the strap using a weight bearing joint position sense test. Differences between patellar tendon strap/no-patellar tendon strap conditions were examined using SPM and Bayesian analyses and subjective ratings using Chi-squared tests. The results showed that neither knee joint kinetics or kinematics were affected as a function of wearing the patellar tendon strap. The findings did show that the knee brace helped to significantly increase participants perceived knee stability, but there were no improvements in weight bearing knee proprioception. The current investigation indicates that the utilization of a patellar tendon strap akin to the device used in the current study does not appear to reduce the biomechanical parameters linked to the aetiology of knee pathologies, during vertical jump movements.