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Ankle brace attenuates the medial-lateral ground reaction force during basketball rebound jump

Órtese de tornozelo atenua a força de reação do solo mediolateral durante salto de rebote do basquetebol

Ortesis para tobillo atenúa la fuerza de reacción del suelo mediolateral durante el salto de rebote en el baloncesto

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The jump landing is the leading cause for ankle injuries in basketball. It has been shown that the use of ankle brace is effective to prevent these injuries by increasing the mechanical stability of the ankle at the initial contact of the foot with the ground.

Objective:

To investigate the effects of ankle brace on the ground reaction force (GRF) during the simulation of a basketball rebound jump.

Method:

Eleven young male basketball players randomly carried out a simulated basketball rebound jump under two conditions, with and without ankle brace (lace-up). Dynamic parameters of vertical GRF (take-off and landing vertical peaks, time to take-off and landing vertical peaks, take-off impulse peak, impulse at 50 milliseconds of landing, and jump height) and medial-lateral (take-off and landing medial-lateral peaks, and time to reach medial-lateral peaks at take-off and landing) were recorded by force platform during rebound jumps in each tested condition. The comparisons between the tested conditions were performed by paired t test (P<0.05).

Results:

The use of ankle braces reduced the medial and lateral peaks of the GRF by -15.7% (P=0.035) and -24.9% (P=0.012), respectively, during the landing of the rebound jump. Additionally, wearing the brace did not affect any dynamic parameters of vertical GRF or temporal parameters of the medial-lateral GRF (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

The use of ankle brace during basketball rebound jumps attenuates the magnitude of medial-lateral GRF on the landing phase, without changing the vertical GRF. This finding indicates that the use of brace increases the medial-lateral mechanical protection by decreasing the shear force exerted on the athlete’s body without change the application of propulsive forces in the take-off and the impact absorption quality in the landing during the basketball rebound jump.

Keywords:
sports; ankle/injuries; basketball/injuries

RESUMO

Introdução:

A aterrissagem do salto é a principal causa de lesões de tornozelo no basquetebol. Demonstrou-se que o uso de órtese de tornozelo é efetivo para prevenir estas lesões, porque aumenta a estabilidade mecânica do tornozelo no contato inicial do pé com o solo.

Objetivo:

Investigar os efeitos do uso de órtese de tornozelo sobre a força de reação do solo (FRS) durante simulação de um salto de rebote do basquetebol.

Método:

Onze jovens jogadores de basquetebol do sexo masculino realizaram randomicamente um salto de rebote do basquetebol simulado em duas condições, com e sem órtese de tornozelo (lace-up). Os parâmetros dinâmicos da FRS vertical (picos verticais na decolagem e aterrissagem, tempo até os picos verticais na decolagem e aterrissagem, pico de impulso na decolagem, impulso nos 50 milissegundos da aterrissagem e altura do salto) e mediolateral (picos mediolaterais na decolagem e aterrissagem e tempo para atingir os picos mediolaterais na decolagem e aterrissagem), foram registrados por plataforma de força durante os saltos de rebote em cada condição testada. As comparações entre as condições testadas foram realizadas pelo teste t pareado (P < 0,05).

Resultados:

O uso de órteses de tornozelo reduziu os picos mediais e laterais da FRS em -15,7% (P = 0,035) e -24,9% (P = 0,012), respectivamente, durante a aterrissagem do salto de rebote. Além disso, o uso da órtese de tornozelo não afetou nenhum parâmetro dinâmico da FRS vertical ou parâmetros temporais da FRS mediolateral (P > 0,05).

Conclusão:

O uso de órtese de tornozelo durante os saltos de rebote do basquetebol atenua a magnitude da FRS mediolateral na fase aterrissagem, sem alterar a FRS vertical. Esse achado indica que o uso de órtese aumenta a proteção mecânica mediolateral pela redução da força de cisalhamento exercida sobre o corpo do atleta, sem alterar a aplicação das forças de propulsão na decolagem e a qualidade de absorção de impacto na aterrissagem durante o salto de rebote do basquetebol.

Descritores:
esportes; tornozelo/lesões; basquetebol/lesões

RESUMEN

Introducción:

El aterrizaje del salto es la principal causa de lesiones de tobillo en el baloncesto. Se ha demostrado que el uso de ortesis para tobillo es eficaz para evitar este tipo de lesiones, ya que aumenta la estabilidad mecánica del tobillo en el contacto inicial del pie con el suelo.

Objetivo:

Investigar los efectos del uso de ortesis para tobillo sobre la fuerza de reacción del suelo (FRS) durante la simulación de un salto de rebote de baloncesto.

Métodos:

Once jóvenes del sexo masculino, jugadores de baloncesto, fueron sometidos al azar a un salto de rebote simulado de baloncesto en dos condiciones, con y sin ortesis para tobillo (lace-up). Los parámetros dinámicos de la FRS vertical (picos verticales en el despegue y aterrizaje, tiempo hasta el pico vertical en el despegue y el aterrizaje, el empuje de pico en el despegue, el empuje en 50 milisegundos de aterrizaje y altura del salto) y mediolateral (picos mediolaterales en el despegue y el ater-rizaje y el tiempo para alcanzar el pico mediolateral en el despegue y el aterrizaje) fueron registrados por la plataforma de fuerza durante el salto de rebote. Las comparaciones entre las condiciones estudiadas se realizaron mediante la prueba t pareada (P < 0,05).

Resultados:

El uso de la ortesis para tobillo redujo los picos mediales y laterales de la FRS en -15,7% (P = 0,035) y -24,9% (P = 0,012), respectivamente, durante el aterrizaje del salto rebote. Además, el uso de ortesis para tobillo no afectó a ningún parámetro dinámico de la FRS vertical o parámetros temporales de la FRS mediolateral (P > 0,05).

Conclusión:

El uso de ortesis para tobillo para el salto de rebote de baloncesto atenúa la magnitud de la FRS mediolateral en el fase de aterrizaje sin cambiar el FRS vertical. Este hallazgo indica que el uso de la ortesis aumenta la protección mecánica mediolateral al reducir la fuerza de corte ejercida sobre el cuerpo del atleta, sin cambiar la aplicación de las fuerzas de propulsión en el despegue y la calidad de absorción de impactos en el aterrizaje del salto durante el rebote en el baloncesto.

Descriptores:
deportes; tobillo/lesiones; baloncesto/lesiones

INTRODUCTION

The jump is a fundamental skill for success in basketball11 Acquesta FM, Peneireiro GM, Bianco R, Amadio AC, Júlio CS. Dynamical characteristics of basketball specific movements. Rev Port Ciên Desp. 2007;7(2):174-82.. During a game, each athlete completes between 40-49 jumps22 Ben Abdelkrim N, El Fazaa S, El Ati J. Time-motion analysis and physiological data of elite under-19-year-old basketball players during competition. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(2):69-75.. The high fre-quency of these movements throughout the game makes the jump a risk factor associated with injuries in the lower limbs; this risk increases especially when the athlete loses visual contact with the ground, such as in a shot or in a jump for a rebound33 McKay GD, Goldie PA, Payne WR, Oakes BW. Ankle injuries in basketball: injury rate and risk factors. Br J Sports Med. 2001;35(2):103-8..

Recent studies show that ankle injuries are approximately 50 % of the reasons for being placed on the injury reserve list for a week or more, and the landing of a jump is the main reason (45 %) for these lesions33 McKay GD, Goldie PA, Payne WR, Oakes BW. Ankle injuries in basketball: injury rate and risk factors. Br J Sports Med. 2001;35(2):103-8.,44 McCarthy MM, Voos JE, Nguyen JT, Callahan L, Hannafin JA. Injury profile in elite female basketball athletes at the Womens National Basketball Association combine. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(3):645-51.. It is important to highlight that sprains represent 90 % of all ankle injuries in basketball players, and in these, the lateral ligament structure is most frequently compromised55 Fong DT, Hong Y, Chan LK, Yung PS, Chan KM. A systematic review on ankle injury and ankle sprain in sports. Sports Med. 2007;37(1):73-94.. In order to minimize the seriousness and fre-quency of these injuries, studies have suggested the use of ankle brace as a preventative measure. In basketball, specifically, such an intervention can reduce the occurrence of acute ankle injuries up to 66 %66 McGuine TA, Brooks A, Hetzel S. The effect of lace-up ankle braces on injury rates in high school basketball players. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(9):1840-8..

One of the primary mechanisms responsible for the prevention of ankle sprains through the use of an ankle brace consists of its ability to restrict the speed and amplitude of inversion and eversion movements of the ankle at the foot’s initial contact with the ground77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41.,88 Zhang S, Wortley M, Chen Q, Freedman J. Efficacy of an ankle brace with a subtalar locking system in inversion control in dynamic movements. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009;39(12):875-83.. By controlling these movements, the ankle remains in a neutral position in the frontal plane; therefore minimizing the exposure of the ligaments of this articulation to forceful external impact in the moment of contact with the ground33 McKay GD, Goldie PA, Payne WR, Oakes BW. Ankle injuries in basketball: injury rate and risk factors. Br J Sports Med. 2001;35(2):103-8.,88 Zhang S, Wortley M, Chen Q, Freedman J. Efficacy of an ankle brace with a subtalar locking system in inversion control in dynamic movements. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009;39(12):875-83.. However, it has been shown that the biomechanical alterations resulting from the use of ankle brace can be beneficial, or even negative99 Cordova ML, Takahashi Y, Kress GM, Brucker JB, Finch AE. Influence of external ankle support on lower extremity joint mechanics during drop landings. J Sport Rehabil. 2010;19(2):136-48.

10 Sacco Ide C, Takahasi HY, Suda EY, Battistella LR, Kavamoto CA, Lopes JA, et al. Ground reaction force in bas-ketball cutting maneuvers with and without ankle bracing and taping. Sao Paulo Med J. 2006;124(5):245-52.

11 Shaw MY, Gribble PA, Frye JL. Ankle bracing, fatigue, and time to stabilization in collegiate volleyball athletes. J Athl Train. 2008;43(2):164-71.
-1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52..

In relation to the ability to land, studies performed by Riemann et al.1313 Riemann BL, Schmitz RJ, Gale M, McCaw ST. Effect of ankle taping and bracing on vertical ground reaction forces during drop landings before and after treadmill jogging. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2002;32(12):628-35. and Cordova et al.99 Cordova ML, Takahashi Y, Kress GM, Brucker JB, Finch AE. Influence of external ankle support on lower extremity joint mechanics during drop landings. J Sport Rehabil. 2010;19(2):136-48. demonstrated that the use of the ankle brace reduces the time to reach the peak of vertical impact of the ground reaction force (GRF) during the drop landing. While Distefano et al.77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41. did not show any alterations in jump landing task. Regarding the countermovement jump, the studies of Rosenbaum et al.1414 Rosenbaum D, Kamps N, Bosch K, Thorwesten L, Völker K, Eils E. The influence of external ankle braces on subjective and objective parameters of performance in a sports-related agility course. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2005;13(5):419-25. and Ozer et al.1515 Ozer D, Senbursa G, Baltaci G, Hayran M. The effect on neuromuscular stability, performance, multi-joint coordination and proprioception of barefoot, taping or preventative bracing. Foot (Edinb). 2009;19(4):205-10. showed a reduction in the height of a jump with the use of an ankle brace; in contradiction, the studies of Abián-Vicén et al.1616 Abián-Vicén J, Alegre LM, Fernández-Rodríguez JM, Lara AJ, Meana M, Aguado X. Ankle taping does not impair performance in jump or balance tests. J Sports Sci Med. 2008;7(3):350-6. and Dos Anjos et al.1717 Dos Anjos MTS, Brasil LJ, Barros BO, Bastos NCS, Moraes GFS. Efeito do Uso do Estabilizador Active Ankle System(r) na Altura do Salto Vertical em Jogadores de Voleibol. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2009;15(5):347-50. showed no effect at all of the use of ankle brace upon the vertical jump. On the other hand, Sacco et al.1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52. identified a protective effect of the use of an ankle brace (Aircast) during the jump take-off phase, evidenced by the decreasing of the mediolateral GRF. However, this same study did not find changes on GRF during the jump landing phase.

In light of these evidences, it has been shown that the use of ankle brace is effective to prevent ankle injuries in basketball66 McGuine TA, Brooks A, Hetzel S. The effect of lace-up ankle braces on injury rates in high school basketball players. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(9):1840-8., however the effect of ankle brace upon biomechanics variables of the jump are in-conclusive. Additionally, the analysis of mechanical loads during more specific tasks, as simulated rebound jump, enhances the ecological validity of the research11 Acquesta FM, Peneireiro GM, Bianco R, Amadio AC, Júlio CS. Dynamical characteristics of basketball specific movements. Rev Port Ciên Desp. 2007;7(2):174-82. resulting in a more realistic assessment. This approach can brings a clearly explanation to the effects of the use ankle bracing in basketball specific tasks as demonstrated by Shaw et al.1111 Shaw MY, Gribble PA, Frye JL. Ankle bracing, fatigue, and time to stabilization in collegiate volleyball athletes. J Athl Train. 2008;43(2):164-71. that showed better anterior-posterior dynamic stabilization with the use of lace-up ankle brace during the landing from specific volleyball jumps and Cloak et al.1818 Cloak R, Galloway S, Wyon M. The effect of ankle bracing on peak mediolateral ground reaction force during cutting maneuvers in collegiate male basketball players. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(9):2429-33. that found the reduction of the mediolateral GRF with the use of brace in cutting maneuvers.

Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the effects of a lace-up ankle brace on GRF in male basketball athletes during simulation of a bas-ketball rebound jump. We hypothesized that the use of this brace would offer protection through the reduction of GRF during the simulation of a rebound jump. This data will contribute to greater understanding for designers, coaches, physiotherapists and physicians about the use of ankle brace for basketball players.

METHODS

Eleven male younger basketball players (age: 17.1 ± 0.1 years; height: 183.3 ± 8.7 cm; body mass: 75.6 ± 9.0 kg; body fat: 9.4 ± 4.2 %) participated in this study. They had at least five years of training experience and were competing in collegiate and regional basketball competitions. Athletes were free from ankle instability and ankle and foot injuries within the previous 12 months at the time of the tests. The study was approved by the local Ethics in Research Committee (Protocol Number: 5123); all the participants were informed about the experimental procedures and signed a consent form.

The participants came to the laboratory for three days, separated by 48-72 hours. On the first day, the ankle anterior drawer test and the talar tilt test were done by an experienced physiotherapist, in order to verify the mechanical instability of the athletes’ ankles1919 Dubin JC, Comeau D, McClelland RI, Dubin RA, Ferrel E. Lateral and syndesmotic ankle sprain injuries: a narrative literature review. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(3):204-19.. The athletes were also evaluated for functional ankle instability using the Brazilian-Portuguese version of Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT)2020 De Noronha M, Refshauge KM, Kilbreath SL, Figueiredo VG. Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Disabil Rehabil. 2008;30(26):1959-65.. Individuals with negative results on the ankle anterior drawer test and the talar tilt test1919 Dubin JC, Comeau D, McClelland RI, Dubin RA, Ferrel E. Lateral and syndesmotic ankle sprain injuries: a narrative literature review. J Chiropr Med. 2011;10(3):204-19. and scores above 24 on the CAIT, on a scale of 0-30 points for the left and right ankle were included in the study2020 De Noronha M, Refshauge KM, Kilbreath SL, Figueiredo VG. Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Disabil Rehabil. 2008;30(26):1959-65..

Subsequently, the athletes performed a test of vertical jump to determine the maximum vertical reach of the athlete and were familiar-ized until they had obtained the motor skills to perform the movement required in this study. This test began with the participant in an orthostatic position. From this stationary position, the athletes were instructed to jumping with two footed, as high as possible. The swinging of the arms and downward countermovement were permitted, and the athlete was requested to touch with his fingertips the highest point possible on a vertical metric scale positioned next to athlete. The participants performed three jumps with 30 seconds intervals, and the highest reach was recorded2121 Delextrat A, Cohen D. Physiological testing of basketball players: toward a standard evaluation of anaerobic fitness. J Strength Cond Res. 2008;22(4):1066-72.. This test has an excellent intra-test reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC = 0.96)2222 Hopkins WG. Analysis of reliability with a spreadsheet (beta version) [accessed on 2015 Jan 20]. Disponível em: www.sportsci.org/resource/stats/xrely.xls2012.
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On the second and third day the rebound simulation jumps were evaluated with and without the use of ankle brace on both ankles; these evaluations were counterbalanced and in random order. Initially, the participants performed warm-ups on a cycle ergometer (Cefise®, Nova Odessa, BRA) for five minutes. Afterwards, the athletes performed vertical jumps simulating a basketball rebound jump on a force platform. The subjects took-off from an orthostatic position, with the arms extended alongside the body. The jump was performed after a downward coun-termovement, using both arms and legs to assist in projecting the body upwards. They were instructed to touch their hands to a basketball suspended at 95 % of the maximum reach of each athlete, as measured during the test of vertical jump. The ball was positioned 5 cm in front of the center of the force platform in order to provide visual contact with the ball during the execution of the jumps. The knee angle during the countermovement was not controlled to ensure a more realistic simulation of the rebound jump in basketball. Three trials were recorded, both with and without brace, with 30 s intervals between each jump to minimize fatigue effects77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41.,1111 Shaw MY, Gribble PA, Frye JL. Ankle bracing, fatigue, and time to stabilization in collegiate volleyball athletes. J Athl Train. 2008;43(2):164-71.. Each participant wore their own basketball shoes (the same pair was used for all trials)77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41. and all exhibited appropriate skill levels to perform the test.

The ankle brace tested was the lace-up kind (Horse Jump®, Franca, Brazil) and it was chosen because it is low-cost, comfortable, easy to apply, reduce ankle injuries and be frequently used by basketball athletes66 McGuine TA, Brooks A, Hetzel S. The effect of lace-up ankle braces on injury rates in high school basketball players. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(9):1840-8.,1414 Rosenbaum D, Kamps N, Bosch K, Thorwesten L, Völker K, Eils E. The influence of external ankle braces on subjective and objective parameters of performance in a sports-related agility course. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2005;13(5):419-25.. This brace is made of flexible material, with laces and two semi-rigid rods on the sides, which cross the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the foot, wrapping the ankle in a figure eight. The semi-rigid rods are laterally fixed to the leg in the shape of a “U”, using velcro strips, passing through the lateral and medial malleolus (Figure 1).

The measurements of GRF were obtained during each one of the rebound jumps through a force platform (AMTI®, OR6-6, Watertown), operating at a frequency of 2000 Hz,2323 Roesler CRM, Iturrioz I. Identificação do conteúdo de freqüências presente na força de reação do solo medida com plataforma de forças. Rev Bras Biomec. 2002;3(4):51-6. with 4000 times gain and a 12 bit A/D converter. Prior to each testing session, the force platform was

Figure 1
Ankle brace.

calibrated in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. The data was filtered using a digital filter low pass Butterworth of 4th order, at 95 Hz, based on residual analyzis2424 Winter DA . Biomechanics and motor control of human movement. 2nd ed. Waterloo: Wiley-Interscience Publication; 1990.. The GRF measurements were normalized by the body weight and the final values were considered as the aver-age of the last two attempts of the rebound jump for each condition that was tested.

For the vertical component of the GRF (Fz) we analyzed peak vertical force upon take-off and landing, the time to the peak vertical force at take-off and landing1010 Sacco Ide C, Takahasi HY, Suda EY, Battistella LR, Kavamoto CA, Lopes JA, et al. Ground reaction force in bas-ketball cutting maneuvers with and without ankle bracing and taping. Sao Paulo Med J. 2006;124(5):245-52.,1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52., impulse peak upon take-off calculated from the area under the curve GRF x time, and impulse in the first 50 ms of landing as a parameter indicating the external load applied to the lower limbs during a critical moment11 Acquesta FM, Peneireiro GM, Bianco R, Amadio AC, Júlio CS. Dynamical characteristics of basketball specific movements. Rev Port Ciên Desp. 2007;7(2):174-82.,1010 Sacco Ide C, Takahasi HY, Suda EY, Battistella LR, Kavamoto CA, Lopes JA, et al. Ground reaction force in bas-ketball cutting maneuvers with and without ankle bracing and taping. Sao Paulo Med J. 2006;124(5):245-52. and height of the jump by time of flight2525 Markovic G, Dizdar D, Jukic I, Cardinale M. Reliability and factorial validity of squat and countermovement jump tests. J Strength Cond Res. 2004;18(3):551-5.,2626 Dias JA, Dal Pupo J, Reis DC, Borges L, Santos SG, Moro AR, Borges NG Jr. Validity of two methods for estimation of vertical jump height. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(7):2034-9.. For the mediolateral component of the GRF (Fx) we consid-ered the greatest medial and lateral peaks during the take-off and the landing phases1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52. and time to the peak medial force and lateral force at take-off and landing phases.

Statistical analysis

After verify data distribution (Shapiro-Wilk test), the comparison of the dependent variable between the conditions with and without brace were performed by Paired t test. The statistical analyses were performed through SPSS-18.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA); 5 % (P < 0.05) was considered a significant level of difference. The sample size was calculated using G*Power based on data of pilot study for mediolateral GRF, assuming a bi-directional alpha of 0.05, a statistical power of 80% (1-β = 0.80) and considering the design of the present study for pared samples.

RESULTS

Significant differences were identified among the conditions tested for the medial and lateral peaks of GRF during landing jump phase. The use of ankle brace caused reduction of -15.7 % (P = 0.035) in the medial force and of -24.9 % (P = 0.012) in the lateral force during the landing phase of the rebound jump (Figure 2). There were no significant deffe-rences for any dynamical parameters of vertical GRF during take-off and landing jump phases (Figure 3), or for any temporal parameters (time to take-off and landing mediolateral peaks) of mediolateral GRF (Figure 2) during take-off and landing jump phases (P > 0.05).

DISCUSSION

Our study shows that the use of lace-up ankle brace attenuates the peaks of mediolateral GRF without altering the vertical GRF during the landing phase of simulated basketball rebound jump. These findings confirm the initial hypothesis of the present study, since the use of a brace attenuates the external load applied to the athlete’s body speci-fically during the landing of the jump when injuries are more common, mainly, ankle injuries.

Our findings of a protocol with great ecological validity corroborate the research of Sacco et al.1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52. and Cloak et al.1818 Cloak R, Galloway S, Wyon M. The effect of ankle bracing on peak mediolateral ground reaction force during cutting maneuvers in collegiate male basketball players. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(9):2429-33., who found the reduction of the mediolateral GRF with the use of brace in the take-off of the vertical jump and in the phase of impact of cutting maneuvers, respectively. This set of findings are of great importance since studies have shown that the passive resistance offered by the use of brace promotes the reduction of the speed and amplitude of the inversion and eversion movements of the ankle during jumps and rapid cutting maneuvers, attenuating the external forces that cause the injury of the ankle88 Zhang S, Wortley M, Chen Q, Freedman J. Efficacy of an ankle brace with a subtalar locking system in inversion control in dynamic movements. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009;39(12):875-83.,99 Cordova ML, Takahashi Y, Kress GM, Brucker JB, Finch AE. Influence of external ankle support on lower extremity joint mechanics during drop landings. J Sport Rehabil. 2010;19(2):136-48.,2121 Delextrat A, Cohen D. Physiological testing of basketball players: toward a standard evaluation of anaerobic fitness. J Strength Cond Res. 2008;22(4):1066-72.,2727 Cordova ML, Ingersoll CD, Palmieri RM. Efficacy of prophylactic ankle support: an experimental perspective. J Athl Train. 2002;37(4):446-57..

With regard to the landing, we observed that the use of brace at-tenuated the mediolateral GRF, demonstrating a protective effect in relation to the external load during the landing phase. This result has an interesting implication for the prevention of stress injuries in healthy athletes, since these injuries can be related to continuous exposure to excessive external loads11 Acquesta FM, Peneireiro GM, Bianco R, Amadio AC, Júlio CS. Dynamical characteristics of basketball specific movements. Rev Port Ciên Desp. 2007;7(2):174-82.,2828 Azevedo AP, Brandina K, Bianco R, Oliveira VH, Souza JR, Mezencio B, et al. Effects of replica running shoes upon external forces and muscle activity during running. J Sports Sci. 2012;30(9):929-35..

Figure 2
Mediolateral ground reaction force, with and without ankle brace. Data are mean ± SD. * denote P < 0.05 vs. without ankle brace. BW = Body Weight.

Figure 3
Vertical ground reaction force, with and without ankle brace. Data are mean ± SD. BW = Body Weight.

In this sense, considering that a body mechanically is in equilibrium when the sum of all forces and moments of force acting on it is zero2929 Duarte M, Freitas SM. Revision of posturography based on force plate for balance evaluation. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2010;14(3):183-92., the reducing of magnitude of the mediolateral GRF indicates that this body is more balanced on the axis in which this force was applied. Thus resulting in a system (body) more stable during takeoff and landing of rebound jump with less external forces (shear forces) applied on the lower limb, including the feet and ankles that are in contact with the ground3030 Hamill J, Knutzen KM, Bates BT, Kirkpatrick G. Evaluation of two ankle appliances using ground reaction force data. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1986;7(5):244-9.. Interestingly these results did not affect the temporal param-eters of mediolateral GRF. This finding indicates that the time required for the absorption of shear forces was not altered by use of the brace.

Additionally, our results showed only non-significant results for the vertical GRF in the rebound jump with ankle brace. These findings are supported by the studies of Sacco et al.1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52. and DiStefano et al.77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41., which at-tribute the consistency of the vertical GRF among the conditions tested as being consequences of the increase in the angle of knee flexion upon initial contact with the ground, due to the use of the ankle brace, which restricts the amplitude of the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle. However, despite the similarity of our findings with the studies of Sacco et al.1212 Sacco ICN, Takahasi HY, Vasconcellos, AA, Suda EY, Bacarin TA, Pereira CS, et al. Influence of ankle devices in the jump and landing biomechanical responses in basketball. Rev Bras Med Esporte. 2004;10(4):447-52. and DiStefano et al.77 DiStefano LJ, Padua DA, Brown CN, Guskiewicz KM. Lower extremity kinematics and ground reaction forces after prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing. J Athl Train. 2008;43(3):234-41., the present investigation has great ecological va-lidity what bear a closer resemblance to the demands of basketball jumps11 Acquesta FM, Peneireiro GM, Bianco R, Amadio AC, Júlio CS. Dynamical characteristics of basketball specific movements. Rev Port Ciên Desp. 2007;7(2):174-82..

In view of the fact that the use of lace-up brace reduce the incidence of ankle injuries for basketball athletes66 McGuine TA, Brooks A, Hetzel S. The effect of lace-up ankle braces on injury rates in high school basketball players. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(9):1840-8., the reduction of mediolateral GRF without change in the vertical component can constitute one of the mechanisms by which these brace prevent injuries in lower limb of healthy athletes. Thus, the use the brace could be recommended to increase the stability and mechanical protection mediolateral of the body during the rebound jump in basketball players, without compromising jump performance and the absorbing of impact forces. These assump-tions supports coaches, physiotherapists and physicians who advocate the use of ankle bracing (lace-up) for healthy basketball players.

At last, although the results of present study are encouraging, some limitations must be considered. This study was limited to male younger basketball players and future investigations on larger and more diverse populations may be required. In addition, this study examined the immediate effects of the use of ankle bracing. Accordingly, the length of time that the brace offers the protection measured during the bas-ketball game and effectiveness of bracing over prolonged use is not well known. Finally, in our study the rebound jumps were performed in controlled conditions by jump height. It was necessary to guarantee that the alterations observed in the GRF were, in fact, due to the use of the brace, and not due to possible variations in the height of the jump. In spite of these limitations, the ecological validity of this study should be highlighted, for it tested the effects of the use of the brace in the vertical jump under conditions that are most similar to those of the sport (rebound jump) and not yet reported in literature.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the use of lace-up ankle brace in simulated basketball rebound jump attenuated the magnitude of mediolateral GRF during landing jump phase, without altering the vertical GRF. This indicates that the use of brace increase mediolateral mechanical protection, decrea-sing the shear force exerted on the athlete’s body without change the absorbing quality of impact forces and application of propulsive forces during the rebound jump in basketball. It is suggested to increase the mediolateral stability of the body during landing jump and reduce the risk of lower limb’s injuries, especially in the feet and ankles, in healthy young basketball players.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thanks the funding providing by São Paulo Research Foundation (Process: 2011/15980-5; 2010/10886-8) and National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (Process: 482418/2009-5). The results of the current study do not constitute endorsement of the product by the authors or the NSCA.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    May-Jun 2017

History

  • Received
    24 Mar 2016
  • Accepted
    02 Feb 2017
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