The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of three functional knee braces in stabilizing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficient knees. The subject sample consisted of eighteen males and females with a unilateral ACL deficiency. / The criterion variables consisted of the ability of each brace in controlling internal rotation and knee extension during active movement and knee extension during a high velocity activity (dynamic task). Total displacement of the knee brace during a running test was also evaluated. / The results of this study demonstrated significant differences between the efficacy of the three braces for control of knee extension during active movement, knee extension during a dynamic task and brace migration during a running task. There was no significant difference between the efficacy of the three braces in controlling internal rotation during active movement.

The purpose of this investigation was to objectively evaluate whether three functional de-rotational knee braces stabilize an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency. The subject sample consisted of fifteen males and females with a unilateral ACL deficiency. The data for each subject was obtained using the Genucom Knee Analyzer. A right knee-left knee anterior laxity difference of 3mm or greater served as a subject inclusion parameter for protocol completion. The inclusion criteria reduced the subject sample to a total of eleven. / The study consisted of a randomized block design. The experimental design consisted of three parts: (1) an investigation of translational stability, (2) an investigation of rotatory stability, and (3) a comparison between the three braces. / The analysis involved a one way ANOVA of the criterion variables; anterior laxity (ALAX), anterior midrange stiffness (AMRS), anterior endrange stiffness (AERS), internal laxity (ILAX), and translation of the lateral tibial plateau (TLTP). / The AMRS characteristics differed significantly (alpha = 0.05) at 20$ sp circ$ flexion. The results were the following: $-$10.00 $ pm$ 9.78 N/mm for brace 1, $-$2.86 $ pm$ 7.2 N/mm for brace 2 and $-$41.02 $ pm$ 14.79 N/mm for brace 3. The values evaluated for ALAX, AERS, ILAX, and TLTP profiles did not differ significantly between knee braces.

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