HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lundin, O. Articles by Styf, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lundin, O. Articles by Styf, J. R.

Intramuscular Pressure in the Leg and Thigh Related to Tensile Strap Force During Knee Brace Wear

An Experimental Study in Man

Department of Orthopedics, Sahlgren University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

* Address correspondence and reprint requests to Jorma R. Styf, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopedics, Sahlgren University Hospital Ostra, S-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden

The effects of a functional knee brace on intramuscular pressure in the leg and thigh were measured in eight subjects with a mean age of 32 years. Pressures in the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles were recorded without a knee brace and with a brace applied with strap tensile force of 25 N, 50 N, and a force preferred by the subject. External compression caused by the brace significantly increased intramuscular pressures at rest and muscle relaxation pressure during exercise in the leg and thigh muscles. Pressure in the tibialis anterior muscle increased 3 to 10 times, to mean values between 17.5 and 41 mm Hg, depending on the tensile force of the straps used at brace application. Corresponding mean pressure values in the rectus femoris muscle were between 17.5 and 32.5 mm Hg. Mean pressures in the standing subject varied between 37 and 62 mm Hg. Our study showed that intramuscular pressure at rest and muscle relaxation pressure during exercise in the tibialis anterior and the rectus femoris muscles increased significantly in the braced limb. Local blood perfusion pressure in the supine subject decreased significantly, by 16% to 42%, in the compressed muscles.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Najibi and J. P. Albright The Use of Knee Braces, Part 1: Prophylactic Knee Braces in Contact Sports Am. J. Sports Med., April 1, 2005; 33(4): 602 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. C. Fleming, P. A. Renstrom, B. D. Beynnon, B. Engstrom, and G. Peura The Influence of Functional Knee Bracing on the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Strain Biomechanics in Weightbearing and Nonweightbearing Knees Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2000; 28(6): 815 - 824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]