Citation

Garrick JG, Requa RK. Am. J. Sports Med. 1987; 15(5): 471-476.

Affiliation

Center for Sports Medicine, Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco, California 94109.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3674270

Abstract

Six studies to determine the effectiveness of prophylactic knee braces in preventing medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in football are compared. Criteria useful in evaluating studies are discussed, such as the probability of confounding factors, bias in selecting cases and controls, and variations in defining injury and exposure. Cost, as well as some ethical issues associated with mandated use are discussed. While four of these studies found a reduction in MCL injuries associated with using a brace, two of them reported increases. No consensus arises from these studies, conflicting results as well as methodological problems in some make it impossible to state with assurance the role of prophylactic knee bracing in football at this time.

Keywords: American football;

Language: en