We report on the number of
knee injuries sustained by a major college football team during 2 full years when all players were required to wear laterally placed prophylactic knee
braces during all practice sessions and all games. We found that the incidence rates of
knee injuries were higher when the
braces were worn compared to a similar period when the
braces were not worn. There was also an increased number of
ACL injuries during the
brace period. Several indices characterizing the nature of the
injuries were analyzed and were found not to be altered significantly when the prophylactic
braces were used. These facts lead us to question the efficacy of prophylactic knee
braces in preventing
knee injuries in college football. The use of the
braces was associated with increased episodes of muscle cramping in the triceps surae muscle group, required the constant attention of coaches and trainers to remind the players to wear the
braces and to apply them correctly, and was costly. These findings indicate the need for other carefully controlled clinical and biomechanical studies of these devices before their routine use can be advocated.