AU - Salariesker, Fatemeh AU - Anbarian, Mehrdad AU - Yazdani, Amir Hossein TI - The effect of knee bracing on plantar pressure variables of healthy females during stance phase of gait PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE TA - HBI_Journals JN - HBI_Journals VO - 18 VI - 4 IP - 4 4099 - http://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-1190-en.html 4100 - http://sjku.muk.ac.ir/article-1-1190-en.pdf SO - HBI_Journals 4 AB  - ABSTRACT Background and Aim: There is limited information regarding the effects of knee bracing on plantar pressure variables. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of a supporting patellar brace on plantar pressure variables in healthy females during stance phase of gait. Material and Methods: 17 women (age: 22.3 ± 1.31 years) participated in this study. Plantar foot pressure of the subjects was measured by foot scan pressure plate while walking barefoot with and without wearing supporting patellar brace. Dependent t-test was used for data analysis. P≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Peak plantar pressure was delayed during initial heel contact while using supporting patellar brace (P=0.026). In regard to the distribution of pressure, no significant difference was found in the ten regions on the plantar surface when subjects walked with and without brace (P>0.05). The center of pressure displacement (COPx) was more during propulsion phase of gait while using knee brace (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that bracing could influence lower extremity function by delaying peak plantar pressure and consequently provide dynamic stability of the knee joint during stance phase of gait. Further studies are needed to advance our understanding of the effects of bracing on plantar pressure variables during gait. Key words: Plantar pressure, Gait, Supporting patella brace, Stance phase. Received: Oct 10, 2012 Accepted: May 11, 2013 Conflict of interest: None declared CP - IRAN IN - Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran. (Corresponding Author) Tel:+98-811-8290750 LG - eng PB - HBI_Journals PG - 75 PT - Original Research YR - 2013