Preventive Effects of Knee Brace on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Susceptible Individuals: A Systematic Review

Introduction: The results of various studies on the preventive effect of knee brace on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in susceptible individuals vary; leading to doubts about their utilization for orthopedic specialists. The present study aimed to review the preventive effects of knee brace on ACL injuries in susceptible individuals.Methods: This systematic review was performed using the keywords "Prophylactic Knee Brace, Neoprene Knee Sleeve, Knee Brace, ACL, Tear Risk Factors, and Biomechanical Factors" in online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Springer, ProQuest, and the Google Scholar search engine. The I۲ index was used to assess heterogeneity among studies.Results: A total of eight high-quality articles were assessed all represented moderate heterogeneity (I۲ index: ۲۵%-۷۵%). Only one study reported the ineffectiveness of knee brace in preventing ACL injuries, and the rest noticed positive effects.Conclusion: The use of a prophylactic knee brace in individuals susceptible to ACL rupture can avoid sustaining pressure and possible damage to the knee and ACL.