Are 7 MM neoprene knee sleeves capable of modifying the knee kinematics and kinetics during box jump and front squat exercises in healthy CrossFit practitioners? An exploratory cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: Investigate whether wearing 7 mm neoprene knee sleeves during the front squat and box jump CrossFit exercises change the biomechanics of the knee joint.

Design: a cross-sectional exploratory study.

Setting: Laboratory-based.

Participants: Seventeen male healthy CrossFit participants completed front squats and box jumps with knee sleeves (KS) and without knee sleeves (WKS).

Main outcomes measures: Kinematic and kinetic data of the knee in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes were obtained for the two tasks and under the two experimental situations. The maximum load lifted on 1 MR test was recorded under KS and WKS conditions. The GROC scales were applied after each exercise and condition to assess participants' self-reported perception of stability.

Results: The KS reduced the knee range of motion in the transverse plane during box jump (p = 0.029) and the peak knee external adduction moment (p = 0.047) during front squat compared to WKS. The 1RM during front squat increased in KS compared to WKS (p < 0.001). Most participants (94%) reported that they felt better stability using KS and all participants (100%) believed that knee sleeves would avoid knee pain.

Conclusion: neoprene knee sleeves have little impact on the biomechanics of the knee joint during CrossFit. However, participants reported improved knee stability.

Keywords: Biomechanics; CrossFit; Knee; Knee sleeves.