Proprioception of the knee joint was tested in 30 healthy volunteers with clinically inconspicuous knee joints. To examine proprioception, an angle reproduction test was performed. We could not document any differences between the left and the right knee joint or between men and women. At the mid-range, proprioception was worse compared with the end range of motion. In addition, 25 patients with an isolated rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament were evaluated, 14 before and 11 after operative anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Preoperatively, there was a significant deterioration of proprioception compared with the control group. We were able to show a positive influence of a knee bandage on the proprioception of the injured knee. Patients after ACL reconstruction showed no significantly better proprioception compared with the preoperative group.

In the present paper the current clinical knowledge about proprioception is given for the shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow and the radiocarpal joint. Proprioceptive capabilities are decreased after joint injuries such as ACL or meniscus tears, shoulder dislocation, ankle sprain and in joints with degenerative joint disease. Some surgical procedures seem to restore the proprioceptive abilities; others do not. Elastic knee bandages or ankle braces increase different proprioceptive factors like ankle reproduction capability or sports-specific abilities. The present information on proprioception will influence our clinical practice in the future. We should choose surgical procedures that not only reconstruct the anatomy, but also the neurophysiologic feed-back mechanism.

In the presented study, knee joint proprioception of 43 patients with a patellar pain syndrome of the knee joint was evaluated. In a control group, the proprioception of 30 healthy volunteers with clinical and an-amnestic inconspicous knee joints was examined. We tested the proprioceptive capability of the subjects with a passive angle reproduction test. Additionally, all knee joints were measured with and without an elastic knee bandage. The patient group showed significant deterioration of angle reproduction capability (13.2 degrees +/- 6.1 degrees) compared to the control group (7.8 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees). After applying an elastic knee bandage, the angle reproduction capability significantly improved to 9.2 degrees +/- 4.5 degrees. Proprioception of the contralateral, noninvolved knee joint in the patients (11.6 degrees +/- 6.3 degrees) was worse compared to the control group. Applying an elastic knee bandage did not significantly improve the proprioception of the uninjured knee joint.

In 30 healthy volunteers with clinically inconspicuous knee joints and nine patients with posttraumatic recurrent patella dislocation, the proprioceptive abilities of the knee joint were evaluated by an angle reproduction test. The results of the control group showed no gender- or dominant-specific difference. The patient group showed a significant deterioration of proprioceptive capability in the injured knee joint. Even in the contralateral, uninjured knee joint, the angle reproduction test result was significantly reduced compared with the control group. After applying an elastic knee bandage, the control group and the patients with patella dislocation showed a significant improvement of the proprioceptive capability.

In 30 healthy volunteers with clinical inconspicuous knee joints, the proprioception of the knee joint was evaluated. The proprioceptive capability of the subjects was tested by an angle reproduction test. Additionally all knee joints were measured with and without an elastic knee bandage. The study showed no difference, neither between the left and the right knee joint, nor between men and women. However, at the mid-range of knee joint motion a significant deterioration of the proprioception could be documented. Applying an elastic knee bandage resulted in a significant improvement of the results.