How do ankle braces affect braking performance? An experimental driving simulation study with healthy volunteers

Abstract

Background: Fitness to drive a car has been investigated increasingly over recent years. However, most research has focussed on perioperative driving performance, and few data are available on how orthoses influence the ability to perform an emergency stop. This study investigated the effect of 4 common ankle braces (Kallassy ® , CaligaLoc ® , Air-Stirrup ® , ASO ® ) on reaction time, foot transfer time (together: brake response time) and brake force. The hypothesis was that wearing these braces on the right ankle impairs braking performance, specifically by increasing foot transfer time, but also by altering brake force. Methods: A car cabin was set up with measurement equipment to register reaction time, foot transfer time, brake response time and brake force under realistic spatial constraints. A crossover repeated measures design was used to test 30 healthy volunteers with and without each of the braces. Results: All 4 braces resulted in statistically significantly increased foot transfer time (p < 0.001), compared with measurements without a brace. Reaction time with a brace was significantly prolonged, with the exception of the Kallasy ® . Brake force was not statistically significantly impaired. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ankle braces lead to impaired braking performance. Depending on the type of brace, a stopping distance increase of more than 1 m at 100 km/h can be expected.

A novel low-cost solution for driving assessment in individuals with and without disabilities

“…Furthermore, the reaction time results were in agreement with results present in existing literature. 7,29-33 These findings indicate that the in-house simulator produces data that are reliable and accurate.…”

Return to driving post upper or lower extremity orthopaedic surgical procedures: a scoping review of current published literature

“…In total, 68 studies were identified meeting our study aims and inclusion criteria for both upper and lower extremity procedures ( Fig. 1 , Table 1 , Supplementary Tables 1 and 2) ( 1 , 14 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ). There was a wide variation in procedures performed and sample size, the study methodology, and measurements obtained.…”

“…( 35 ), Talusan et al . ( 36 ) Immobilisation devices Hofmann et al ( 37 ), Dammerer et al ( 38 ), Orr et al . ( 39 ), Schick et al .…”

“…There were 36 lower extremity studies included in the review ( 4 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ) A total of 1021 patients were assessed, with 1006 having right-sided procedures and 15 left-sided procedures. The summary of these data is presented in Supplementary Table 1.…”

“…Two articles assessed TBRT, RT, FTT, and BF in healthy participants wearing branded and non-branded ankle braces ( 37 , 38 ). Hofmann et al advised against driving while wearing an ankle brace; however, Dammerer et al advised abstention from driving while wearing a boot type ankle brace ( 37 , 38 ). Hofmann et al found a mean BRT of 410 ms ( s.d.…”