Project Description:

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. ACL injuries often occur in sports involving rapid directional changes, such as jumping or cutting. Each year, approximately 200,000 ACL tears are reported in the U.S., with 100,000 of those individuals opting to undergo reconstruction surgery. A major challenge for athletes returning to sports is the high risk of reinjury.

Following reconstruction, many patients are instructed to wear what is called a functional brace, but the braces on the market are not proven to be effective. Current braces primarily support the collateral ligaments on either side of the knee, but fail to address the anterior tibial translation that is problematic with ACL injuries, without significantly limiting knee mobility. Additionally, athletes often experience a loss of muscle tone in the quadriceps and hamstring following an ACL injury. Our Capstone project aims to develop a more effective solution to these problems faced by athletes during their ACL reconstruction recovery.

Our prototyped solution employs force-absorbing padding to cushion the knee, absorb harmful forces, and provide additional stabilization to the ACL, while still allowing for full range of motion. The novel incorporation of electrical stimulation activates the muscles of the upper thigh to prevent atrophy during recovery. Both features were rigorously tested for performance and safety. Unlike existing braces, our design integrates comfort, machine washability, and targeted support to improve outcomes and reduce reinjury rates for athletes returning to high-intensity sports.