Fig. 1

Bracing at the ankle and knee limits subject average (N = 15) joint ROM, velocity, and mechanical power. Conditions with any restriction of joint motion (restricted-ank, restricted-knee, restricted-a + k) show a reduced ankle ROM and b reduced magnitudes of peak ankle velocity during pushoff when compared to the braced condition. In the restricted-a + k condition, ankle ROM decreased in comparison to the restricted-knee. c Peak ankle power decreased in all conditions with ankle restriction (restricted-ank, restricted-a + k) when compared to other conditions (braced, restricted-knee). d Knee ROM decreased in all conditions with restriction of joint motion (restricted-ank, restricted-knee, restricted-a + k) when compared to the braced condition, and was further reduced in conditions bracing the knee (restricted-knee, restricted-a + k) when compared to the restricted-ank condition. All conditions with knee bracing had e reduced knee joint velocity at toe off when compared to the braced and restricted-ank conditions, and the magnitude of f peak knee joint power absorption at pushoff was decreased in the restricted-knee condition when compared to restricted-ank and braced conditions. Asterisks indicate a statistically significant difference (post-hoc paired t-test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison, p < 0.05)