BACKGROUND: Inappropriately sized tennis racket grip is often cited in the popular media as a risk factor for overuse injuries about the forearm and elbow. Currently, a hand measurement technique developed by Nirschl is commonly used by tennis racket manufacturing companies as the method for determining a player's "recommended" grip size. HYPOTHESIS: Quarter-inch changes from that recommended by Nirschl in tennis racket grip size will have no significant effect on forearm muscle firing patterns. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Sixteen asymptomatic Division I and II collegiate tennis players performed single-handed backhand ground strokes with rackets of 3 different grip sizes (recommended measurement, undersized (1/4) in, and oversized (1/4) in). Fine-wire electromyography was used to measure muscle activity in extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, extensor digitorum communis, flexor carpi radialis, and pronator teres. Repeated-measure analysis of variance was used for within-group comparisons, comparing different grips in specified phases for backhand ground strokes (P <or= .05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in muscle activity between small, recommended, or big grips in any muscle tested. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, tennis racket grip size (1/4) in above or below Nirschl's recommended measurement does not significantly affect forearm muscle firing patterns. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alterations in tennis racket grip size within (1/4) in of Nirschl's recommended sizing do not have a significant effect on forearm muscle activity and therefore may not represent a significant risk factor for upper extremity cumulative trauma, such as lateral epicondylitis.
BACKGROUND: Inappropriately sized tennis racket grip is often cited in the popular media as a risk factor for overuse injuries about the forearm and elbow. Currently, a hand measurement technique developed by Nirschl is commonly used by tennis racket manufacturing companies as the method for determining a player's "recommended" grip size. HYPOTHESIS: Quarter-inch changes from that recommended by Nirschl in tennis racket grip size will have no significant effect on forearm muscle firing patterns. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Sixteen asymptomatic Division I and II collegiate tennis players performed single-handed backhand ground strokes with rackets of 3 different grip sizes (recommended measurement, undersized (1/4) in, and oversized (1/4) in). Fine-wire electromyography was used to measure muscle activity in extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, extensor digitorum communis, flexor carpi radialis, and pronator teres. Repeated-measure analysis of variance was used for within-group comparisons, comparing different grips in specified phases for backhand ground strokes (P <or= .05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in muscle activity between small, recommended, or big grips in any muscle tested. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, tennis racket grip size (1/4) in above or below Nirschl's recommended measurement does not significantly affect forearm muscle firing patterns. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alterations in tennis racket grip size within (1/4) in of Nirschl's recommended sizing do not have a significant effect on forearm muscle activity and therefore may not represent a significant risk factor for upper extremity cumulative trauma, such as lateral epicondylitis.
Authors: Thomas De Smedt; Andy de Jong; Wim Van Leemput; Dossche Lieven; Francis Van Glabbeek Journal: Br J Sports Med Date: 2007-07-06 Impact factor: 13.800
Authors: Afxentios Kekelekis; Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis; Isabel Sarah Moore; Thomas Rosemann; Beat Knechtle Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-16 Impact factor: 3.390