Craig Fowlie1, Colin Fuller, Margaret K Pratten. 1. Centre for Sports Medicine, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, C Floor, West Block, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. craigfowlie123@btinternet.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether higher presence of the palmaris longus muscle is associated with sports that require hand grip. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and forty-two medical students, members of sports clubs and national athletes. METHODS: Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire that assessed their main sport, elite or non-elite level of participation, and level of activity. The presence of the palmaris longus was assessed visually using a standardised test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of the palmaris longus, type of hand grip required for the sport and the level of participation. RESULTS: The presence of the palmaris longus was higher in elite athletes (21/22, 96%) than non-elite athletes (66/84, 79%; P=0.066) for sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical grip (18/22, 82% and 19/35, 54%, respectively; P=0.034). For both elite and non-elite athletes, the presence of the palmaris longus was higher in those participating in sustained grip sports (325/387, 84%) compared with sports that do not require a sustained grip (150/197, 76%; P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The palmaris longus may provide an advantage in certain types of sport that require hand grip, and for elite athletes participating in sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical hand grip. Orthopaedic specialists considering the use of the palmaris longus for a grafting procedure on an athlete should consider the level of participation and the type of hand grip required in the athlete's sport.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether higher presence of the palmaris longus muscle is associated with sports that require hand grip. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and forty-two medical students, members of sports clubs and national athletes. METHODS:Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire that assessed their main sport, elite or non-elite level of participation, and level of activity. The presence of the palmaris longus was assessed visually using a standardised test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of the palmaris longus, type of hand grip required for the sport and the level of participation. RESULTS: The presence of the palmaris longus was higher in elite athletes (21/22, 96%) than non-elite athletes (66/84, 79%; P=0.066) for sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical grip (18/22, 82% and 19/35, 54%, respectively; P=0.034). For both elite and non-elite athletes, the presence of the palmaris longus was higher in those participating in sustained grip sports (325/387, 84%) compared with sports that do not require a sustained grip (150/197, 76%; P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: The palmaris longus may provide an advantage in certain types of sport that require hand grip, and for elite athletes participating in sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical hand grip. Orthopaedic specialists considering the use of the palmaris longus for a grafting procedure on an athlete should consider the level of participation and the type of hand grip required in the athlete's sport.
Authors: Roqueline A G M F Aversi-Ferreira; Rafael Vieira Bretas; Rafael Souto Maior; Munkhzul Davaasuren; Carlos Alberto Paraguassú-Chaves; Hisao Nishijo; Tales Alexandre Aversi-Ferreira Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-04-13 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Ali M Soltani; Mirna Peric; Cameron S Francis; Thien-Trang J Nguyen; Linda S Chan; Alidad Ghiassi; Milan V Stevanovic; Alex K Wong Journal: Plast Surg Int Date: 2012-10-31