Grip strength and forearm straps in tennis elbow.

Twenty-seven patients who presented with tennis elbow had their grip strengths measured without a forearm strap, with an elastic strap and with an inelastic strap. Of these 85% displayed an increased pain-free grip strength with one or both straps. The increase in pain-free grip strength was statistically significant for both types of strap (p less than 0.001) and the results showed no consistent difference between them. The possible mode of action is discussed.