ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Isokinetic profile of wrist and forearm strength in elite female junior tennis players

T S Ellenbecker¹, E P Roetert², S Riewald²

¹ Physiotherapy Associates, Scottsdale Sports Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
² United States Tennis Association, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Todd S Ellenbecker
Physiotherapy Associates, Scottsdale Sports Clinic, 9917 N 95th St, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258, USA; ellenbeckerpt{at}cox.net

Background: In tennis, injuries to the elbow and wrist occur secondary to the repetitive nature of play and are seen at increasingly young ages. Isokinetic testing can be used to determine muscular strength levels, but dominant/non-dominant and agonist/antagonist relations are needed for meaningful interpretation of the results.

View larger version (137K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1  Isokinetic testing set-up for wrist flexion/extension with the Cybex 6000 dynamometer. Informed consent was obtained for publication of this figure.

 

View larger version (142K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2  Isokinetic testing set-up for forearm pronation/supination with the Cybex 6000 dynamometer. Informed consent was obtained for publication of this figure.

 

Objectives: To determine whether there are laterality differences in wrist extension/flexion (E/F) and forearm supination/pronation (S/P) strength in elite female tennis players.

Methods: 32 elite female tennis players (age 12 to 16 years) with no history of upper extremity injury underwent bilateral isokinetic testing using a Cybex 6000 dynamometer. Peak torque and single repetition work values for wrist E/F and forearm S/P were measured at speeds of 90°/s and 210°/s, with random determination of the starting extremity. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine differences between extremities for peak torque and single repetition work values.

Results: Significantly greater (p<0.01) dominant arm wrist E/F and forearm pronation strength was measured at both testing speeds. Significantly less (p<0.01) dominant side forearm supination strength was measured at both testing speeds.

Conclusions: Greater dominant arm wrist E/F and forearm pronation strength is common and normal in young elite level female tennis players. These strength relations indicate sport specific muscular adaptations in the dominant tennis playing extremity. The results of this study can guide clinicians who work with young athletes from this population. Restoring greater dominant side wrist and forearm strength is indicated after an injury to the dominant upper extremity in such players.

Keywords: strength testing; wrist; forearm; tennis

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