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The Effect of Tennis Racket Grip Size on Forearm Muscle Firing Patterns

George F. Hatch, III, MD^*,, Marilyn M. Pink, PhD, PT, MBA, Karen J. Mohr, PT^,, Paul M. Sethi, MD^|| and Frank W. Jobe, MD^,

From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center, Inglewood, California, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles, California, and ^|| Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates, Greenwich, Connecticut

^* Address correspondence to George F. Hatch III, MD, University of Southern California/Keck School of Medicine, USC Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, 1520 San Pablo Street, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (e-mail: lhatch_2000{at}yahoo.com).

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 in, and oversized 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 .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 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 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.

Key Words: tennis • grip size • forearm • electromyographic (EMG) analysis

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				T. De Smedt, A. de Jong, W. Van Leemput, D. Lieven, and F. Van Glabbeek Lateral epicondylitis in tennis: update on aetiology, biomechanics and treatment Br. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2007; 41(11): 816 - 819. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]