title: The effect of tennis racket grip size on forearm muscle firing patterns.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Quarter-inch changes from that recommended by Nirschl in tennis racket grip size will have no significant effect on forearm muscle firing patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. lhatch_2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Marilyn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pink
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mohr
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Jobe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology