ANALYSIS OF RANGE OF MOTION IN FEMALE RECREATIONAL TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT LATERAL ELBOW TENDINOPATHY

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Altered upper extremity (UE) joint motion can lead to biomechanical changes in tennis players, potentially causing lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET).
• Understanding these intrinsic factors is crucial for injury prevention and management in athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare passive upper extremity (UE) motion and elbow carrying angle in three groups of women.
• Groups included recreational tennis players with LET, non-symptomatic recreational tennis players, and a control group of non-tennis players.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 63 women divided into three groups: symptomatic tennis players (STP), non-symptomatic tennis players (NSTP), and controls.
• Measurements included elbow carrying angle and passive range of motion for the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in wrist flexion, forearm pronation, elbow flexion, and shoulder internal rotation between groups.
• Symptomatic tennis players (STP) exhibited greater elbow flexion and forearm pronation compared to both non-symptomatic tennis players (NSTP) and controls.
• Both STP and NSTP groups showed less shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion than the control group.

Conclusions:

• Symptomatic tennis players present with specific impairments in UE passive motion, including reduced shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion, and increased elbow/forearm motion.
• Pre-rehabilitation assessment of passive motion and muscle length is recommended for symptomatic tennis players to guide treatment plans.