Original articleBiomechanical evaluation of braces used for the treatment of epicondylitis*
Section snippets
Material and methods
To determine the effect of the different braces on the load at the lateral epicondyle, accelerometers (HBM B 12/500) were fixed at the grip of the tennis racket, the skin above the ulna head, and the lateral epicondyle. The sensors were fastened to the skin with tape dressings and an additional elastic bandage that was wrapped around the forearm (Figure 4).In comparing intracortical and skin acceleration measurements at the tibia, it has been reported that
Results
Within each individual a significant difference among racket, wrist, and elbow was found (P <.001) for the acceleration amplitudes and for acceleration integrals. The peak-to-peak acceleration at the elbow was approximately 20% to 25% of the acceleration at the wrist (Table I).The acceleration integrals at the elbow were also approximately one fifth of the wrist values. At the racket and the wrist, there was no significant difference in peak-to-peak acceleration and integrated acceleration for
Discussion
In 1992 Hennig et al16 investigated the influence of different tennis rackets on forearm vibration. Their findings were similar, as they reported an intraindividual reduction of peak-to-peak acceleration and acceleration integrals between wrist and elbow of approximately 75% to 80% but high variability of peak-to-peak acceleration and integrated acceleration among different individuals. The substantial reduction of vibration between the distal part of a limb and the proximal part corresponds to
Acknowledgements
Thanks for all support to the staff of the Institute of Sports of the University of Erlangen, especially to Sigi Krumholz and Hubert Schneider.
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Cited by (47)
Counterforce bracing of lateral epicondylitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial
2019, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow SurgeryMedial Epicondylitis
2018, Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and RehabilitationEpicondylosis
2016, Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: A Practical GuideElectromyographic assessment of forearm muscle function in tennis players with and without Lateral Epicondylitis
2015, Journal of Electromyography and KinesiologyCitation Excerpt :Hence, existing evidence is insufficient to support the contribution of racket mass to the development of LE. Finally, there are biomechanical suggestions that braces may help to prevent/manage LE by reducing the load and repetitive stress to the common extensor origin (Walther et al., 2002). The outcome would however be much dependent on the characteristics of the product and placement.
Systematic review: Use of the brace in lateral epicondylalgia
2011, Fisioterapia
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Reprint requests: Markus Walther, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brettreichstrasse 11, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany (E-mail: [email protected]).