Assessment of the presence/absence of the palmaris longus muscle in different sports, and elite and non-elite sport populations

摘要

Objectives: To investigate whether higher presence of the palmaris longus muscle is associated with sports that require hand grip. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Six hundred and forty-two medical students, members of sports clubs and national athletes. Methods: Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire that assessed their main sport, elite or non-elite level of participation, and level of activity. The presence of the palmaris longus was assessed visually using a standardised test. Main outcome measures: Presence of the palmaris longus, type of hand grip required for the sport and the level of participation. Results: The presence of the palmaris longus was higher in elite athletes (21/22, 96%) than non-elite athletes (66/84, 79%; P= 0.066) for sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical grip (18/22, 82% and 19/35, 54%, respectively; P= 0.034). For both elite and non-elite athletes, the presence of the palmaris longus was higher in those participating in sustained grip sports (325/387, 84%) compared with sports that do not require a sustained grip (150/197, 76%; P= 0.012). Conclusions: The palmaris longus may provide an advantage in certain types of sport that require hand grip, and for elite athletes participating in sports that require a dominant-handed or two-handed cylindrical hand grip. Orthopaedic specialists considering the use of the palmaris longus for a grafting procedure on an athlete should consider the level of participation and the type of hand grip required in the athlete's sport.