A Study on The Effects of the Absence of Palmaris Longus Tendon on Handgrip Strength of Athletes

Abstract

The study aims to find out the incidence of the absence of palmaris longus tendon and to study the effects of the case on handgrip strength of athletes. We studied whether 190 athletes (male n= 80, mean age: 18.9� 2.2; female n= 110, mean age: 18.5� 1.2) included in our study had palmaris longus tendon or not. Then, the handgrip strength values of the athletes were obtained by using a Jamar dynamometer, according to the recommendations of the American Association of Hand Therapists. Total number of participants having no palmaris longus tendon was 59 (31.05%) and it was observed that 37(19.47%) of these individuals didn�t have the tendon in both hands. The number of participants with unilateral tendon absence was 22 (11.5%). The tendon was absent in right hand of 10 individuals (5.26%) and in left hand of 12 individuals (6.31%). After controlling age, height, body weight and body mass index variables of the groups, it was observed that the presence or the absence of palmaris longus tendon in both hands of male athletes didn�t cause any statistical effects on handgrip strength of the athletes. However, left handgrip strength of female athletes with palmaris longus tendon in left hand was found to be higher than left handgrip strength of female athletes with no palmaris longus tendon (p[.01). According to the findings of the study, we might state that the presence or the absence of palmaris longus tendon does not cause a significant effect on handgrip strength of both hands of male athletes (p].05) and that its presence causes a significant effect on left handgrip strength of female athletes (p[.01).