Arm-wrestling injuries – A systematic review of the medical literature
Renan Felipe Correia, Alex Natalino Ribeiro, Roberto Pires de Araújo
Abstract
Background: Arm wrestling is a popular sport due to its simplistic nature and great appeal in popular culture. Unfortunately, it can lead to serious fractures. An understanding of these injuries and its mechanisms is vital to the undertaking of safe practice methods for this sporting modality. Objectives: This study aimed to review articles that demonstrate case reports about arm-wrestling related fractures. Methods: PubMed’s database was searched with the keywords “Arm Wrestling,” Arm-wrestling,” and “Armwrestling.” Ofthe 34 articles found, 11 were fit to compose this review, being grouped into studies that dealt with adults and studies that dealt with adolescents. Results: Of the 63 adult subjects reported, 62 suffered fractures of the distal third of the humerus, occasionally accompanied by butterfly fractures and radial nerve palsy. Of the 22 adolescent subjects reported, 20 suffered fractures of the humerus medial epicondyle, never accompanied by butterfly fractures, and sometimes accompanied by ulnar nerve palsy. All injuries stemmed from unbalanced torsional forces suffered by the humerus from its own musculature. Conclusions: The injury profile presented by both populations is very homogeneous between the two different groups, which leads us to believe that correct technique can be a great ally in arm wrestling injury prevention. Athletes, as well as common practitioners, should be coached as to avoid these unfavorable positions and techniques
Keywords
References
1. Kruczynski J, Jaszczur Nowicki J, Topolinski T, Srokowski G, Manko G, Chantsoulis M, et al. Radiological and biomechanical analysis of humeral fractures occurring during arm wrestling. Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. 2012;18(5):CR303-7.
2. Bumbasirevic MZ, Lesic AR, Andjelkovic SZ, Palibrk TD, Milutinovic SM. Fractures of the humerus during arm wrestling. Vojnosanitetski pregled. 2014;71(12):1144-6.
3. Fallis G, Ferguson K, Malcolm B. An unusual fracture in arm wrestling. The Physician and sportsmedicine. 1990;18(4):93-6.
4. Robertson GA, Wood AM. Fractures in sport: optimising their management and outcome. World journal of orthopedics. 2015;6(11):850-63.
5. Chaker A, Filipinsky J. [Sport-related spiral fractures of the humeral diaphysis are not simple injuries]. Rozhledy v chirurgii : mesicnik Ceskoslovenske chirurgicke spolecnosti. 2003;82(5):235-8.
6. Peltokallio P, Peltokallio V, Vaalasti T. Fractures of the humerus from muscular voilence in sport. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness. 1968;8(1):21-5.
7. Lee YS, Chou YH, Chiou HJ, Lai YC. Use of sonography in assessing elbow medial collateral ligament injury after arm wrestling. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association. 2014;77(3):163-5.
8. Frankowska-Rutkowska M, Górska J, Jedwabiński M, Mątewski D, Maciejewski M. Fracture of the humerus during arm wrestling: report on 9 cases and review of the literature. Medical and Biological Sciences. 2013;27(3):36-38.
9. Ogawa K, Ui M. Humeral shaft fracture sustained during arm wrestling: report on 30 cases and review of the literature. The Journal of trauma. 1997;42(2):243-6.
10. Low BY, Lim J. Fracture of humerus during armwrestling: report of 5 cases. Singapore medical journal. 1991;32(1):47-9.
11. Whitaker JH. Arm wrestling fractures--a humerus twist. The American journal of sports medicine. 1977;5(2):67-77.
12. I-Wen Chang S-CC, Jui-Sheng Sun. Humeral Shaft Fracture in Arm Wrestling. A Case Report. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2000;2(2):5.
13. Nyska M, Peiser J, Lukiec F, Katz T, Liberman N. Avulsion fracture of the medial epicondyle caused by arm wrestling. The American journal of sports medicine. 1992;20(3):347-50.
14. Ogawa K, Ui M. Fracture-separation of the medial humeral epicondyle caused by arm wrestling. The Journal of trauma. 1996;41(3):494-7.
15. Hufner A, Dodt C. Spiral Fracture of the Humerus after a Tennis Serve. Deutsches Arzteblatt international. 2017;114(8):138.
16. Reed WJ, Mueller RW. Spiral fracture of the humerus in a ball thrower. The American journal of emergency medicine. 1998;16(3):306-8.
17. Koca K, Ege T, Kurklu M, Ekinci S, Bilgic S. Spiral-medial butterfly fractures (AO-12-B1) in distal diaphysis of humerus with rotational forces: preliminary results of open reduction and plate-screw fixation. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2015;19(23):4494-7.
18. Ahamed NU, Sundaraj K, Ahmad B, Rahman M, Ali MA, Islam MA. Effects of anthropometric variables and electrode placement on the SEMG activity of the biceps brachii muscle during submaximal isometric contraction in arm wrestling. Biomedizinische Technik Biomedical engineering. 2013;58(5):475-88.
19. Oda T, Watanabe K. Bare medial epicondyle physeal fracture of the humerus: A case report. Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma. 2017;8(Suppl 1):S45-7.
20. Thiyam R, Lalchandani R. Tardy ulnar nerve palsy after fracture non-union medial epicondyle of humerus - An unusual case. Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma. 2015;6(2):137-9.
21. Marks W, Penkowski M, Stasiak M, Witkowski Z, Dabrowski T, Wieruszewski J, et al. Humeral fracture in arm wrestling: bone morphology as a permanent risk factor. Indications for safety measures in arm wrestling. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness. 2014;54(1):88-92.
22. Adams WM, Casa DJ, Drezner JA. Sport safety policy changes: saving lives and protecting athletes. Journal of athletic training. 2016;51(4):358-60.
23. Helm RH, Stuart P. Fracture of humerus during use of an arm wrestling machine. British medical journal. 1986;293(6562):1644.
Facebook
Google+
Twitter
LinkedIn
Mendeley
StumbleUpon
CiteULike
Reddit
Email