TY - JOUR
T1 - Health effects of wrist-loading sports during youth
T2 - A systematic literature review
AU - Kox, Laura S.
AU - Kuijer, P. Paul F.M.
AU - Thijssen, Dagmar A.J.
AU - Kerkhoffs, Gino M.M.J.
AU - Van Rijn, Rick R.
AU - Frings-Dresen, Monique H.W.
AU - Maas, Mario
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Human Kinetics, Inc.
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - Background: The benefits and risks of performing popular wrist-loading sports at a young age have not been investigated systematically. We aimed to evaluate positive and negative long-Term wrist-related health effects of sports performance requiring repetitive wrist loading during youth. Methods: Six databases were searched for cohort and cross-sectional studies. Three investigators selected studies evaluating quantitatively measured health effects of upper extremities in athletes practicing wristloading sports (gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, field hockey, rowing, and judo) for minimally 4 months before the age of 18. Results: A total of 23 studies with 5 outcome measures, nearly all of moderate to good quality, were eligible for inclusion. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were higher in athletes compared with controls and in tennis players' dominant arm. Mixed results were found for ulnar variance in gymnasts. Handgrip strength was greater in tennis players' dominant arm and in experienced gymnasts. Conclusions: Wrist-loading sports performance during youth can promote bone strength in wrists and dominant handgrip strength, but evidence on the lasting of these effects and on prevalence of wrist joint degeneration in former young athletes is limited. For better counseling of young athletes and their parents, future studies with increased comparability are essential, for which recommendations are provided.
AB - Background: The benefits and risks of performing popular wrist-loading sports at a young age have not been investigated systematically. We aimed to evaluate positive and negative long-Term wrist-related health effects of sports performance requiring repetitive wrist loading during youth. Methods: Six databases were searched for cohort and cross-sectional studies. Three investigators selected studies evaluating quantitatively measured health effects of upper extremities in athletes practicing wristloading sports (gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, field hockey, rowing, and judo) for minimally 4 months before the age of 18. Results: A total of 23 studies with 5 outcome measures, nearly all of moderate to good quality, were eligible for inclusion. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were higher in athletes compared with controls and in tennis players' dominant arm. Mixed results were found for ulnar variance in gymnasts. Handgrip strength was greater in tennis players' dominant arm and in experienced gymnasts. Conclusions: Wrist-loading sports performance during youth can promote bone strength in wrists and dominant handgrip strength, but evidence on the lasting of these effects and on prevalence of wrist joint degeneration in former young athletes is limited. For better counseling of young athletes and their parents, future studies with increased comparability are essential, for which recommendations are provided.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Musculoskeletal health
KW - Pediatrics
KW - Physical activity
KW - Risks of exercise
KW - Sport medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052556298&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1123/jpah.2017-0328
DO - 10.1123/jpah.2017-0328
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29741447
AN - SCOPUS:85052556298
SN - 1543-3080
VL - 15
SP - 708
EP - 720
JO - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
JF - Journal of Physical Activity and Health
IS - 9
ER -