• Brooke K Coombes, Leanne Bisset, and Bill Vicenzino.
• Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD, Australia.
• Br J Sports Med. 2012 May 1; 46 (6): 449-53.

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether deficits of elbow flexor and extensor muscle strength exist in lateral epicondylalgia (LE) in comparison with a healthy control population.DesignCross-sectional study.Participants150 participants with unilateral LE were compared with 54 healthy control participants.Main Outcome MeasuresMaximal isometric elbow flexion and extension strength were measured bilaterally using a purpose-built standing frame such that gripping was avoided.ResultsThe authors found significant side differences in elbow extensor (-6.54 N, 95% CI -11.43 to -1.65, p=0.008, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.45) and flexor muscle strength (-11.26 N, 95% CI -19.59 to -2.94, p=0.009, SMD -0.46) between LE and control groups. Within the LE group, only elbow extensor muscle strength deficits between sides was significant (affected-unaffected: -2.94 N, 95% CI -5.44 to -0.44).ConclusionSmall significant deficits of elbow extensor and flexor muscle strength exist in the affected arm of unilateral LE in comparison with healthy controls. Notably, comparing elbow strength between the affected and unaffected sides in unilateral epicondylalgia is likely to underestimate these deficits. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12609000051246.

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