Background Tennis players often present with ulnar-sided wrist pain, which may reflect repetitive stress and/or faulty mechanics. There is a role for investigating the biomechanics of tennis strokes and how they may relate to wrist pathology. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether three-dimensional motion capture technology and dynamic electromyography (EMG), when used to study groundstrokes in elite junior tennis players, reveals patterns of upper extremity motion that may correlate with the development of clinically relevant pathology.

Case Description Three-dimensional kinematic and EMG data were collected from two United States Tennis Association-ranked adolescent tennis players during groundstrokes. There were several observed differences in the two players' degree and timing of pronation/supination, ulnar/radial deviation, and flexion/extension during their strokes.

Clinical Significance Advanced motion capture technology facilitates a nuanced understanding of complex movements involved in groundstroke production. This methodology may be useful for identifying athletes who are at risk for injury and guiding rehabilitation for players experiencing pain.

Level of Evidence IV

The procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 and 2008.

All the above-named authors were actively involved in the planning, enactment, and writing up of the study.

Not applicable.

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects prior to participating in the study.

Received: 20 July 2022

Accepted: 20 October 2023

Article published online:
30 November 2023

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