[Arm wrestling injuries--report on 11 cases with different injuries]

Abstract

Introduction: Arm wrestling may cause severe injuries. Various injuries after arm wrestling have been reported in the literature, whereas the most common injury is the humeral shaft fracture. In this context we report on eleven cases with different injuries during arm wrestling.

Material and methods: All patients were analyzed using a standardized questionnaire. The effect of drugs, pre-existing conditions and injuries as well as sport activities were examined. Furthermore we report about a 24 year old patient who sustained a radial shaft fracture which has not been reported in the literature yet.

Results: 8 patients suffered from a fracture. The humerus was the most affected bone in 7 cases. 3 patients had a muscle strain, whereas in all 3 cases the patients were regularly sportive active and warmed-up be for the injury. Ten patients were reintegrated into the previous job after an average time period of 6 weeks. One patient was out of work.

Conclusions: Regular sport activity and the muscle strength are important factors for the injury intensity. Further studies are necessary to confirm this theory.