Racquet string tension directly affects force experienced at the elbow: implications for the development of lateral epicondylitis in tennis players.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) occurs in almost half of all tennis players. Racket-string tension is considered to be an important factor influencing the development of LE. No literature yet exists that substantiates how string-tension affects force transmission to the elbow, as implicated in LE development.