Ulnar variance related to biological and training characteristics, pain and handgrip strength in Portuguese skeletally immature male gymnasts

PurposeThis study was to investigate the association between ulnar variance (UV) and biological and training characteristics, handgrip, and wrist pain in a group of 23 Portuguese skeletally immature male gymnasts (aged 11.2 ± 2.5 years).MethodsLeft and right UV was obtained using Hafner's procedure and skeletal age was determined by the Tanner–Whitehouse 3-method. A negative mean value for UV measures was observed (−2.4 to −3.6 mm) without significant differences with increasing age-category (p = 0.09 to p = 0.48). Significant low correlations were observed between some UV parameters and stature, fat percentage, years of training, and left handgrip strength.ResultsTen gymnasts reported wrist pain with gradual onset and UV values were very similar between painless and painful wrists.ConclusionThe findings of this study do not directly support the thesis that gymnastics training and biological variables or wrist pain are associated with UV.