Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Federal Agency for Occupational Risks, Fedris, Brussels, Belgium.
J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018 Mar;27(3):387-392. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.11.033.
The etiology of tennis elbow is multifactorial. Overuse of the wrist extensors along with anatomic factors, such as flexibility problems, aging, and poor blood circulation, may play a role. This study investigated whether patients with tennis elbow have a different psychological profile compared with healthy controls.
Patients with clinical signs of tennis elbow, consulting at the Ghent University Hospital between September 2015 and January 2017, were offered a paper-and-pencil questionnaire about Big Five personality traits, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, work satisfaction, and working conditions. Healthy controls in the same risk group were offered the same questionnaires.
We recruited 69 patients (35 men, 34 women) and 100 controls (44 men, 56 women). Tennis elbow patients scored significantly lower on the personality traits extraversion and agreeableness. Men, in particular, scored significantly higher on perfectionism and were more likely to develop an anxiety disorder or a depression. Concerning work, patients indicated a significantly higher workload (especially men) and a significantly lower autonomy (especially women). Female patients also indicated less contact with colleagues. However, work satisfaction was relatively high in both groups.
The results suggest that there is a relationship between complaints related to tennis elbow and psychological characteristics.
网球肘的病因是多因素的。手腕伸肌过度使用以及解剖因素，如柔韧性问题、衰老和血液循环不良，可能起作用。本研究调查了网球肘患者与健康对照组相比是否具有不同的心理特征。
2015 年 9 月至 2017 年 1 月，在根特大学医院就诊的具有网球肘临床症状的患者被提供了一份关于大五人格特质、完美主义、焦虑、抑郁、工作满意度和工作条件的纸笔问卷。处于相同风险组的健康对照者也被提供了相同的问卷。
我们招募了 69 名患者（35 名男性，34 名女性）和 100 名对照者（44 名男性，56 名女性）。网球肘患者在个性特征的外向性和宜人性方面得分明显较低。男性，尤其是在完美主义方面得分明显较高，更有可能患上焦虑症或抑郁症。就工作而言，患者表示工作量明显增加（尤其是男性），自主权明显降低（尤其是女性）。女性患者也表示与同事的接触较少。然而，两组的工作满意度都相对较高。
研究结果表明，与网球肘相关的抱怨与心理特征之间存在一定关系。
