Sex and Racial Population Differences in the Arthro‐kinematics of the Carrying Angle: Potential Clinical Implications

Abstract

The carrying angle (CA) of the elbow is defined as the angle between the long axis of the extended forearm as it lies lateral to the long axis of the arm. It develops in response to pronation of the forearm and keeps the swinging upper extremity away from the side of the pelvis during locomotive gait. Larger CA's may be a risk factor leading to elbow instability and pain. This study compares the CA between males and females and between Euro‐Americans (EA) and African Americans (AA). 10 male (5 EA, 5 AA) and 10 female (5 EA, 5 AA) volunteers drawn from an urban population with no past history of elbow pathology had their CA's measured via goniometer. Results showed that males had an average CA of 12.32 degrees compared to an average 15.08 degrees in females. EA and AA had less discrepant angles of 13.68 degrees and 13.72 degrees, respectively. Student's t‐test revealed that the angles of females were significantly (p<0.05) larger than those of males, while no significant variation was shown in the angles between EA and AA. The cultural role of females in rearing children typically involve the carrying of their young, which generates a significant amount of stress on the proximal muscle attachments of the medial and lateral epicondyles of the elbow. Our results suggest that CA may be a predisposing factor of the female predilection to epicondylitis particularly in eccentric contraction during routine activities.Grant Funding Source: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Alumni Association