Table 1

Background characteristics by case-referent group and gender for 483 participants in case-referent study of risk factors for tennis elbow

Case group (n=209)Reference group (n=274)
FemaleMaleFemaleMale
Variablesn%n%n%n%p value*
2 test for difference in distribution between case group and reference group.
Gender10952.210047.815656.911843.1 0.52
Age (y) 0.30
    18–35 3014.4 2512.0 3111.3 2910.6
    36–45 4421.1 4220.1 7627.7 4616.8
    46–66 3516.7 3315.8 4917.9 4315.7
Body mass index (kg/m2) 0.09
    <20 15 7.2 4 1.9 17 6.2 2 0.7
    20–25 4521.5 3617.2 7928.8 5520.1
    >25 4823.0 4923.4 5921.5 6122.3
Highest obtained level of school education<0.001
    7th–10th grade 8842.1 8540.7 9535.5 9133.2
    College (gymnasium) 19 9.1 15 7.2 6021.9 27 9.9
Musculoskeletal pain (indication of pain in 10 body regions within past three months)
    Headache 6631.6 4320.610237.2 5720.8 0.20
    Neck 6531.1 5325.410739.1 6021.9 0.32
    Upper back 5425.8 3717.7 7226.3 3312.0 0.25
    Shoulders 8138.8 5827.8 7226.3 4416.1<0.001
    Elbows10751.2 9645.9 26 9.5 21 7.7<0.001
    Forearms and hands 9947.4 7837.3 4315.7 25 9.1<0.001
    Lower back 5425.8 6028.7 8229.9 5620.4 0.36
    Hips 16 7.7 10 4.8 25 9.1 13 4.7 0.65
    Knees 3014.4 3617.2 5419.7 3512.8 0.83
    Ankles and feet 2411.5 2210.5 25 9.1 19 6.9 0.10