The ProKennex Prescription

[Beowulf]

My friend bought a ProKennex kinetic series racquet. I think it's the Ki30. It says right on the racquet itself that the kinetic system (which I gather consists of a pinch of sand on either side of the frame that shifts about when the racquet is swung) has been shown to CURE tennis elbow. They put the word "cure" in all capital letters on the racquet itself, so you're sure to see it. They cite some MIT study, which I haven't read and am not likely to. I'll take them at their word. And from the various comments about the ProKennex kinetic series racquets in several threads, it does appear that people generally support the concept that the ProKennex racquets are arm-friendly. So my question is this - if the racquets really do cure tennis elbow, that is, if using the ProKennex kinetic series racquets actually positively speeds recovery, could a doctor write a prescription for a patient for a ProKennex racquet, and would an insurance company then have to pay for the cost of the racquet (minus any applicable co-pay)? I know, it seems like a crazy question, but if it really does cure tennis elbow, then isn't the tennis racquet a medical devise? Would the doctor's office send your prescription directly to Tennis Warehouse?

 

[zapvor]

lol that would be sweet. in my experience the technology is real. good stuff

 

[scotus]

There are many medical devices that insurance companies won't pay for.

Also, there is something even better than PK's Kinetic System for your elbow. It's called "rest," as in not playing at all for months to a year.

There, I saved you a co-pay at the doctor's office. Feel free to send me a check.

 

[Beowulf]

There are many medical devices that insurance companies won't pay for.

Also, there is something even better than PK's Kinetic System for your elbow. It's called "rest," as in not playing at all for months to a year.

There, I saved you a co-pay at the doctor's office. Feel free to send me a check.

But rest is not better. ProKennex claims that its racquets CURE tennis elbow. They're not saying that their racquets are merely neutral when it comes to tennis elbow. Thus, using the racquet is more effective than simple rest. I guess it must be similar to the way physical therapy is better for post-operative recovery than just rest following certain types of surgeries.

 

[Surion]

There are many medical devices that insurance companies won't pay for.

Also, there is something even better than PK's Kinetic System for your elbow. It's called "rest," as in not playing at all for months to a year.

There, I saved you a co-pay at the doctor's office. Feel free to send me a check.

What a ******** advice, come on.

 

[esgee48]

The cited study does not claim that the system CURES tennis elbow. What they do say is that the system reduces ball impact shock and frame vibrations such that it reduces the users' chances of acquiring tennis elbow. You can still get inflamed tendons from bad technique, even using this system, if you hit late all the time for years (my words) whereas if you use a regular frame, it only takes days or weeks before the onset of a tennis elbow.

If you currently have TE, rest and do the PT. Then come back to a frame using this system with soft strings and a reasonable tension. 2 cents.

 

[TinTin 1]

My friend bought a ProKennex kinetic series racquet. I think it's the Ki30. It says right on the racquet itself that the kinetic system (which I gather consists of a pinch of sand on either side of the frame that shifts about when the racquet is swung) has been shown to CURE tennis elbow. They put the word "cure" in all capital letters on the racquet itself, so you're sure to see it. They cite some MIT study, which I haven't read and am not likely to. I'll take them at their word. And from the various comments about the ProKennex kinetic series racquets in several threads, it does appear that people generally support the concept that the ProKennex racquets are arm-friendly. So my question is this - if the racquets really do cure tennis elbow, that is, if using the ProKennex kinetic series racquets actually positively speeds recovery, could a doctor write a prescription for a patient for a ProKennex racquet, and would an insurance company then have to pay for the cost of the racquet (minus any applicable co-pay)? I know, it seems like a crazy question, but if it really does cure tennis elbow, then isn't the tennis racquet a medical devise? Would the doctor's office send your prescription directly to Tennis Warehouse?

I got a prescription to use daily so I will try to get insurance to buy 7 frames for me.

 

[Beowulf]

The cited study does not claim that the system CURES tennis elbow. What they do say is that the system reduces ball impact shock and frame vibrations such that it reduces the users' chances of acquiring tennis elbow. You can still get inflamed tendons from bad technique, even using this system, if you hit late all the time for years (my words) whereas if you use a regular frame, it only takes days or weeks before the onset of a tennis elbow.

If you currently have TE, rest and do the PT. Then come back to a frame using this system with soft strings and a reasonable tension. 2 cents.

The cited study might not say it, but ProKennex does. Here's what they say on their website:

"The kinetic technology is the only racket technology in the world, scientifically proven, to be effective in shock reduction. It helps to dramatically reduce the risk of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and has been known to cure and prevent tennis elbow."

"Cure and prevent" - two separate attributes of the kinetic system. Now, obviously I was a bit tongue-in-cheek with my initial post about the possibility of getting a medical prescription for a tennis racquet, but, hey, this is a bold statement from ProKennex. And, again, they put the word CURE in capital letters on their racquets, so they must feel pretty confident about it.

 

[ollinger]

1) there are very few things insurance companies are required to pay for; many approved medical devices and some FDA approved medications are NOT covered by many insurance companies.

2) you can find a study in the medical literature to support practically any claim. Claims can be taken more seriously when there are a NUMBER of studies supporting the same claim. Individual studies reach erroneous conclusions for lots of methodological and statistical reasons, and of course fraudulent studies exist as well.

 

[Beowulf]

A tennis racquet company's statement (in capital letters, no less) printed on their tennis racquets should be all the proof any insurance company needs.

 

[kailash]

My friend bought a ProKennex kinetic series racquet. I think it's the Ki30. It says right on the racquet itself that the kinetic system (which I gather consists of a pinch of sand on either side of the frame that shifts about when the racquet is swung) has been shown to CURE tennis elbow. They put the word "cure" in all capital letters on the racquet itself, so you're sure to see it. ...and would an insurance company then have to pay for the cost of the racquet (minus any applicable co-pay)? ...

Yes, definitely insurance companies will pay for the racquets, as long as you cough up some $1000+ per month policy premium

 

[MotoboXer]

I find just swinging my old PK around to be therapeutic for tension.

 

[BillKid]

The cited study might not say it, but ProKennex does. Here's what they say on their website:

"The kinetic technology is the only racket technology in the world, scientifically proven, to be effective in shock reduction. It helps to dramatically reduce the risk of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and has been known to cure and prevent tennis elbow."

"Cure and prevent" - two separate attributes of the kinetic system. Now, obviously I was a bit tongue-in-cheek with my initial post about the possibility of getting a medical prescription for a tennis racquet, but, hey, this is a bold statement from ProKennex. And, again, they put the word CURE in capital letters on their racquets, so they must feel pretty confident about it.

The best therapy for TE is not shock reduction but schock cessation. In other words, rest is better. Kinetic is still a valuable technology when it comes to arm friendliness.

 

[Rock Strongo]

You can write "shown/known to cure" but you can't write "does cure".

 

[Beowulf]

I'd say that "known to cure" is very close to "does cure." They're walking a fine line on that distinction.

 

[Dartagnan64]

A tennis racquet company's statement (in capital letters, no less) printed on their tennis racquets should be all the proof any insurance company needs.

Many unproven substances are marketed as cure-alls. Insurance has no obligation to pay for them and no doctor worth his salt is going to prescribe based on largely unsubstantiated claims. The MIT study is not a randomized clinical trial. They didn't take 200 people with TE and subject half to daily play with a Pro Kennex racket and half to conventional therapy with rest, ice and physio. That's the only way you could show the rackets "cure" the condition.

 

[BillKid]

Many unproven substances are marketed as cure-alls. Insurance has no obligation to pay for them and no doctor worth his salt is going to prescribe based on largely unsubstantiated claims. The MIT study is not a randomized clinical trial. They didn't take 200 people with TE and subject half to daily play with a Pro Kennex racket and half to conventional therapy with rest, ice and physio. That's the only way you could show the rackets "cure" the condition.

Racquet choice is far from "evidence based"... Maybe one day it will be!

 

[n8dawg6]

ive also heard that a prescription for the bubonic chronic cures TE, if youre livin on the west coast.

 

[Beowulf]

ive also heard that a prescription for the bubonic chronic cures TE, if youre livin on the west coast.

Bubonic used to have a model named the "Plague", but people avoided it like, well, the plague. Hope they have more success with the Chronic.