Tennis has many proven health benefits, such as improving cardiovascular fitness, balance, motor control, hand-eye coordination, bone strength, and flexibility. While not as high-impact as some other sports, tennis still comes with injury risks at all skill levels, from beginners to professionals. In addition to ankle sprains, muscle strains and rotator cuff injuries discussed earlier in this series, injuries specific to tennis include lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and wrist injuries.
Lateral epicondylitis (epi-con-dy-li-tis). Commonly referred to as tennis elbow, this injury is the inflammation of the forearm muscles and tendons on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow is often caused by overuse – from too much repetition or improper technique. Common symptoms of tennis elbow include pain and or burning localized to the outside of the elbow, moderate to severe pain with certain movements of the wrist and weak grip strength. You may find that the symptoms are worse with forearm activity. Prevention of Tennis elbow includes proper technique, switching to a two-handed backhand (if you currently use a one-handed technique) to relieve the stress on the muscles and tendons in the forearm and elbow and making sure that the equipment you are using is the right size and fit (racquet is properly sized for your grip and that the string tension is appropriate for your level of play). Treatment for tennis elbow includes rest, icing the affected area, anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen), a wrist brace or tennis elbow counterforce brace and physical therapy for stretching and strengthening the forearm muscles. If symptoms persist, a steroid injection can help alleviate the inflammation.
Wrist injuries. Wrist injuries in tennis players are most often the result of overuse and improper technique and equipment and can be associated with tendons, ligaments, bones and nerves. Tendon injuries are particularly common. Excessive wrist motion during the stroke will predisposed a player to injury. Symptoms of wrist injuries include pain, “clicking” or “snapping”, inflammation and possible burning, and numbness or tingling if nerve related. Prevention should begin with appropriate grip size and stroke modification. Treatment for most wrist injuries involves rest, ice, splinting, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and cortisone injections.
Aaron Armstrong, MPE, ATC
Athletic Trainer
Elite Sports Medicine Clinic at the Sports, Spine and Rehabilitation Centre
esmbahamas@gmail.com
Aaron Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in Athletic Training and has been a Board Certified Athletic Trainer since 2012. He also earned a Master of Physical Education degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID.
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