Tennis injuries

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Muscle strain is one of the most common injuries in tennis. [1] When an isolated large-energy appears during the muscle contraction and at the same time, bodyweight applies huge amounts of pressure to the lengthened muscle, which can result in the occurrence of muscle strain. [2] [3] Inflammation and bleeding are triggered when muscle strain occur which resulted in redness, pain and swelling. [2] Overuse is also common in tennis players from all levels. Muscle, cartilage, nerves, bursae, ligaments and tendons may be damaged from overuse. The repetitive use of a particular muscle without time for repair and recover in the most common case among the injury. [2]

Contents

Types of injuries

Lateral epicondylitis

Coloured in purple: the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis muscle ECR-brevis.png
Coloured in purple: the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis muscle

Lateral epicondylitis is an overuse injury that frequently occurs in tennis. It is also known as tennis elbow. This injury categorizes as a tendon injury where it occurs in the forearm muscle called the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). [4] The injury is regularly developed in recreational players. [4] Experienced players are less likely to develop lateral epicondylitis than the inexperienced players due to poorer technique. [5] Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylalgia is a common injury that occurs in 40-50% of tennis players. It is more prominent at the lower levels of play and usually comes from any incorrect use of the wrist or grip on the forehand or one-handed backhand strokes [6] Players at higher levels often have more relaxed grips and have a larger racquet extension out to the ball after they make contact, where professionals have less emphasis on the arm and more on the use of every part of the body in order exert the natural power behind the ball, lower level players don’t always receive the training on how to use their whole body for a tennis stroke and are often reduced to using their arms in order to exert all of the power, therefore putting heavy strain on the arm. [6] Holding the grip tightly will put more tension on the arm therefore when going for a swing the muscles will be absorbing all of the shock from the initial contact of the ball. [7] Symptoms of tennis elbow includes slow pain, which occurs around the elbow. Simple tasks such as shaking hands or moving the wrist with force, like lifting weights or doing push ups, will worsen the pain [8] Tennis Elbow has actually shown that inflammatory tendons are only part of the early stages or acute stages with a treatment of anti-inflammatory or steroids being appropriate uses for this symptom. [9] Most players respond well to simple rest, but other means of treatment include physical therapy, strength training, and electrical stimulation. [6] Some players will make alterations to their racquet, such as increasing their grip size which will ultimately prevent any unwanted movement of the wrist when extending out and finishing the tennis stroke. [7]

Shoulder

Shoulder injury is another common type of tennis injury. Shoulder injuries are caused by the repetitive use of shoulder [10] when serving and striking the ball. The injury also relevance to rotator cuff pathology, toscapular dyskinesis or glenohumeral internal rotation deficit which leads to internal impingement and/or labral pathology. [10] [11] There is 24% of the high-level tennis players aged 12–19 suffered from shoulder pain and rise up to 50% for middle-aged players. [12] A way to prevent shoulder injury is to flex and stretch the wrist with an exercise band three to four times a week and to stretch properly before playing a game. [13]

Back

There are 3 different types of tennis serves. Yellow represents: Flat serve Red represents: Topspin serve Green represents: Slice serve Tennisaufschlag Varianten.tif
There are 3 different types of tennis serves. Yellow represents: Flat serve Red represents: Topspin serve Green represents: Slice serve

It is common for tennis players, at all levels of play, to have experienced back injury throughout their career. In fact, more than 85% of the active athletes clarified that they have experienced back pain. [14] [15] [16] [17] According to 148 professional tennis player in one particular study, back pain forced 39% of players to withdraw from the tournament. [18] Furthermore, 29% of the players said they experienced chronic back pain. [18] Lower back pain is another common injury amongst tennis players with instances of postural abnormalities and general overuse which may occur during the back rotation and extension of the serve. In order to relieve pain in the lower back people are often told to rest it, but no longer than two days because of its potential damage to the bones, connecting tissue, and cardiovascular system. Once the back pain has dispersed stretching is recommended in order to prevent the stiffness from the initial pain, with examples being the squatting position or spinal extensions. In order to prevent future lower back injuries strength training to the abdominal muscles is necessary to strengthen the abdomen, and to protect the back from excessive intervertebral disk strain. The straight crunch, the Oblique crunch, and balance exercises with the gym ball are some of the workouts for abdominal strengthening, but the exercises should be done with caution to prevent any further back strain. After the injury is dealt with, players at any level may return to the court, the higher level players will often go through proper stretching before any matches to prevent hurting their back or any other part of their body.

Blister

Blister can be described as a patch that appears on the skin and is filled with a clear fluid and sometimes blood. During physical activities, the continuous force of friction, cutting, squeezing and scratching, which causes the separation of the epidermal cell layer, as a result the blister is formed. [19] Blister (foot) occurs frequently among marathon runners, walk racers, backpackers and in hiking. [19] In tennis, the blister development site often occurs on the hand or around the fingers because the skin is consistently rubbing against the tennis racquet. Blisters can also occur on the backside of the feet due to wearing the wrong sized shoe, worn out shoes, too thin of socks, or improper foot work. [20]

Leg

Tennis leg is the most common tennis injury within older tennis players. Tennis leg is an incomplete tear or rupture of the calf muscle. [21] The injury is noticed right away by hearing a popping sound, or a jabbed feeling in the leg. The injury is very painful; players are unable to finish their match if injury occurs. [21] After injury occurs, players should rest, ice, compress, and elevate injury. In most cases, physical therapy is required. Physical therapy lasts from a four to six week period; includes running, stretching, and jumping drills to strengthen the muscle. [21] After recovery, returning to play is slow; prevention includes proper stretching and warmup before play, rolling out muscles, and cross training, such as, Pilates, cycling, or running. [21]

Knee

Patellar tendinopathy is an overuse injury of the patellar tendon. [22] Its more common name is Jumper’s knee. Common injury in tennis players due to constant jarring, jumping, and quick changes of motion while in play. [22] Common symptoms are pain below the knee cap, or an aching pain after playing. Recovery for Jumping knee includes strengthening the thigh muscle, stretching the front and back of the thigh, hamstrings, quadriceps, and coordination training. [22]

Another more permanent knee injury is chondromalacia. Unlike jumper’s knee, this injury is unreversible. Symptoms are pain in the front of the kneecap. [23] This condition is due to the gradual breakdown of the cartilage in the knee. [23]

Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are considered one of the most common injuries in athletes. In tennis, stress fractures are due to repetitive jarring and excessive submaximal loads on bones and muscles. [24] The number one symptom of stress fractures is pain. Symptoms of stress fractures in the feet include tenderness and swelling. [23] Stress fractures are common in hands, feet, shins, and the last five vertebrae of the back. [23] Female tennis players are set at higher risk to stress fractures than males. [24]

Wrist and arm stress fractures can lead to greater issues such as tendonitis.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports injury</span> Physical and emotional trauma

Sports injuries are injuries that occur during sport, athletic activities, or exercising. In the United States, there are approximately 30 million teenagers and children who participate in some form of organized sport. Of those, about three million athletes age 14 years and under experience a sports injury annually. According to a study performed at Stanford University, 21 percent of the injuries observed in elite college athletes caused the athlete to miss at least one day of sport, and approximately 77 percent of these injuries involved the knee, lower leg, ankle, or foot. In addition to those sport injuries, the leading cause of death related to sports injuries is traumatic head or neck occurrences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tendinopathy</span> Medical condition

Tendinopathy is a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoulder problem</span> Medical condition

Shoulder problems including pain, are one of the more common reasons for physician visits for musculoskeletal symptoms. The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. This instability increases the likelihood of joint injury, often leading to a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprain</span> Damage to one or more ligaments in a joint

A sprain, also known as a torn ligament, is an acute soft tissue injury of the ligaments within a joint, often caused by a sudden movement abruptly forcing the joint to exceed its functional range of motion. Ligaments are tough, inelastic fibers made of collagen that connect two or more bones to form a joint and are important for joint stability and proprioception, which is the body's sense of limb position and movement. Sprains can occur at any joint but most commonly occur in the ankle, knee, or wrist. An equivalent injury to a muscle or tendon is known as a strain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennis elbow</span> Condition in which the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis origin, is an enthesopathy of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis on the lateral epicondyle. The outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender. The pain may also extend into the back of the forearm. Onset of symptoms is generally gradual although they can seem sudden and be misinterpreted as an injury. Golfer's elbow is a similar condition that affects the inside of the elbow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achilles tendinitis</span> Medical condition of the ankle and heel

Achilles tendinitis, also known as achilles tendinopathy, occurs when the Achilles tendon, found at the back of the ankle, becomes sore. Achilles tendinopathy is accompanied by alterations in the tendon's structure and mechanical properties. The most common symptoms are pain and swelling around the affected tendon. The pain is typically worse at the start of exercise and decreases thereafter. Stiffness of the ankle may also be present. Onset is generally gradual.

A soft tissue injury is the damage of muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout the body. Common soft tissue injuries usually occur from a sprain, strain, a one-off blow resulting in a contusion or overuse of a particular part of the body. Soft tissue injuries can result in pain, swelling, bruising and loss of function.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotator cuff tear</span> Medical condition

A rotator cuff tear is an injury where one or more of the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff of the shoulder get torn. Symptoms may include shoulder pain, which is often worse with movement, limited range of motion, or weakness. This may limit people's ability to brush their hair or put on clothing. Clicking may also occur with movement of the arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osgood–Schlatter disease</span> Inflammation of the patellar ligament

Osgood–Schlatter disease (OSD) is inflammation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity (apophysitis). It is characterized by a painful bump just below the knee that is worse with activity and better with rest. Episodes of pain typically last a few weeks to months. One or both knees may be affected and flares may recur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo thumb</span> Injury caused by video games

Nintendo thumb, also known as gamer's thumb and similar names, is a form of repetitive strain injury (RSI) caused by excessive playing video games with the traditional Nintendo controller. This injury mainly occurs due to repeated thumb movements while playing video games. The symptoms are blistering, paraesthesia, and swelling of the thumbs, though any finger can be affected. This can lead to stress on tendons, nerves, and ligaments in the hands, and further onto lateral epicondylitis, tendinitis, bursitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Similar injuries can occur with other gaming systems, such as PlayStation thumb from playing Sony PlayStation. The general recommendation for the treatment is to rest and stop the repetitive motion of the affected finger. In more severe and painful cases, using NSAIDs is also recommended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golfer's elbow</span> Tendon inflammation disease of the elbow

Golfer's elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is tendinosis of the medial epicondyle on the inside of the elbow. It is in some ways similar to tennis elbow, which affects the outside at the lateral epicondyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulnar neuropathy</span> Medical condition

Ulnar neuropathy is a disorder involving the ulnar nerve. Ulnar neuropathy may be caused by entrapment of the ulnar nerve with resultant numbness and tingling. It may also cause weakness or and paralysis of the muscles supplied by the nerve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulled hamstring</span> Medical condition

Straining of the hamstring, also known as a pulled hamstring, is defined as an excessive stretch or tear of muscle fibers and related tissues. Hamstring injuries are common in athletes participating in many sports. Track and field athletes are particularly at risk, as hamstring injuries have been estimated to make up 29% of all injuries in sprinters. Hamstring injuries can also come with a hip injury from sprinting. Symptoms for a hip injury are pain, aching and discomfort while running or any physical exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musculoskeletal injury</span> Medical condition

Musculoskeletal injury refers to damage of muscular or skeletal systems, which is usually due to a strenuous activity and includes damage to skeletal muscles, bones, tendons, joints, ligaments, and other affected soft tissues. In one study, roughly 25% of approximately 6300 adults received a musculoskeletal injury of some sort within 12 months—of which 83% were activity-related. Musculoskeletal injury spans into a large variety of medical specialties including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, emergency medicine and rheumatology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elbow</span> Joint between the upper and lower parts of the arm

The elbow is the region between the arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa, and the lateral and the medial epicondyles of the humerus. The elbow joint is a hinge joint between the arm and the forearm; more specifically between the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna in the forearm which allows the forearm and hand to be moved towards and away from the body. The term elbow is specifically used for humans and other primates, and in other vertebrates forelimb plus joint is used.

Injuries in rock climbing may occur due to falls, or due to overuse. Injuries due to falls are relatively uncommon; the vast majority of injuries result from overuse, most often occurring in the fingers, elbows, and shoulders. Such injuries are often no worse than torn calluses, cuts, burns and bruises. However, overuse symptoms, if ignored, may lead to permanent damage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow</span> Medical condition

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries can occur during certain activities such as overhead baseball pitching. Acute or chronic disruption and/or attenuation of the ulnar collateral ligament often result in medial elbow pain, valgus instability, neurologic deficiency, and impaired throwing performance. There are both non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

The most common injuries in the sport of cricket occur in the lower back, thighs, shoulders, and hands. They can be classified as direct injuries or indirect injuries. Direct injuries are due to impact with the cricket ball, bat, or ground. Indirect injuries occur mostly due to repetitive movement causing overuse of muscles. Fast bowlers have the highest injury prevalence rate followed by batsmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming injuries</span> Injuries caused by swimming

Swimming injuries have many different causes, which can occur immediate or can occur as the result of a long-term swimming career. Some ways that swimmers can increase the risk of an injury are by overuse of a specific part of the body, lacking crucial flexibility and strength, etc. These injuries, like swimmer’s shoulder and breaststroker’s knee, cause pain to the swimmer in certain regions that permit necessary movement for the required precise technique. Although these injuries can halt a professional swimmer’s career, many can be treated and some can even be prevented. There are different procedures and exercises that can either prevent an injury or help with recovering from an injury. Many of the exercises are specific to the injury and vary in helpfulness according to the person and the technique used for the exercise.

Running injuries affect about half of runners annually. The frequencies of various RRI depend on the type of running, such as speed and mileage. Some injuries are acute, caused by sudden overstress, such as side stitch, strains, and sprains. Many of the common injuries that affect runners are chronic, developing over longer periods as the result of overuse. Common overuse injuries include shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis, Iliotibial band syndrome, Patellofemoral pain, and plantar fasciitis.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Levangie, P. K., & Norkin, C. C. (2011). Joint structure and function: A comprehensive analysis (5th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co. ISBN   9780803623620.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "How To Speed Up Muscle Strain Recovery In 8 Easy Steps". thenfrw.com. 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
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  18. 1 2 Marks, M. R., Haas, S. S., & Wiesel, S. W. (1988). "Low back pain in the competitive tennis player". Clinics in Sports Medicine. 7 (2): 277–287. doi:10.1016/S0278-5919(20)30935-2. PMID   2968850.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. 1 2 Van Tiggelen, Damien; Wickes, Simon; Coorevits, Pascal; Dumalin, Mich; Witvrouw, Erik (2009-01-01). "Sock Systems to Prevent Foot Blisters and the Impact on Overuse Injuries of the Knee Joint". Military Medicine. 174 (2): 183–189. doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-01-8508 . PMID   19317200.
  20. ↑ "How to Prevent Blisters on Hands and Feet in Tennis". Tennis Gems. 2019-01-12. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Tennis Leg Care and Treatment: One to One Physical Therapy".
  22. 1 2 3 "Jumper's Knee". International Tennis Federation.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Havens, Kristen (7 July 2006). "Tennis Injuries: Most Common, How to Prevent, Therapy For". Coastal Orthopedics.
  24. 1 2 Maquirriain, Ghisi, J, J.P. (May 2006). "The Incidence and Distribution of Stress Fractures in Elite Tennis Players". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 40 (5): 454–459. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2005.023465. PMC   2653875 . PMID   16632579.


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