Common Tennis Injuries (Dave Regis)

2013 has seen some of the greatest British tennis in history, most notably with Andy Murray taking his first Wimbledon title to become the first Britain to win the coveted grand slam in 77 years. It was a remarkable achievement which has encouraged many to get back on the courts, with tennis clubs across the country benefiting from increased footfall and membership applications.

Tennis, as with every other sport, has a list of common injuries sustained by players. Andy Murray has been plagued with injury before his Wimbledon triumph and even had to end the season early to undergo surgery on a trapped nerve in his lower back.

For professional sportsman injuries are more than just an inconvenience, with tennis players being forced to miss key grand slam tournaments and having to wait another twelve months before being able to compete. The tennis season may be quite long but any sports injuries resulting in a couple of months on the sidelines can have a major impact on your overall success for the season.

Tennis Elbow

Known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow occurs as a result of overuse and affects the muscles surrounding the elbow. Players may complain of pain centred on the outside of the elbow which can also become inflamed and affect the overall movement of the joint.

The condition can result in the player feeling pain when moving their arm, whether lifting or bending it and can even result in difficulty in gripping items. The inflammation caused from the tennis elbow can be managed using ice, which can also help to address any pain felt during recovery.

Whilst the name may suggest that tennis elbow only occurs as a result of playing too much tennis this is not the case. Tennis elbow can occur as a result of undertaking any repetitive task, including painting and even from playing the violin.

It is important to differentiate tennis elbow from that of golfer's elbow in that whilst the conditions are similar, the latter sees pain being focussed on the inside of the elbow. The treatments for both however are largely the same.

Tennis elbow is a self-limiting condition in that it will get better in time, though can take two years before a full recovery is made. It is important to note that if you believe you are suffering from tennis elbow you cease your activity to prevent further damage as in more serious cases surgery may be required.

Shoulder Injuries

Due to the nature of tennis, shoulder injuries can be quite common with an enormous amount of strain being placed on the joint during a player's career. With players capable of hitting a tennis ball over 140mph you can imagine the amount of pressure being placed on the shoulder joint to continually achieve this.

One of the more common forms of shoulder injury encountered is Shoulder Bursitis and occurs as a result of overuse. The inflammation of the Bursa can lead to difficulties in rotating the shoulder and hampering a player's ability to play effectively.

Ankle injuries

High active sports can lead to ankle injuries, with an enormous amount of pressure being placed on the ankle joints. In considering tennis a player is required to sprint at full speed over short distances and pivot quickly to make the shots they need.

We saw at Wimbledon a number of ankle injuries occurring as a result of players slipping on the court, with many complaining they were too slippy. This may have been the case, but such a sport will have an impact on the ankle joint and can lead to injury.

Ankle injuries occur when there is damage to the ligaments, typically from the joint rolling. Ligaments are the tough bands of tissue which connect the bones and are responsible for stability of the joint. A sprained ankle is because there is damage to the ligaments surrounding the joint and we all know the impact this has on being able to walk, let alone run around a tennis court.

A sprained ankle is one of the more common ankle injuries experienced and with a few days of rest and ice to manage any inflammation a player will be back out on court. In more serious cases however ligament damage can result in a lengthy layoff and if surgery is required you can expect to miss the entire season. Surgery will only typically be considered as a last resort and may involve stitching the ligaments back together.

As ankle injuries go, ligament damage is something to avoid as not only can it be very painful but following surgery you will require an extensive physiotherapy programme to rebuild strength in the joint before you're capable of competing once again.

As players continually push themselves to achieve on the court, protecting themselves from injury can sometimes be at the back of their mind. What is important to remember with any injury, from overuse conditions such as tennis elbow to ankle injuries resulting from slips and trips is to stop and rest. If you continue to play or remain active after an injury then you are in danger or making things worse, which can increase your recovery time. If you are ever in doubt as to the severity of an injury you should speak with a clinician.

Dave Regis discusses the use of orthotics for the management of sports injuries, reviewing injury rehabilitation through exercise and the use of bracing and supports. He frequently blogs and writes articles focussing on tennis elbow and methods of rehabilitation.

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ATP Tour Finals and Common Tennis Injuries (Dave Regis)

The tennis season ended in dramatic style with Djokovic retaining the ATP World Tour title in a nerve wracking and tense final against Nadal. Taking the trophy for a third time over Djokovic was impressive with his two set victory which takes his winning streak to twenty two consecutive matches.

As well as being the last tournament of the season the ATP Tour Finals are also one of the most lucrative, with Djokovic and Nadal taking home $1.9million and $1million respectively. They are now able to take a well-earned rest before the new season begins, giving chance for the muscles and joints to heal.

Sports injuries are common, with the majority occurring through overuse or fatigue. At the end of a long hard season a tennis player could be more susceptible to injury than at the start when they are fresh and ready for action. Andy Murray sustained a number of high profile sports injuries and had to pull out of a number of tournaments as a result, ending the season early to have surgery on a reoccurring back problem.

How to manage sports injuries

The most important thing to remember when you suffer an injury is to not dwell on the past and how it happened but focus on the future and your overall recovery, as what you do and how you do it can play a major role in your overall rehabilitation. A positive mental attitude is sometimes just as important as rest and physiotherapy.

In the immediate aftermath of any sports injuries it is advisable to stop what you are doing and rest. An injured area of the body is weakened, therefore carrying on with an activity can lead to further injury and a longer period on the sidelines. If you use a sprained ankle as an example, the joint becomes weaker as a result of the injury creating instability with the player more likely to roll their ankle again by carrying on. This can lead to a more serious injury, with the ligaments within the ankle joint responsible for overall stabilisation of the joint which allows you to run, walk and jump naturally.

The majority of sports injuries are self-limiting in that they will heal naturally after a few days. Rest is one of the most essential parts of recovery, allowing your muscles and joints time to repair themselves. During this time ice can be used to help manage any inflammation and pain which can help to enhance your mobility. Should the condition fail to clear within a few days then you should seek a professional diagnosis, where further tests may be carried out with physiotherapy and even surgery being discussed.

Common tennis complaints

Each sport has its own set of common injuries and tennis is no different. Due to the type of sport and the pressure placed on the body the ankle, knee, back, arm and shoulder are all susceptible to injury. Sports injuries will differ in its severity and recovery time, from a few days for a sprained ankle to up to a year for an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury of the knee.

In sport where the emphasis is on putting power and accuracy behind a shot it can place a great amount of strain and stress on certain joints, especially the shoulder. If you consider the number of serves a player makes in a game it is understandable how rotary cuff injuries occur. From a lower joint perspective there is a need to pivot at speed, sometimes leading to ankle and knee injuries where a player turns their body yet their lower joints don't leading to ligament damage.

A common complaint from an overuse perspective which is not just limited to that of tennis is tennis elbow, a condition causing pain and inflammation to the outside area of the elbow through damage to the tendons and muscles within the forearm. Known clinically as lateral epicondylitis the condition can be quite painful and affect movement of the forearm, thereby limiting a player's ability to make a shot.

Tennis elbow is considered a self-limiting condition, however it can take up to two years for a player to fully recover. In more extreme cases surgery may be required in order to repair the tendons, followed by a period of physiotherapy to regain strength within the forearm region. As two years of rest may be somewhat impractical for the majority of players, some opt for wearing a tennis elbow support, designed to apply compression to the affected area which can help to manage inflammation and pain.

It is worth pointing out that tennis elbow can occur as a result of any repetitive task and just not sport specific, including painting and even playing the violin.

The most important thing for any amateur or professional is to know your limits and whilst it is important to push yourself, there is a point at which you should cease an activity and rest before continuing. The more tired you are the more susceptible to injury you are, with conditions such as tennis elbow materialising from continued play.

Dave Regis discusses the use of orthotics for the management of sports injuries, reviewing injury rehabilitation through exercise and the use of bracing and supports. He frequently blogs and writes articles focussing on injuries such as tennis elbow and methods of rehabilitation.

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