Tennis is a popular sport loved by many all over the world, that is played across all age groups and at all skill levels. It is a fantastic social sport and can be really great fun, whether it is played in competition or as a friendly hit with friends.
Tennis uses the entire body; it can be really fast and involves quick changes in direction and therefore it is a demanding sport. Watching any of the tennis grand slam events gives you an idea of just how demanding it can be, seeing players giving it everything they have got, sometimes for hours and in hot temperatures.
Tennis injuries are fairly common, especially amongst tennis players at a competition level. Acute injuries are most likely to occur in the lower limb, while a chronic condition that builds up over time is more prevalent in an upper limb. Like with most sports, we are more prone to injury as we age.
Shoulder Injuries from Tennis
Having a specialist tennis physiotherapist can help keep you active, mobile and pain free if tennis is your chosen sport.
Injuries to the shoulder are most often due to overload or poor conditioning of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Their function is to keep the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) sitting in the shoulder socket, which is quite shallow.
If the rotator cuff muscles are not strong and functioning at their optimal level, or are overloaded, the humerus can shift. This can cause irritation and result in a dull ache, with the pain increasing with arm movement.
Your sports physio will incorporate strengthening into your routine to improve the function of the shoulder. They will also assist with improving your tennis technique to help minimise pain and injury. Strengthening will ensure the best possible recovery, compared to stretching alone.
Physiotherapy For Tennis Elbow
Weve all heard of tennis elbow, so it is worth pointing out that this type of injury is actually pretty rare amongst tennis players. However, it does occur in people who are learning to play or are returning to tennis after an absence.
Tennis elbow usually comes about by increasing the load on the elbow extensor, which are the muscles in the forearm, below the elbow and joined to the elbow by the extensor tendon. Too much pressure on this part of the arm creates tears in the tendon, causing pain.
If you do have a case of tennis elbow, physio on your elbow can be very effective, usually by some soft tissue massage and stretching, as well as possibly some dry needling. Resting the area, then reloading and strengthening it will help further your recovery. Strengthening the arm and elbow, and a regular game of tennis can help prevent tennis elbow developing.
Muscle Strains from Tennis
As with any fast-paced sport, muscle strains are fairly common amongst tennis players, particularly in the calf. The rapid movements and fast acceleration cause the muscle fibres in the calf to be activated strongly and quickly, causing a strain.
The best way to prevent strains is a thorough warm up prior to a game of tennis, as well as a strengthening program to keep muscles powerful and flexible. Your physiotherapist can devise a treatment plan for a strain to get you moving well, with strong muscles and better movement. They will train you, so you are able to return to fast speeds and the other specific demands of tennis.
Tennis Related Ankle Injuries
As with calf strains, the ankle is also susceptible to injury due to the quick change of direction movements. Ankles become more prone to injury once they have been sprained so it is crucial to undergo a thorough rehab and perhaps tape your ankle or wear a brace for several months following an injury.
Gradual strengthening to improve the range of motion and balance will be the focus in your recovery, with advice given on how to minimise re-injury.
Blisters From Tennis
When you think of tennis injuries, you may not consider a simple blister – but they are incredibly common, especially if you are playing regularly. Whether on hands or feet, blisters can be really debilitating.
Prevention is key here and simple things like well-fitting shoes and changing socks between sets can really make a difference. Treat calluses that build up with exfoliating and moisturising. A tennis physiotherapist can advise you on taping and offloading techniques to help prevent blisters or reduce further injury to existing blisters. Always ensure you treat blisters well, keeping the skin clean and covered to allow them to heal.
Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy have qualified and experienced staff who specialise in tennis injuries. If you have some tennis related pain, they will have you back on the court in no time. Give them a call or book online to fix your tennis injury now.