Overview
Tennis is one among the top 10 sports played in Australia. While it is not as high-impact as some other sports like football, tennis does have some common type of injuries associated with it. It is possible to minimise these injuries or avoid them altogether if you take care to follow some important steps. If an injury happens, it’s important to treat these injuries in a timely manner so as not to worsen the condition or suffer irreversible damage.
Here we discuss some of the most common injuries due to the sport, reasons, symptoms, and ways to avoid and treat them. For injuries or pain related to sports, it’s vital to take counsel from a chiropractor for a precise diagnosis and resolution.
A chiropractor is a professional focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders. If you have already hurt yourself playing the game, you can contact a Bathurst Chiropractor at (02) 6331 1004 for advice. We at Bathurst Chiropractic Care can help mitigate your pain in a fast and effective manner so that you can carry on with your sporting activities unhindered.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis Elbow is the most common injury associated with the game. It occurs due to the inflammation of the tendons joining the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. It’s mainly due to overuse and is most common among athletes who play tennis and other racquet sports. Symptoms include pain or burning sensation on the outside of the elbow and weak grip strength that worsen with forearm activity. To avoid the problem, a chiropractor can recommend exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles and also suggest the ideal racquet grip size. Special elbow compression straps are also available for reducing strain on the elbow.
Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff comprises of muscles and tendons that work in conjunction to provide strength and mobility to the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff can tear progressively, as a result of strong and repeated stress due to overhead strokes such as the serve. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, tightness, and weakness in the shoulder, difficulty lifting the arm, inflammation, and snapping and crackling noises while moving the shoulder.
In such a case, the strength and length of the associated shoulder muscles need to be investigated and get customised shoulder stabilisation exercises. Allowing the body to adapt and adjust in a controlled way will help prevent injury.
Stress Fractures in the Back
Stress fractures are very common in those who play tennis as it involves a combination of hyperextensions. These include bending the back, side-bending, and rotation of the trunk. These types of motions put additional stress on the vertebrae in the lower back causing a fracture in that area resulting in the vertebrae shifting forward. Stress fractures may also be due to core instability. These fractures may result in pain in the lower back that may worsen with activity.
Trigenics treatment along with the associated exercises to enhance core stability and strength are beneficial in providing protection to the muscles and vertebrae of the lumbar region.
Patellar Tendonitis (or Jumper’s Knee)
The patellar tendon attaches the kneecap to the shinbone and aids in the movement of the leg. It supports our weight when walking and jumping. Jumping can put excessive strain on this tendon. Repetitive jumping can cause microscopic tears and injury to the patellar tendon. This can cause inflammation resulting in pain and heat in the affected area.
Immediately stop any activity which causes knee pain. Apply ice and rest the knee to recover fast. Protect your knee by doing exercises to build up the strength in your thigh muscles.
Ankle Sprains
Since Tennis is a fast paced game, it is very common for tennis players to suffer from ankle sprains caused due to a sudden sideway motion. This causes the ankle to twist inducing a stretch or damage to one of the ligaments in the ankle. This may result in pain, stiffness, and swelling in the ankle. The ankle may become unstable and can also get bruised. It is important to wear good tennis shoes to provide proper support to your feet and padded tennis socks for additional ankle support. Ankle braces and balance exercises can really help if you are prone to frequent sprains and strains.
Summary
Correct warm ups are essential before the start of any game to attune the body for the rigors of sports and help avoid a lot of sports related injuries. Age, insufficient rest, incorrect playing techniques, inappropriate playing equipment, previous injuries and imbalances in the body can also contribute to these injuries. If you happen to suffer from any of the above mentioned or other sports related injuries, it is essential to contact a chiropractor at the earliest.
