Common Tennis Injuries and Prevention Tips

COMMON TENNIS INJURIES & PREVENTION TIPS Shoulder Low back Elbow Knee • Rotator Cuff Tendonitis • Tennis Elbow • Low Back Pain • Patella Tendonitis • Ankle Sprain Ankle What is Rotator Cuff Tendonitis? Hypertrophic and inflamed bursa Rotator cuff tendonitis refers to the irritation of the rotator cuff tendons and inflammation of the subacromial bursa, which overlies these tendons. This condition may cause tenderness of the shoulder with pain when the arm is raised overhead. It is a common injury that is sustained through repetitive movement of the shoulder, which can occur while playing tennis. Rotator Cuff Tendonitis What is Tennis Elbow? Inflamed tendon fibers Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a common problem that is sustained through repetitive stress to the lateral elbow. The pain comes from inflammation of the tendon fibers from overuse through repeated arm motions, such as while hitting a backhand stroke in tennis. Tennis Elbow What is Low Back Pain? Bạck pain can occur in the lower back and includes the inflamation of the back muscles or strain from continuous or repetitive movements. The pain comes from repeated overuse or strain of the muscles alongside the spine, which can occur from running, jumping, or twisting while playing tennis. Low Back Pain What is Patellar Tendonitis? Patellar tendonitis, or jumper's knee, is inflammation of the patellar tendon. This can be caused by continuous or repetitive movements on the court, such as jumping and running. Patellar Tendonitis What is an Ankle Sprain? An ankle sprain happens when the foot is twisted beyond its normal range of motion, causing stretching or tearing of the ligaments. The injury can result in pain and swelling of the ankle and difficulty bearing weight. Ankle Sprain Treatments for Tennis Injuries Activity Modifications OAvoid painful movement Treatment of Acute Inflammation o Ice o Anti-inflammatory medications Physical Therapy o Modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation o Soft-tissue massage Cortisone Injection o Given directly at Injury site has a local effect, acts as both an anti-inflammatory and a pain killer Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) o An alternative treatment involving the injection of concentrated growth factors from your own blood into the injury site; this may help with pain and enhance healing Surgery o Removal of inflamed tissue or repair of damaged tissue; surgery can often be performed arthroscopically Top 3 Prevention Tips for Tennis Injuries 2. Increase Core Strength 1. Maintain Flexibility 3. Cross-training Be sure to include strength training and cardiovascular exercise into your (non-tennis) routine. Mount Sinai ©2013 The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York You are free to copy, distribute and transmit this content, but you must attribute the work to Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York. Visit www.mountsinai.org/sportsmedicine for more information.