Tennis

Introduction
Tennis is a high-intensity sport that requires agility, endurance, and precision. Despite being non-contact, the repetitive motions and high-impact movements often lead to injuries, especially in competitive players.

Common Injuries

  1. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Inflammation of the tendons in the elbow caused by repetitive arm movements, leading to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
  2. Rotator Cuff Injuries: Tears or strains in the shoulder muscles, commonly due to overhead strokes and serving.
  3. Wrist Injuries: Strains, sprains, and tendonitis caused by the repetitive motions involved in gripping and swinging the racket.
  4. Knee Injuries: ACL, PCL, and meniscus tears due to sudden stops, pivots, and lateral movements.
  5. Ankle Sprains: Rolling or twisting the ankle during quick direction changes, especially when moving side-to-side.
  6. Hamstring Strain: Overstretching or overuse of the hamstring muscles during sprints or powerful shots.
  7. Back Pain: Often caused by poor posture, repetitive twisting, and overuse during groundstrokes and serves.

Causes

  1. Overuse of muscles and joints, improper technique, sudden direction changes, repetitive strokes, and lack of proper warm-up or conditioning.

Prevention

  1. Proper warm-up and cool-down routines, improving technique, wearing appropriate footwear, strength and flexibility training, and avoiding overuse or excessive play without rest.

Treatment

  1. Rest & Ice: For acute injuries, resting the affected area and applying ice to reduce swelling and pain.
  2. Compression & Elevation: Helps control swelling, especially for sprains or strains.
  3. Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation through exercises to strengthen muscles, improve range of motion, and prevent re-injury.
  4. Medication: NSAIDs for pain relief and reducing inflammation.
  5. Surgery: In severe cases of tendon tears or ligament injuries, surgery may be required.
  6. Rehabilitation: Focused recovery programs that include stretching, strengthening, and functional exercises to restore mobility and strength.