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Tennis Injuries

Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires speed, agility, strength, and precision. Players frequently perform sudden sprints, quick directional changes, and repetitive overhead motions, all of which can contribute to a range of musculoskeletal injuries. While tennis offers great cardiovascular and muscular benefits, the repetitive nature of the game often leads to overuse injuries, especially in the shoulders, elbows, knees, and lower back. Many of these conditions ultimately require physical therapy for recovery and safe return to play.

Injuries We Treat The Most

Arguably the most well-known injury associated with the sport, tennis elbow is caused by overuse of the forearm extensor muscles, especially with improper backhand technique. It leads to pain and tenderness on the outer elbow, and gripping a racquet can become difficult. Physical therapy typically focuses on reducing inflammation, performing eccentric strengthening exercises, and improving swing mechanics.
Serving and overhead shots place repeated stress on the shoulder, particularly the rotator cuff muscles. Over time, this can result in tendinitis or even a partial tear. Players often feel shoulder pain during serves or when lifting the arm. Rehabilitation involves strengthening the rotator cuff and scapular muscles, improving shoulder mobility, and correcting overhead technique.
The jumping and lunging movements required in tennis put a great deal of strain on the knee tendons, particularly the patellar tendon. Players with this injury often feel pain just below the kneecap during or after activity. Physical therapy addresses this with eccentric quad exercises, flexibility training, and movement re-education to minimize stress on the knee joint.
Rapid changes in direction and accidental missteps can easily lead to rolled ankles. Lateral ankle sprains are common in tennis, often resulting in swelling, bruising, and difficulty with walking or playing. Physical therapy includes restoring ankle strength, joint stability, and proprioception to help prevent chronic instability and future sprains.
Tennis players often experience lower back issues due to the rotational forces involved in serving and groundstrokes. Poor core strength, limited hip mobility, and poor mechanics can contribute to strain in the lumbar region. Physical therapy helps by strengthening the core and hips, improving spinal mobility, and educating the athlete on safer mechanics.

Start Your Path To Pain Relief With A Specialist

If you or a family member have been dealing with persistent pain for more than three weeks without improvement, a visit to a licensed physical therapist could be highly beneficial. While many aches and pains improve on their own, ongoing issues often need a professional evaluation from a musculoskeletal expert.

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