Tennis involves repetitive and forceful arm movements, which can put stress on the muscles, tendons, and joints in the upper extremities.
Some common arm injuries related to tennis include…
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) – This is one of the most common arm injuries in tennis. It involves inflammation and microtears in the tendons on the outer part of the elbow, leading to pain and tenderness.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries – The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint. Overuse or improper mechanics in tennis can lead to rotator cuff injuries, such as tendinitis or tears.
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome – This occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff and the bursa (fluid-filled sac) in the shoulder become compressed during arm movements, causing pain and inflammation.
- Shoulder Bursitis – Inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder can result from repetitive overhead motions in tennis.
- Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) – Although less common in tennis players, golfer’s elbow can occur due to overuse of the tendons on the inner part of the elbow.
- Biceps Tendinitis – The biceps tendon, which attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder and elbow, can become inflamed and painful with repetitive arm movements.
- Shoulder Labral Tears – Labral tears can occur in the cartilage rim surrounding the shoulder socket, often due to repetitive overhead motions.
- Wrist Tendinitis – Overuse of the wrist in tennis can lead to inflammation of the wrist tendons.
- Ulnar Nerve Entrapment – Compression or irritation of the ulnar nerve in the elbow can cause tingling and numbness in the arm and hand.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Although less common in tennis, repetitive wrist motions can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, which involves compression of the median nerve in the wrist.
To prevent arm injuries, tennis players should use proper technique, warm up before play, and engage in strength and flexibility exercises to support the muscles and tendons involved in tennis movements. If a player experiences persistent arm pain or discomfort, it’s necessary to seek medical evaluation and appropriate treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and to facilitate recovery.
