Most Common Tennis Injuries

Tennis is a demanding sport. Between constant pivoting, explosive sprinting, and quick side stepping, few other sports require the same level of agility as tennis. Now consider the intense focus and coordination needed to return serves at 100+ mile per hour while maintaining that agility.

Unfortunately achieving these physical feats also means tennis players are prone to certain injuries. The most common tennis injuries include injuries to the lower extremities, but of course “tennis elbow” was also given its name for a reason. Read on for the most common tennis injuries to look out for.

1. Tennis Elbow

Many studies have been performed to determine the rates of various injuries among tennis players and upper extremity injuries are always cited as one of the most common injuries. Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is the inflammation of the lateral epicondyle tendon in the elbow and occurs from overuse of the joint. Despite tennis elbow’s name, it is relatively uncommon among tennis players who use proper form in their swing, but it’s something that beginners should be aware of so that they can prevent it, as it can become chronic.

2. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

Similar to tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendonitis forms through the overuse of the joint resulting in inflammation. Serving is often the culprit when it comes to rotator cuff tendonitis, since an overhead racket swing requires more shoulder power than a standard tennis swing. This is also typically a flaw in technique, which can be resolved through proper coaching.

3. Ankle Sprain

The quick pivoting required for playing tennis doesn’t come without the occasional price. Ankle sprains are a very common injury among tennis players. When the ankle is sprained, ligaments in the ankle are torn or partially torn. There are varying degrees of ankle sprains with most requiring only rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). More serious injuries may require a walking boot or crutches for a couple weeks if it’s too painful to walk on. A high ankle sprain is more serious and usually requires these extra steps.

4. Knee Tendonitis

Serving a tennis ball is a demanding action, with the fastest serve of all time clocking in at 163.7 MPH by Samuel Groth. A lot of serving power is generated in the legs and this can put considerable stress on the knees when jumping during a serve, particularly on the patella, or knee cap. This is another injury that’s best treated with RICE, and can also be prevented with knee strengthening exercises.

Even though these are the most common injuries found in tennis, tennis players, like any athlete, are subject to any type of injury on the court including fractures, ACL tears, back sprains and more. It’s always important to warm up properly and use proper technique to prevent injuries from occurring.

MMAR Medical carries a wide selection of tennis braces for patella injuries, tennis elbow complications, ankle sprains and more. Visit our store or contact us to learn more about our sports injury solutions.

Common Elbow Injuries

Many people at some point in their life will experience an elbow injury. There are countless forms of elbow injuries with varying degrees of severity, but it’s important to know the most common types of elbow injuries and their associated symptoms. The two most common forms of injuries affecting the elbow are elbow bursitis (elbow bruise) and tennis elbow.

Elbow Bursitis (Elbow Bruise)

The most common type of elbow injury is Elbow bursitis. Elbow bursitis is basically the inflammation of the bursa sac. Bursa sacs are fluid filled sacs which provide additional cushioning so as to prevent the ends of our joints from excessive wear. These fluid filled sacs are generally located around every joint in the human body. These particular bursa sacs are referred to as the Olecranon Bursas and they're located on the back of the elbow. Elbow bursitis typically occurs when the elbow is subjected to some form of blunt force trauma, such as a fall where the tip of the elbow comes into direct contact with a hard surface. Generally, if you’re suffering from elbow bursitis your elbow will be swollen and tender. However, if your elbow appears red and is warm to the touch, your elbow bursitis may be due to an infection. If your doctor suspects that your elbow may be infected, he or she may opt to remove the fluid from the swollen area and prescribe an antibiotic. If the bursitis is not from an infection it may be treated in a variety of ways. The most common treatments for elbow bursitis typically include cold therapy, rest and anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a common overuse injury that’s typically caused by a repeated twisting motion of the wrist and forearm. This condition is generally associated with playing tennis, hence the name tennis elbow, but it can be caused by any activity that involves the twisting of the arm such as when you use a screwdriver.

Some of the common signs and symptoms of tennis elbow include:

• Elbow pain that gradually worsens


• Pain that radiates from the outside of the elbow towards the wrist


• An increase in elbow pain while gripping an object


• A decrease in overall grip strength


• Difficultly when attempting to fully extend your arm

If you’re experiencing any number of the symptoms listed above then you may have tennis elbow, but don’t worry, because there are a variety of ways to treat this condition. Tennis elbow treatments typically include heat therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and/or the use of an elbow brace or other immobilizing device. In order to prevent the injury from occurring again, an elbow strap may be worn during certain activities that aggravate the condition.

About MMAR Medical Group: MMAR Medical Group Inc. is a supplier of medical products including a wide selection of diabetic shoes, as well as orthopedic braces and supports. For top-of-the-line medical knee braces, a wide elbow brace selection and other quality braces, please visit MMAR Medical online.