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A Common Injury for Tennis Players
Content provided byProfessional Team PhysiciansTennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, refers to a condition that affects the tendon that attaches a group of forearm muscles to the elbow. Stress generated by the use of the hand and wrist, not the elbow itself, causes tennis elbow.
Tennis players should also be aware that they may not know until tomorrow the damage they did today, says team physician Dr. Stephen S. Haas of the Washington Wizards. Just because your elbow does not hurt today does not mean it will not be sore in the succeeding days. Remember to increase activity gradually, whether it is playing tennis or doing manual labor.
SKILLS
You can prevent tennis elbow by refining your stroke mechanics to make sure the stronger parts of your arm absorb the brunt of the force. There are several skills and techniques that can help you avoid this injury:
Bend your arm when you serve. Serving with a straight arm and firm wrist transfers all shock from the wrist to the elbow.
Proper footwork, early anticipation, and good coordination of the body and arm are essential.
When hitting a backhand, begin the motion at the shoulder and avoid placing the thumb behind the racket's grip. This helps reduce the amount of vibration absorbed by the arm.
Bending your arm on forehand shots allows your biceps and shoulder to take the force of the swing rather than the elbow.
Avoid trying to put excessive topspin on the ball when hitting ground strokes.
"I recommend that tennis players who develop this problem consult a teaching professional once their symptoms are resolved and they are rehabilitated to the point that they're ready to return to play," says Dr. Haas. "The pro should look at the stroke and see if he can identify a fault in the mechanics that may be predisposing the player to this condition, and also evaluate whether the player is using the correct type of racket."
CONDITIONING
Stretching and strengthening exercises for the wrist and elbow help reduce the risk of tennis elbow. Easy, fluid strokes also reduce force and stress on the lower arm. See article on stretching and strengthening for tennis elbow.
If playing tennis produces persistent elbow pain or soreness, stop playing for a few weeks. Do not try to play through the pain. Ice and over–the–counter anti–inflammatory medications often relieve the discomfort, but you may need to consult a physician if symptoms continue for an extended length of time.
 For more information on common injuries of the active individual, visit ActivePain.com. Check out Active Pain Council's Diagnostic Tool. This tool allows the active individual to further analyze injuries and take strides to prevent such pain in the future.
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