With tennis season in full swing, you may be tempted to get back to the courts yourself. It’s a sport that involves repetitive movements of the wrist and arm, making players particularly susceptible to certain injuries.
It’s important to be aware of how to manage tennis injuries, so you can get back to playing the sport you love as soon as possible.
Should you sustain a tennis injury, physiotherapy in Twickenham can help you on the road to recovery.
So what are the two most common tennis injuries?
Tennis elbow
Also known as lateral epicondylitis, this condition is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow. This results in pain on the outside of the elbow. It is a form of tendonitis which can lead to tendinopathy if it does not settle down.
Tennis elbow can be a frustrating and painful condition that affects your ability to grip and lift objects, and is often caused or exacerbated by activities that involve gripping in daily life.
Physiotherapy treatment for tennis elbow may involve a combination of exercises to improve forearm strength and flexibility, as well as manual therapy to help reduce pain and promote healing. Shockwave therapy, where sound waves are used to promote healing, is advised by the NICE guidelines.
Impingement syndrome
This is a common condition that can affect the shoulder joint, causing pain and reduced mobility. It occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become inflamed or irritated and rub against the bone or other structures in the shoulder joint. Other soft tissue structures can also be involved with impingement
Impingement syndrome can be caused by a variety of factors, including repetitive overhead motions, such as those used in tennis or other sports, poor posture, or structural abnormalities of the shoulder joint.
Symptoms of impingement syndrome may include pain when reaching overhead, weakness in the affected arm, and rarely a popping or clicking sensation in the shoulder. Pain is in the upper arm and shoulder.
Physiotherapy treatment for impingement syndrome may involve a combination of exercises to improve shoulder strength and flexibility, as well as manual therapy to help reduce pain and promote healing. Additionally, your therapist may provide education on proper technique, activities to avoid etc.
It’s crucial to seek treatment for impingement syndrome as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues.
Need physiotherapy in Twickenham?
With the guidance of an experienced physiotherapist, you can recover from impingement syndrome and tennis elbow safely, so you can return to your sport or daily activities as soon as possible.
If you’ve sustained a tennis injury and are in need of physiotherapy in Twickenham, our highly experienced physiotherapists are here to help. To learn more, call us today on 020 8898 1231.