Tennis players often suffer from a painful condition known as tendonitis. It occurs when tendons, the tough cords of tissue that connect your muscles to your bones, become inflamed, irritated or torn. Because repetitive motion and overuse are major causes of tendonitis, tennis players are especially prone to developing the condition. Tendonitis can occur in any of the body's tendons, but in tennis players, it is most common in the elbow, wrist and shoulder.
Elbow Tendonitis
Probably the most well known type of tendonitis in tennis players is elbow tendonitis, commonly known as tennis elbow. Tendonitis of the elbow affects an estimated 40 to 50 percent of adult athletes who play racket sports, according to information provided to Drugs.com by Harvard Health Publications. The main symptom is pain along the outer side of the elbow joint that often extends down the forearm to the wrist.
Wrist Tendonitis
Although not as well known as elbow tendonitis, wrist tendonitis can be just as painful and problematic for tennis players. It is an inflammation of the flexor tendons that extend from the forearm over the wrists to the hands and fingers. Symptoms develop gradually and include pain, swelling, tenderness, a crackling sensation and difficulty gripping objects. Wrist tendonitis is also very common in golfers, baseball players and weight lifters.
Shoulder Tendonitis
Tendonitis in the shoulder involves tendons of the rotator cuff, which attaches the top part of the arm bone to the shoulder blade joint. Symptoms include dull, aching pain that radiates into the upper arm and toward the chest. Pain often worsens at night. Arm movement, especially reaching overhead, often causes pain or weakness.
Treatment
The first step in treating tendonitis in tennis players is to stop playing tennis so the tendon can heal. Your doctor can assess the severity of your tendonitis and may recommend applying ice packs to the affected area for 20 or 30 minutes three or four times a day and taking ibuprofen or aspirin for pain and swelling. Depending on the location of the tendonitis, you may need a splint or sling. More severe cases of tendonitis may require an injection of a corticosteroid drug into the tendon, physical therapy and rehabilitation or, in rare cases, surgery.
Prevention
Some preventive measures may help prevent tendonitis. Warm up before strenuous play, make sure your shoes fit properly and don't ignore an ache or pain that might indicate injury. Poor form, especially when executing a backhand stroke, can contribute to elbow tendonitis, so learn and practice proper technique.
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