Racquetball injuries are common due to the speed of the little ball that travels within the confines of a small court. A study published in "The American Journal of Sports Medicine" identified 157 types of racquetball injuries, 82 of which involved the face and eyes. Trauma occurred most among novice players, although 23 percent of trauma cases occurred to those who had previously taken lessons. The study found that less than 10 percent of players wore protective equipment, which could have reduced injury substantially.
Eyes
Being hit in the eye by the ball is the cause of 95 percent of racquetball injuries. The most common ocular injury is bleeding from within the interior of the eye, according to the GenXXL website. Other eye injuries from racquetball include lacerations, eye abrasions, eyelid bleeding and swelling of the eye. To prevent injuries, choose protective eye guards approved by either the American Society for Testing and Materials or the Canadian Standards Association.
Tennis Elbow
Arm, wrist and hand injuries from gripping the racket and strenuous repetitive movements can result in injury. Tennis elbow is the most common injury to the upper extremity of the body from playing racquetball, causing pain around the outside of the elbow. The soft tissue around the elbow can become inflamed and a noticeable bump can develop below the point of the elbow. To prevent tennis elbow and other arm injuries, use proper techniques when swinging and gripping the racket. Using the wrong size or type of racket, or the wrong string tension, might cause injury.
Shoulder
Traumatic injuries to the shoulder, including shoulder sprains and separations, are common from falling or impact with a wall when playing racquetball. Muscle injuries also can be caused by overuse from the high impact and repetitive motions required in racquetball. Adequate strength and coordination of the shoulder can help eliminate these types of injury. Impingement, a common shoulder problem in racquetball, causes tendons to be constricted, resulting in pain and limited range of motion.
Knee Injuries
The journal "Surgical Endoscopy" reported that injuries to the knee from racquetball are unavoidable and inherent to the nature of the game. Studies at the Toronto Western Hospital Sports Medicine Institute identified patterns of injury in sports and noted that 17 percent of the injuries treated over a five-year period were associated with racket sports. Knee injuries represented half of these injuries. Findings of the study related to patients requiring knee arthroscopy.
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