A backhand swing in tennis occurs when you swing your tennis racket across your body -- with your arm moving left to right if you are right-handed and vice versa -- and hit the ball in the desired direction. To complete a backhanded shot, you must use a great deal of power in your wrist and forearm. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to wrist pain. Wrist pain in tennis players is most commonly associated with a strain.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a wrist strain will be most prevalent while playing tennis or while performing daily tasks that involve your hands, wrists and arms. You are likely to experience pain while moving your wrist as well as muscle spasms in your forearm. Your arm may seem weak and you may notice swelling or redness across your wrist. You may also hear a cracking -- crepitation -- if you press on your injured wrist with your fingers. A wrist sprain is often caused by repetitive motion of your wrist -- such as in tennis -- or as the result of a fall onto an outreached arm.
Types of Strains
Wrist strains can range from mild to severe. A mild strain occurs without tearing of your tendons and muscles. You will likely not lose strength as the result of a mild strain. A moderate strain causes tearing of your muscles, tendons or ligaments and will cause forearm and wrist weakness. A severe strain occurs when your muscles or tendons completely rupture. These often require surgical repair and can be the result of overuse or traumatic injury.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you experience persistent left wrist pain, contact your physician. Your physician will take a medical history and examine your wrist. He may also perform an x-ray to rule out a fracture. An MRI, CT scan or ultrasound may also be ordered. These imaging studies can help determine the severity and treatment course for a wrist strain. Immediate treatment for a wrist sprain includes rest and icing your injury. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications. Your doctor may recommend immobilization, physical therapy, prescription pain medication and in some cases surgery.
Prevention
Wrist sprains related to a backhanded shot can be prevented. Always warm-up and stretch prior to participating in tennis. Complete wrist circles and engage in an upper-body strength-training program to help prevent injury. Use athletic tape or a wrist brace to help stabilize your wrist during play. Most importantly, listen to your body. Avoid over-training, and if something hurts, stop. Allow yourself time to rest and see a physician if pain does not subside on its own.
