The most common wrist complaint among tennis players is pain on the pinky side of the wrist, according to Dr. Robert Perkins of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. Flexor carpi ulnaris tendinitis is a common overuse injury among tennis players, according to a study by Dr. Kevin P. Banks that was published in "Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology." With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can overcome this wrist injury and get back onto the tennis court.
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
Your flexor carpi ulnaris, or FCU, is a tendon in your wrist. This tendon allows you to flex your wrist or bring the palm of your hand closer to the inside of your forearm, such as when you strike a tennis ball with a racket. The FCU tendon also lets you move your little finger toward the outside of your forearm, such as when you move the head of the tennis racket toward the ground to return low shots.
Cause
Repetitive use, such as hitting a tennis ball with a racket, inflames the flexor carpi ulnaris. The provocative motion during tennis is bending your wrist backwards and pulling your hand towards the back of your forearm, while simultaneously turning your thumb upward. You perform that motion when you move your arm forward just before striking the ball. Repetitive motion in the opposite direction -- bending your wrist forward and tilting your hand towards the floor -- also invokes FCU tendinitis. You perform that motion after you have returned a low ball.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
You will feel pain from FCU tendinitis on the same side of your wrist as your little finger. The pain may radiate up into your hand, ending at the pisiform bone, which is the bony prominence on the inside of your wrist, between your forearm and hand. An MRI test detects FCU tendinitis.
Treatment
The Handsport Surgery Institute suggests treating FCU tendinitis with rest, anti-inflammatory medication and splinting. Wrist splints are available commercially. Your doctor can treat a severe case of FCU tendinitis with cortisone injections.
Prevention
Smaller racket heads are reducing the incidence of FCU tendinitis due to playing tennis. Increase muscle strength in your upper body to improve tennis volleys, rather than relying on wrist strength to effectively strike the ball. Reduce the amount of tennis played each week and increase the number of rest breaks during play.
References
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America: Musculoskeletal Injuries in Tennis; Robert Perkins, M.D., et al.; 2006
- Overuse Injuries of the Upper Extremity in the Competitive Athlete; Kevin P. Banks, M.D., et al; July/August 2005
- Handsport Surgery Institute: Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendonitis
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