Tennis Injuries ( 6 Pages of Injuries)
Ankle Sprains:
Most commonly, the outer ligaments of the ankle become sprained. Standard treatment involves rest, ice, and elevate it for 24 hours, after which the ankle should be supported with a brace to avoid spraining it again. If the bruising is severe or if you have excessive swelling you should contact your doctor.
Tennis Toe:
Tennis toe is caused by friction between the nail and shoe, and is the result of bleeding under the toenails. When blood is trapped beneath the nail, pressure on nerve endings results, causing a blue-black discoloration and potentially severe pain. Repeated abrupt stops which force the toenail against the end of the shoe can precipitate bleeding.
Tennis Toe Treatment
Treatment is unnecessary except to control pain. Hot soaks and rest are helpful, but relief is dramatic when the pressure under
the nail is released by draining the blood. This can be done by heating the end of a paper clip until it is red hot, then inserting it through the surface of the nail into the collection of blood. The paper clip melts its way through the nail plate. This procedure is not as painful as it sounds because the clip passes through the nail into the blood-filled space, and neither the nail nor the blood contain nerve endings. The same result may be obtained by drilling a hole through the nail with a hypodermic needle.Tennis Toe Prevention
Again, well-fitting shoes and properly trimmed toenails are the best defense against the forces that cause bleeding from the nail bed.
Preventative Strategies
Thorough conditioning and proper technique are both essential in helping to prevent tennis injuries. Keep the following points in mind:
- Training in agility can help prevent loss of balance and sudden, traumatic stress to muscles, joints and tendons
- A two-handed backhand reduces stress on the muscles attaching to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, helping to prevent tennis elbow
- Proper racquet selection and grip size are critical in preventing tennis elbow and other injuries related to improper technique. Smaller racquet heads or excessive string tightness place more stress on forearm muscles, which can lead to tennis elbow.
- Stiffer graphite-type racquets with larger heads offer an enhanced “sweet spot,” causing less muscle stress
- Flexibility and strength training should be undertaken to avoid both overuse and traumatic injuries, especially among those who play the game more than twice a week
