Tennis Injuries- Most Common Tennis Injuries

Tennis Injuries

Tennis as a sport involves the extensive use of thigh, foot and arms, for running as well as hitting the ball. All these as a result become areas prone to injury.

Some of the commonly occurring injuries to tennis players are:

'Stringer's Fingers'

A condition specific to tennis players is the asymptomatic development of hypertrophic papules over the fingertips, which we call "stringer's fingers.

Stringer's fingers occur at the tips of the fingers, usually the middle three, in response to the habitual adjustment of the racket strings Many players straighten the strings to ensure a truer shot for the next point. When they do so, however, the skin at the tips of the fingers is exposed to friction that causes the development of a thick, hypertrophied stratum corneum, similar to a callus.

The condition is more prevalent in players who hit heavy spin shots and use tight strings. The increased spin causes greater string movement and need for adjustment. Thus, the tighter the strings, the greater the friction on the fingers.

Tennis Toe

Many tennis players are familiar with this malady, a subungual hemorrhage that usually occurs under the great toenails. As a result of the quick start-and-stop action of the game, the toes, especially the great toe, are repeatedly jammed into the front of the toe box of the tennis shoe, resulting in bleeding under the nail plate.

Blisters

Blisters occur when a small area of skin is repeatedly rubbed. They are usually a minor annoyance for most athletes, but they can impair a competitive tennis player's performance.

Calluses

Tennis players commonly develop calluses at points of continuous friction on the feet, including the ball of the foot and areas of anatomic or functional deformity. In addition, calluses are almost universally seen on the hands of serious tennis players where the racket handle rubs the skin over the distal metacarpal heads.

Photo Injury