Tennis & Racquet Sports

Anyone for Tennis?
For centuries, people of all ages have enjoyed tennis in one form or another. Even Henry VIII was a keen royal tennis player. It provides a total aerobic body workout, and regular play is a relatively safe and enjoyable way to stay fit. Children need only be old enough to swing a racquet to play, and seniors need only be mobile enough to get from one side of the court to the other.

Care must always be taken to avoid injuries, this is especially true of the foot and ankle, which are put under considerable stress by the continuous side-to-side motion and quick stopping and starting which the sport requires. Different court surfaces also stress the foot and ankle in different ways.

Raquet Sports
Racquet sports, such as squash and badminton, also leave the foot and ankle susceptible to injury. The most common injuries are toenail damage (blackened toenail), muscle cramps (particularly calf and foot), ankle sprains, stress fractures, knee injuries, plantar fasciitis, Achilles Tendonitis and a heel pain.

Stretching
Stretching before a match can prevent common injuries to the foot and leg. Stretching after a match alleviates stiff muscles.

Injuries
Ankle sprains are the most common of all tennis injuries. Ankle sprains usually occur when the foot turns inward, causing swelling and pain on the outside of the ankle. To self-treat a mild ankle sprain, get weight off the ankle, apply ice to reduce swelling, wrap the ankle in a compression bandage, and elevate the ankle. If the sprain persists consult your doctor.

Blackened toenail or commonly known as Tennis Toe occurs when blood accumulates under the nail. Tennis Toe can usually be traced to improper shoes, and should be drained by a podiatrist for quicker recovery. Cool compresses and ice will provide relief.

Stress on the bottom of the foot can causes arch pain; the pain can travel from heel to the ball of the foot. The ligaments of the sole of the foot become inflamed and painful. If arch pain persists, you may need to consider different shoes, or off the shelf� arch support. You may decide to invest in custom-made orthotic device to insert into the shoe.

Stress fractures may usually occur along the metatarsal bones due to the intense pressure and stress. The area becomes swollen causing severe pain when walking.

Shin splints are small tears of the calf muscles that attached to the tibia bone along the shin. The muscle may also be torn away from its attachment to the bone causing pain. The condition is treatable with rest, ice, and elevation. These injuries tend to occur on harder court surfaces, and should be healed fully before resuming play.

Corns, Foot Calluses, and Foot Blisters are all friction and pressure related injuries and therefore care must be taken to avoid such friction. Make sure your shoes fit properly and that you are wearing the right socks. Select sport socks that are designed for tennis. They provide additional padding where it is needed and allow air to circulate to help perspiration. Cotton socks do not do this and are not recommended. Socks made of either acrylic or a blend of acrylic and natural fibers are preferable.
 
Heel pain syndrome occurs primarily due to a strain of the ligaments at the sole of the foot and their attachment to the heel bone, the ligaments may develop small tears which results in a local inflammation. The continuous pounding may also inflame the soft tissue that lies between the bone and the ground.

The development of Achilles Tendonitis may be acute or chronic. A sudden significant increase in activity or the effect of long-term repetitive stress on the tendon may lead to the development of small tears in the tendon which is the most common injury in tennis when landing from a jump. This is common when hitting an overhead smash or hitting a wide shot or approach shot on the run.
Treatment should begin with daily stretching exercises and the application of ice packs. In addition, a gel heel cup or a heel lift should be used when not playing tennis in order to alleviate tension on the Achilles.

This information is for guidance only. If you are in doubt at all, please consult your nearest health professional.