When It Comes to Health Benefits, Tennis Packs a Powerful Punch

When It Comes to Treating Injuries, Kayal Orthopaedic Center Is the Ace

If you’re looking for a summer sport that offers loads of health advantages, you might want to consider tennis. Benefits of taking up tennis include: increased aerobic capacity, lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, improved metabolic function, greater bone density, less body fat, faster reaction times, greater weight control and improved muscle tone, strength and flexibility.

Of course, you always run the risk of injuries when you engage in sports or other strenuous physical exercise. For professional and amateur tennis players, the most common injuries are upper limb injuries, including tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome. When your playing injuries require hand and/or wrist surgery in Bergen County, NJ, you can’t go wrong with Kayal Orthopaedic Center, the most respected sports medicine specialists in Westwood, NJ, and throughout Bergen County.

Upper Limb Injuries

These are some of the more common upper limb injuries that tennis players are prone to suffer:

1. Tennis elbow: Tennis elbow should be treated quickly so that it does not become a chronic issue. This is a tear or partial tear in the area where the forearm tendons and muscles attach to the outside of the elbow. It is caused by constant strain on the elbow joint and overuse of the tendons and muscles near the joint. This results in tendon inflammation. Treatments include rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE), anti-inflammatories and, in some cases, an elbow support.
2. Rotator cuff tendonitis: The bundle of tendons and ligaments supporting your arm near your shoulder joint makes up your rotator cuff. Recreational players with poor serving form are particularly vulnerable to this injury, which can be very painful. RICE and anti-inflammatory drugs are common treatments.
3. Impingement syndrome: The tendons in your rotator cuff become trapped, causing pain when you attempt to lift your arm above your head. Rest and anti-inflammatories will help eliminate pain. Stretches and strengthening exercises also can be beneficial.
4. Carpal tunnel syndrome: The small nerves and tendons in your wrists can become inflamed and damaged due to the repetitive motions of tennis play. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common wrist injury. When you have this syndrome, the medial nerve in your carpal tunnel is compressed, causing numbness and tingling in your fingers. It can affect grip and movement. Rest can solve the problem. In more severe cases, surgery is required.

Lower Limb Injuries

Some of the common lower limb injuries include:

1. Ankle: The fast pace of tennis requires you to shift direction quickly and often, which can lead to sprained ankles. Depending on how severely you’ve damaged your ligaments, your strain can be mild, serious or severe.
2. Knee: It’s no surprise that your knees undergo a serious workout during tennis, which can injure the cartilage and tendons. Two common knee injuries are patella tendonitis and meniscus cartilage tears.
3. Hamstring and calf:Strains and tears are the most common injuries in these areas. If your calf muscle becomes tight, you could also experience Achilles tendon injuries. An Achilles tendon rupture usually requires surgery.
4. Feet and back: Your feet come under a great deal of strain during tennis, making you vulnerable to stress fractures of your foot (metatarsal bones) or your back (lumbar vertebrae).

Schedule an Appointment Today

Our elite surgeons and sports medicine specialists in Westwood, NJ, and nearby have the background, training and experience to quickly diagnose and treat all sports-related orthopaedic injuries. Dr. Robert A. Kayal and his team understand that most athletes want to heal as quickly as possible and return to the field of play. That’s why we’ll work with you on a treatment and recovery plan that is as ambitious as possible without compromising your health and safety. To schedule an appointment, call us at 844.777.0910 or contact us on the web.