Beware of Injuries Threatening Tennis Players

As one of the world's most popular sports, tennis has a large number of enthusiasts and is often chosen as a recreational activity with friends and family. Playing tennis for an hour can burn around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women.

Types of Tennis Injuries

Each sport has a different risk of injuries. Given its high intensity and impact nature, tennis can lead to injuries in the arms, shoulders, legs, and fingers. In tennis, there are three common types of injuries:

1. Tennis Elbow

Joint inflammation located in the outer part of the elbow that causes pain and sometimes weakness in the hand. Although it’s called tennis elbow, this injury can also occur from doing other sports or activities that require repetitive movements of the hand and arm.

2. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

The rotator cuff consists of four main tendons that are responsible for stabilizing the shoulder joint. They are attached to the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. Tennis requires the players to move their arms repeatedly and rely a lot on their shoulder joint. Excessive shoulder joint movement can cause tendon injuries, resulting in pain and difficulty in moving the shoulder.

3. Wrist Sprain

A wrist sprain is a common and minor injury. If you experience a wrist sprain, apply a cold compresses and take pain relievers to alleviate discomfort and pain.

Most of these injuries are commonly experienced by recreational tennis players. Therefore, it is essential to understand the PRICE principle as first aid for on-court injuries.

PRICE

Protection

Protect the injured area and avoid moving it to prevent further damage

Rest

Stop all activities and rest the injured limb for at least 1-3 weeks

Ice

Apply cold compresses, using ice or a cold towel. It is the most basic yet highly effective method to reduce inflammation

Compression

An elastic compression bandage helps to reduce swelling and provide support to the injured joint

Elevation

The injured area should be elevated to prevent and reduce swelling

To diagnose sports injuries, the Sport Medicine, Injury & Recovery Center (SMIRC) at RS Pondok Indah - Bintaro Jaya provides radiological examinations such as X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI. In addition, SMIRC also offers cryotherapy treatment, which uses extremely low temperatures to reduce inflammation.

Generally, the key to managing sports injuries is simple treatment, such as PRICE and taking over-the-counter medications available at the nearest pharmacy or drugstore. If the injury does not improve after approximately one week, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately. With prompt and proper treatment, the injury can be addressed before it worsens and requires more extensive care.