Tennis is a lot of fun to play, and it can be a fantastic way for adults to stay active in Ellisville, Missouri. However, it also requires repetitive shoulder movements. This is a problem because these movements can lead to several types of shoulder injuries. There are three tennis-related shoulder injuries that avid players may develop.
1. Shoulder impingement
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons in your shoulder. It helps keep your upper arm bone firmly seated in the shoulder socket when the arm moves. The repetitive arm movements of tennis can lead to a shoulder injury called shoulder impingement. This occurs when the rotator cuff muscles get pinched by the end of the collar bone. Shoulder impingement can lead to pain in the shoulder, but it can also make it harder to do overhead movements like serving.
2. Rotator cuff tendinitis
Tennis-related arm movements can also lead to a shoulder injury called rotator cuff tendinitis. This occurs when the rotator cuff tendons are overstressed, causing microscopic tears in the tendons. In turn, this can lead to swelling in the front of the shoulder, which may move into the side of the arm. Pain when raising and lowering your arm is another symptom of rotator cuff tendinitis, and you may also hear a clicking noise during arm movements if you have this condition.
3. Shoulder bursitis
Shoulder bursitis is another of the shoulder injuries tennis can lead to. Bursitis is an inflammation of the cushioning bursa in a joint, and this inflammation can be caused by repetitive tennis movements. In the shoulder, there is a bursa located between the top of the upper arm bone and the clavicle. It’s job is to protect the tendons of the rotator cuff, but it can actually end up pinching them if you develop shoulder bursitis. The inflammation of bursitis can also lead to visible swelling of the shoulder and pain in the joint.
Ellisville, MO, residents with shoulder injuries can find help at Excel Sports and Physical Therapy
If you have a shoulder injury from tennis, our Excel Sports & Physical Therapy clinic in Ellisville can help you. We offer one-on-one initial screenings that can help you determine what type of injury you have. Our team can also create a personalized treatment plan for you, and your plan can be designed to include techniques like:
Take the next step to reduce your pain and get back to the tennis court. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
Our Locations
FAQ
Conditions Library
