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Here’s How to Avoid a Tennis Injury This Summer

Every year as Wimbledon and the US Open capture our attention, more players get inspired to pick up a racket and get into tennis. But tennis is a demanding sport that puts lots of pressure on your feet and ankles due to shifts in direction, lunges and explosive moves. Then, add in the risk of slipping on a grass court, or the stress impact of playing on a hard court, and it’s no wonder that your lower body is likely to suffer a tennis injury with repeated play.

Want to stay safe? We’re here to help. Just follow these suggestions for safer tennis play from our doctors in Spring and Tomball, TX.

Why Your Foot Gets a Tennis Injury man playing tennis on clay court

Often, tennis injuries of the foot or ankle build up over time: we see many stress fractures in your foot bones due to the constant force of pushing off, pivoting and sprinting. We also see lots of sprained ankles, because sudden direction changes often put too much pressure on the ligaments on the outside of your ankle. Finally, the way your foot works (called its mechanics) can contribute to uneven weight balance across your feet during gameplay. In turn, Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis may become a problem, especially for newer players.

Staying Safe and in the Game

If you want to prevent a tennis injury this summer, here are some important steps to follow:

  1. Wear shoes that are specifically designed for tennis, and for the type of court you’ll play on.
  2. Replace worn out shoes, even if they’re still comfortable: having solid shoe treads can help prevent a tennis injury related to slipping.
  3. Always warm up your calfs and ankles before playing, and be sure to incroporate some later movements into your pre-game drills.
  4. Between matches, incorporate cross training focused on improving balance and foot strength.
  5. Never play through pain: always listen to your body and take a rest when your feet or ankle hurts during or after a match.

Suspect you may have already sustained a tennis injury? Here’s what to do. If your pain is still there after 48 hours of resting, or if the pain seems to worsen when you move through your day, it’s time to contact our office to request an appointment. Even if you are able to walk on your injured foot or ankle, you could still have a stress fracture or ankle strain, and continued movement will make things worse. Instead, come in right away for a comprehensive examination. We’ll diagnose the cause of your discomfort and provide a treatment plan to get you back on the court as soon as it’s safe for you to play!