seasonal injuries @ move clinics

As an extremely dynamic and high impact sport, a leisurely game of tennis can be
associated with a number of injuries:

Calf strain: Usually occurs whilst running when the calf muscle is stretched beyond it's
natural length resulting in tearing of muscle fibres. There are various degrees of severity of
this injury - ranging from a mild pull to full-thickness tears with associated bruising, swelling
and an inability to weight-bear without severe pain.

Ankle sprain: Most commonly the player will roll outwards on the ankle resulting in a
stretching or tearing of the lateral ligament(s) of the ankle. Swelling and bruising occur
rapidly. It is often difficult for the player to weight-bear. Fractures of the ankle are also
possible with severe ankle sprains so if weight-bearing is still difficult after 48 hours then an
x-ray is generally recommended.

Adductor or groin strain: The player may experience a pull or tearing sensation high up on the inner side of the
thigh during a sudden lunge or splits-type slip across court. Pain is instant but bruising and swelling may take a day
or so to develop depending on which muscles are involved. Persistent pain is often associated with manouvres such
as getting in/out of a car or crossing legs.

Shoulder pain: Shoulder injuries may occur as a result of overuse e.g. repeated practice of serves, falling onto
outstretched arm or over-extending the shoulder beyond its normal range. Symptoms may range from pain on sudden
movements, localised swelling, weakness of the arm, soreness to touch or loss of flexibility. There are numerous
structures and soft tissues which can be injured in the shoulder so a thorough assessment is essential in order to
get the correct diagnosis and the right treatment

Tennis Elbow: This injury is often associated with overuse of the wrist extensor muscles along the forearm. Pain is
generally located over the bony area on the outer-side of the elbow joint, but can also radiate down the forearm
towards the wrist. Gripping, lifting and backhand shots are routinely painful with this injury. This problem can become
quite debilitating if left untreated and recovery can be a lengthy process.

With all of the above injuries, early management is essential for full return to sport. P.R.I.C.E (or Protection, Rest,
Ice. Compression, Elevation) is the first plan of attack for any sports injury. If symptoms persist after 48 hours then a
physiotherapy consultation is advisable.

Although not a sport, gardening can be an extremely physical form of activity
which involves use of most of the large muscles in the body, over what can be
a prolonged period of time. For this reason, it is not surprising that many
gardeners suffer injuries.

Low back pain: Sustained bending in conjunction with heavy digging or
pulling up stubborn weeds can lead to over-strain of the lower back muscles
and in more severe cases, injury to the disc which are located between the
bone of the vertebral column. Pain is often located in the 'small' of the back but
can radiate into the buttocks or down one or both legs. Symptoms may
include an inability to stand upright, pain when walking or sitting, tingling
and/or numbness down legs, sharp pain with sudden movement or coughing. If
symptoms do not resolve in 48 hours, medical attention should be sought as
soon as possible.