Tennis and Wrist Tendonitis

Repetitive movements are a part of sports. To become efficient in athletic games, we practice. And what does practice involve? It involves repeating a movement over and over in an attempt to perfect it.

For example, a basket ball player who wants to improve his free-throw shooting will take hundreds of shot from the foul line, attempting to duplicate the desired motion time and time again. While the wrist plays a crucial role in shooting a basketball, the motion is not usually harmful to the hand even when performed thousands of times. This is not the case in all sports.

Think about a racket sport such as tennis. How many times during a match do you think a player swings the racket? The number depends on the length of the match, of course. However, it’s a safe assumption to say that the arm and wrist will get a considerable workout, and much of that is simple repetitive motion.

We often hear about tennis elbow, which is actually tendonitis of the elbow brought on by the continual arm motion associated with the game. Though the elbow gets more attention, this injury can also occur in the wrist.

Wrist tendonitis, also known as tenosynovitis, involves inflammation, irritation and pain stemming from the tendons around the joint. Stiffness, swelling and redness are some overt symptoms to look for with this condition. As the ailment progresses, pain may be felt not only when playing tennis or doing whatever caused the problem initially, but also when the area is not being used or put under strain.

On the positive side, most cases of wrist tendonitis can be treated without ever visiting a doctor:

Immobilize the wrist with a splint or cast. There are many that can be purchased without a prescription. Rest is the best medicine.

Apply ice throughout the day to promote blood flow and decrease swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Use a towel as a barrier. Anti-inflammatory medicines can also help reduce swelling and inflammation of the soft tissue.

Hopefully these steps will be enough to quell the problem. If not, see a doctor.