Abstract
As the competitive nature of tennis grows, so do the demands placed on the growing athlete. Their bodies are not as mature as adult professional athletes, and their ligaments, growth plates, and bones are not as strong, predisposing pediatric athletes to injury. Muscles may not be as well developed and imbalances make them prone to injury. Other risk factors for injury include the volume of play, grip position, grip size, racket size, stroke mechanics, body conditioning, neuromuscular training, and flexibility. The majority of injuries associated with tennis playing are due to force overload of the muscle-tendon-bone unit, rather than acute trauma.
The young tennis player may experience a wide range of injuries ranging from bruises to fractures. Overuse injuries are common and may be difficult to diagnose due to the insidious nature and not being able to pinpoint the onset to an acute traumatic event. Discussion of the following pathologies will raise awareness and aid in the diagnosis and treatment of these athletes: lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, apophysitis, osteochondritis dissecans, deQuervain’s tenosynovitis, extensor carpi ulnaris tendonitis and subluxation, intersection syndrome, triangular fibrocartilage complex tear, hook of hamate fracture, and arm pump syndrome.
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Kibler WB, McQueen C, Uhl T. Fitness evaluations and fitness findings in competitive junior tennis players. Clin Sports Med. 1988;7(2):403–16.
Beachy G, et al. High school sports injuries. A longitudinal study at Punahou School: 1988 to 1996. Am J Sports Med. 1997;25(5):675–81.
Hutchinson MR, et al. Injury surveillance at the USTA boys’ tennis championships: a 6-yr study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;27(6):826–30.
Silva RT, et al. Medical assistance at the Brazilian juniors tennis circuit – a one-year prospective study. J Sci Med Sport. 2003;6(1):14–8.
Kibler WB, Safran MR. Musculoskeletal injuries in the young tennis player. Clin Sports Med. 2000;19(4):781–92.
Kitai E, et al. An epidemiological study of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) in amateur male players. Ann Chir Main. 1986;5(2):113–21.
Jayanthi N, Sallay PI, Hunker P, et al. Skill-level related injuries in recreational competition tennis players. Med Sci Tennis. 2005;10:12–5.
Hennig EM, Rosenbaum D, Milani TL. Transfer of tennis racket vibrations onto the human forearm. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;24(10):1134–40.
Wei SH, et al. Comparison of shock transmission and forearm electromyography between experienced and recreational tennis players during backhand strokes. Clin J Sport Med. 2006;16(2):129–35.
Abrams GD, Renstrom PA, Safran MR. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injury in the tennis player. Br J Sports Med. 2012;46(7):492–8.
Tagliafico AS, et al. Wrist injuries in nonprofessional tennis players: relationships with different grips. Am J Sports Med. 2009;37(4):760–7.
Elliott BC, Blanksby BA, Ellis R. Vibration and rebound velocity characteristics of conventional and oversized tennis rackets. Res Q Exerc Sport. 1980;51(4):608–15.
Myer GD, et al. When to initiate integrative neuromuscular training to reduce sports-related injuries and enhance health in youth? Curr Sports Med Rep. 2011;10(3):155–66.
Maylack FH. Epidemiology of tennis, squash, and racquetball injuries. Clin Sports Med. 1988;7(2):233–43.
Pluim BM, et al. Tennis injuries: occurrence, aetiology, and prevention. Br J Sports Med. 2006;40(5):415–23.
Smith AM, Castle JA, Ruch DS. Arthroscopic resection of the common extensor origin: anatomic considerations. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2003;12(4):375–9.
Antuna SA, O’Driscoll SW. Snapping plicae associated with radiocapitellar chondromalacia. Arthroscopy. 2001;17(5):491–5.
Kim DH, et al. Arthroscopic treatment of posterolateral elbow impingement from lateral synovial plicae in throwing athletes and golfers. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(3):438–44.
Kulund DN, et al. Tennis injuries: prevention and treatment. A review. Am J Sports Med. 1979;7(4):249–53.
Groppel JL, Nirschl RP. A mechanical and electromyographical analysis of the effects of various joint counterforce braces on the tennis player. Am J Sports Med. 1986;14(3):195–200.
Leach RE, Miller JK. Lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow. Clin Sports Med. 1987;6(2):259–72.
Giangarra CE, et al. Electromyographic and cinematographic analysis of elbow function in tennis players using single- and double-handed backhand strokes. Am J Sports Med. 1993;21(3):394–9.
De Smedt T, et al. Lateral epicondylitis in tennis: update on aetiology, biomechanics and treatment. Br J Sports Med. 2007;41(11):816–9.
Li FX, Fewtrell D, Jenkins M. String vibration dampers do not reduce racket frame vibration transfer to the forearm. J Sports Sci. 2004;22(11–12):1041–52.
Stroede CL, Noble L, Walker HS. The effect of tennis racket string vibration dampers on racket handle vibrations and discomfort following impacts. J Sports Sci. 1999;17(5):379–85.
Gabel GT, Morrey BF. Operative treatment of medial epicondylitis. Influence of concomitant ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1995;77(7):1065–9.
Gregg JR, Torg E. Upper extremity injuries in adolescent tennis players. Clin Sports Med. 1988;7(2):371–85.
Gill 4th TJ, Micheli LJ. Common injuries and overuse syndromes of the elbow and wrist. Clin Sports Med. 1996;15(2):401–23.
Ciccotti MC, Schwartz MA, Ciccotti MG. Diagnosis and treatment of medial epicondylitis of the elbow. Clin Sports Med. 2004;23(4):693–705, xi.
Krijnen MR, Lim L, Willems WJ. Arthroscopic treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum: report of 5 female athletes. Arthroscopy. 2003;19(2):210–4.
Takahara M, et al. Classification, treatment, and outcome of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(6):1205–14.
Robla J, et al. Chondromalacia of the trochlear notch in athletes who throw. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1996;5(1):69–72.
Bojanic I, Ivkovic A, Boric I. Arthroscopy and microfracture technique in the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral capitellum: report of three adolescent gymnasts. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006;14(5):491–6.
Hsu JW, et al. The emerging role of elbow arthroscopy in chronic use injuries and fracture care. Hand Clin. 2009;25(3):305–21.
Posner MA. Injuries to the hand and wrist in athletes. Orthop Clin North Am. 1977;8(3):593–618.
Wood MB, Dobyns JH. Sports-related extraarticular wrist syndromes. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1986;202:93–102.
Rettig AC. Wrist problems in the tennis player. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;26(10):1207–12.
Rettig AC. Athletic injuries of the wrist and hand: part II: overuse injuries of the wrist and traumatic injuries to the hand. Am J Sports Med. 2004;32(1):262–73.
Taleisnik J. The ligaments of the wrist. J Hand Surg Am. 1976;1(2):110–8.
Burkhart SS, Wood MB, Linscheid RL. Posttraumatic recurrent subluxation of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon. J Hand Surg Am. 1982;7(1):1–3.
Rowland SA. Acute traumatic subluxation of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon at the wrist. J Hand Surg Am. 1986;11(6):809–11.
MacLennan AJ, et al. Diagnosis and anatomic reconstruction of extensor carpi ulnaris subluxation. J Hand Surg Am. 2008;33(1):59–64.
Grundberg AB, Reagan DS. Pathologic anatomy of the forearm: intersection syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 1985;10(2):299–302.
Palmer AK, Werner FW. Biomechanics of the distal radioulnar joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1984;187:26–35.
Marchessault J, Conti M, Baratz ME. Carpal fractures in athletes excluding the scaphoid. Hand Clin. 2009;25(3):371–88.
Bishop AT, Beckenbaugh RD. Fracture of the hamate hook. J Hand Surg Am. 1988;13(1):135–9.
Walsh 4th JJT, Bishop AT. Diagnosis and management of hamate hook fractures. Hand Clin. 2000;16(3):397–403, viii.
Andresen R, et al. Imaging of hamate bone fractures in conventional X-rays and high-resolution computed tomography. An in vitro study. Invest Radiol. 1999;34(1):46–50.
Hirano K, Inoue G. Classification and treatment of hamate fractures. Hand Surg. 2005;10(2–3):151–7.
Scheufler O, et al. Hook of hamate fractures: critical evaluation of different therapeutic procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;115(2):488–97.
Failla JM. Hook of hamate vascularity: vulnerability to osteonecrosis and nonunion. J Hand Surg Am. 1993;18(6):1075–9.
Reneman RS. The anterior and the lateral compartmental syndrome of the leg due to intensive use of muscles. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1975;113:69–80.
Black KP, Taylor DE. Current concepts in the treatment of common compartment syndromes in athletes. Sports Med. 1993;15(6):408–18.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, S., Hausman, M. (2016). Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Injuries in the Young Tennis Athlete. In: Colvin, A., Gladstone, J. (eds) The Young Tennis Player. Contemporary Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27559-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27559-8_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27557-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27559-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)