A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Overhead Activities of Senior Tennis Players With and Without Shoulder Pain

Suegnet Meyer, MSc BPHYST MCSP  

MSc Sports Physiotherapy Dissertation

University of Bath, 2018

Abstract

Study Design

Cross-sectional design

Background

Repetitive overhead activity during tennis is a causative factor of shoulder pain. Age and playing years will influence shoulder movement and possibly result in shoulder injuries for throwers and hitting athletes. Literature assessing the shoulder movements of senior overhead athletes with shoulder pain exist, but correlation with serve kinematics is lacking.

Tennis player with motion sensors attached
Tennis player with motion sensors attached
Objectives

This study compares the effect of shoulder overhead activities on senior tennis player – with and without shoulder pain. The differences between movement patterns by means of inertial measurement and shoulder clinical assessments were assessed and correlated with the effect of age and playing history.

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Prevention and Management of Tennis Elbow

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is pain that presents on the outside of the elbow.
It usually occurs when the forearm muscles that control the wrist are repeatedly stressed. This causes micro-tearing and degeneration of the common extensor muscle origin at the elbow. Tennis elbow does not only affect tennis players, but can affect anybody who does repetitive movements, such as gripping, lifting kettles or wringing of washing. Of course, as the name suggests, it often affects tennis players, especially on their backhand stroke. Continue reading

Effects of Back Pain on Overhead Hitting and Throwing

What effect does back pain have on the movement pattern of the upper limb and trunk during overhead hitting or throwing?

During throwing the thoracic spine influence the scapulo-thoracic position and glenohumeral motion. A thoracic kyphosis produce both abduction and protraction of the scapula and changes the orientation of the glenoid. This reduces the clearing space for the humeral head and increase anterior translation.

Thoracic rotation

Trunk pre-rotation towards the dominant side adds force that obliques externus may be able to generate increased force due to greater ROM. Counter-Clockwise Thoracic rotation limitation (for right handed pitchers in the late cocking phase) will reduce forward acceleration of the throwing arm Continue reading

SGHLTC Tennis Club Championship Finals

29/06/2014: During the annual St George’s Hill Lawn Tennis club Championships Meyer & Associates provided pitch-side physio therapy services to all the participants. A treatment area was set up under a gazebo with a physiotherapy plinth and other equipment where our physios were on hand to help with any injuries, pains and sore muscles.