From shoulder impingement to jumper’s knee, tennis can cause a whole host of unpleasant injuries. Find out what causes the most common tennis injuries and how to prevent them.
Whether you play socially at your local club or compete at an elite level, tennis places significant demands on the body. The combination of powerful serves, repetitive overhead movements, rapid changes of direction and high-impact movements can all increase the risk of injury over time. While some injuries develop suddenly following a fall or awkward movement, many are caused by repetitive strain and overuse.
Every year, Wimbledon shines a spotlight on the physical demands of professional tennis. Even the world's best players are not immune to injury, with British star Emma Raducanu recently forced to withdraw from competition after suffering a stress fracture in her lower leg. Although most recreational players won't train at the same intensity, similar injuries can occur when the body is repeatedly pushed beyond its ability to recover.
Here, we look at some of the most common injuries to affect tennis players, what causes them, how they are treated and, importantly, what you can do to reduce your risk.
Despite their names, both tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are common overuse injuries that affect people participating in a range of racquet sports. Repetitive gripping and swinging can overload the tendons around the elbow, leading to pain, tenderness, and reduced grip strength.
Diagnosis is often confirmed with an ultrasound scan, while treatment may include physiotherapy and steroid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Surgery is only required in a small number of persistent cases.
Shoulder impingement is one of the most common shoulder conditions seen in tennis players due to the repeated overhead serving and smashing motions. Symptoms typically begin as a vague ache on the outer side of the shoulder that gradually worsens during activity and can eventually interfere with everyday tasks.
Ultrasound and MRI scans can help confirm the diagnosis, with physiotherapy and injection treatments proving effective for many patients. Where symptoms persist, keyhole surgery can provide a long-term solution.
Patellar tendonitis occurs when repeated jumping, sprinting, and sudden changes of direction place excessive strain on the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. Players often notice pain just below the kneecap that becomes worse during or after activity.
Early treatment focuses on reducing the load through activity modification, physiotherapy, and strengthening exercises to prevent the condition becoming chronic. Shockwave therapy and steroid injections may also be recommended. Surgical intervention is rarely required.
The repeated running, stopping and pushing off required in tennis can place considerable stress on the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue along the sole of the foot. Plantar fasciitis usually causes sharp pain under the heel, particularly with the first few steps in the morning or after periods of rest.
Most cases improve with stretching exercises, supportive footwear, physiotherapy and carefully managed activity levels.
Frequent side-to-side movements make ankle sprains one of the most common acute injuries in tennis. Repeated sprains can weaken the supporting ligaments, resulting in chronic ankle instability, where the ankle feels weak or regularly "gives way".
Early assessment, appropriate rehabilitation and strengthening exercises are essential to restore stability and reduce the likelihood of further injury. Injections are occasionally used to manage inflammation in persistent cases, and surgery can be performed in cases of severe ligament tears or long-term instability.
Stress fractures develop when repeated impact places more stress on the bone than it can repair between training sessions. They commonly affect the lower leg and foot and often begin as a persistent ache that gradually worsens with activity before becoming painful even at rest.
Emma Raducanu's recent lower leg stress fracture highlights that these injuries can affect athletes at every level when training loads become too great. Prompt diagnosis, often with imaging, allows appropriate management and helps prevent the injury progressing into a complete fracture.
Although not every injury can be avoided, there are several ways to reduce your risk and keep playing for longer:
build up training intensity gradually and avoid sudden increases in playing time
warm up thoroughly before every match or practice session and cool down afterwards
include regular strength and conditioning exercises to improve joint stability and muscle balance
work on flexibility and mobility, particularly around the shoulders, hips, calves, and ankles
ensure your technique and equipment, including racquet grip size and string tension, are appropriate for your game
wear supportive tennis shoes that provide good grip and cushioning for your playing surface
prioritise rest and recovery between matches, allowing the body time to repair and adapt
seek advice from a physiotherapist if you develop persistent pain rather than playing through it
If you develop persistent pain or suffer an injury on the court, seeking an early assessment can help prevent a minor problem becoming a long-term one. At our Orthopaedic centre, our multidisciplinary team includes experienced orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine consultants who work closely with trusted external physiotherapists to deliver personalised care.
We provide fast access to specialist assessment, on-site diagnostic imaging including ultrasound and MRI where appropriate, and rapid treatment to help you return to the activities you enjoy. Whether your injury requires expert rehabilitation, injection therapy or surgery, we'll guide you through every stage of your recovery with an individual treatment plan designed around your goals.
Written by
Mr Alex Magnussen
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Shoulder, Elbow, Hand & Wrist)
Mr Magnussen is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Welbeck and London North West University NHS Trust. He has a sub-specialist practice in shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand conditions including broken bones, arthritis, and sports injuries.
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