Racket Sport Injuries

Serving, volleying, and scoring are part of any racket sport game. But pain should not be.

If you are living with a racket sport injury, look to the experts at Henry Ford Health. We offer leading therapies, including sophisticated nonsurgical procedures that help more people achieve lasting relief.

Racket sport injury causes

Tennis, pickleball and racquetball can cause injuries all over the body. They may be due to:

• Equipment issues, such as racket strings that are too tight or a grip that’s too big or too small.
• Muscle weakness in areas such as your back, hamstrings or forearms.
• Overloading your muscles, which stems from forceful motions like overhead serves that repeatedly strain your muscles.
• Quickly switching directions with your feet or forceful side-to-side movements.
• Repetitive motions, like swinging a racket.

Common racket sport injuries we treat

We treat common and complex racket sport injuries, including:

• Foot pain from Achilles tendonitis
• Knee issues such as patellar tendonitis and tendon or ligament tears
• Pickleball elbow, irritation in the elbow’s inner or outer tendons
• Shoulder pain that may stem from rotator cuff inflammation or tears
• Sprains affecting the ankles, hamstrings or quadriceps
• Stress fractures
• Tennis elbow, irritation in the elbow’s outside tendons

Racket sport injury treatment?

Racket sport injury treatments may include:

• Injury protection: A brace or splint may be necessary to stabilize the injury. This removable device also protects the area from motions that can slow your recovery.
• Physical therapy: Our physical therapists guide you through exercises that increase strength and range of motion. They also teach you techniques that reduce strain on injured areas.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy: This option is for injuries that do not respond to standard therapies. We draw a sample of your blood, collect the platelets — which have healing properties — and inject them into the injured area.
• Minimally invasive debridement: We help people with stubborn tendon pain avoid surgery using the Tenex procedure. This office-based treatment removes damaged tissue without anesthesia (you receive numbing medication) for a quick recovery.
• Surgery: A procedure may be necessary for severe or long-lasting injuries. Trusted orthopedic surgeons use research-based techniques to repair tears and deliver other treatments.
• Conditioning: Our Center for Athletic Medicine helps you build safely return to the court. Offerings include an anti-gravity treadmill that enables you to walk or run during earlier stages of recovery. The treadmill’s built-in pressurized air chamber reduces the force of gravity on tender joints for physical activity with less or no pain.
  
  

Racket sport injury prevention

To reduce your risk of racket sport injuries:

• Make sure your racket fits your needs, including the appropriate grip size and string resistance.
• Strengthen supporting muscles in your core, hips and legs.
• Take time to fully recover between sessions.
• Use proper technique when serving and hitting the ball. Taking lessons may help, even if you’ve been playing for a long time.
• Warm up before each game or practice with gentle motions and stretches.

Racket sport injury care: Why choose Henry Ford?

At our sports medicine program, you’ll find:

• Prompt access: We help you start healing as quickly as possible. In-person and virtual appointments are typically available within a day or two. You can also receive care without an appointment at walk-in orthopedic clinics throughout southeast and south central Michigan.
• Nonsurgical treatments: Primary care sports medicine doctors use a comprehensive approach to care for patients whose injuries don’t respond to standard therapies. We consider every possible option before making personalized recommendations.
• Surgical expertise: Our orthopedic sports medicine team includes doctors who care for college, professional and Olympic athletes. We use research-based techniques to repair severe injuries with less disruption to healthy tissue.

Request an appointment

Request an appointment or learn more about our sports medicine services. We offer in-person and virtual visits.

Explore our blogs and videos

Learn more about sports injuries and injury prevention:

• Pickleball 101: Game Rules, Fun Facts and Helpful Tips
• 5 Ways to Prevent Wrist Injuries
• Referred Pain: What's the Source of Your Sports Injury?
• Stretching Done Right: Easy Tips to Stay Limber