Paper 223: Etiology of Shoulder Injuries in SA Tennis Players

Abstract

Shoulder injuries are the most common upper limb injuries in first class tennis players and there is little information on the etiology. The pathology in the painful shoulder in tennis is often equated to be the same as other overhead sports like in baseball pitcher's injuries. Studies have shown an increased external rotation and decreased internal rotation, due to posterior capsule tightness, in the dominant arm in tennis players. A study was performed trying to find a relationship between difference in ranges of movement, grip position on racket on serve and average speed of service on shoulder symptoms and objective ultrasound findings in a cohort of first class tennis players in South Africa. Our study consisted of 76 players that were recruited at the yearly senior interprovincial tennis tournament. A detailed history was taken, taking into consideration level of competitiveness, years of playing, position of grip on the racket, amount of serves in training, shoulder injuries, previous treatment and preventative measures taken. Objective ranges of movement of dominant and non-dominant shoulders were done and high definition ultrasound was performed on all dominant shoulders. The player's speed of service was also recorded with a radar device. 20 players reported previous acute and chronic shoulder pain. Dominant shoulder on the male tennis players showed tendency for increased range of external rotation (p=.05) and a significant decrease in internal rotation in 90° abduction (p< .05). Although there was an increased external rotation in female players (p<.01), in the dominant shoulder, there was not a resultant decreased internal rotation. There was no difference in ultrasound rotator cuff pathology and shoulder symptoms compared to average service speed, amount of serves in training, racket grip position and level of competition. No differences in range of movement in players with shoulder injuries 1) The dominant shoulder of tennis players showed to have an increased range of external rotation in males and females compared to non-dominant side