Active engagement in tennis demands considerable foot agility. Persistent motion such as lateral movements, as well as abrupt halts and starts, makes the foot and ankle particularly susceptible to injury in the sport. The type of court surface is also a contributing factor, with the rigidity of hard courts presenting greater challenges than the more yielding clay surfaces. Tennis enthusiasts should be cognizant of several potential injury risks:
- Ankle sprains resulting from inversion, not only impact the ligaments of the ankle but may also coincide with injuries to the peroneal tendons and bone fractures.
- Repetitive activity and excessive practice sessions can precipitate conditions like plantar fasciitis, which results in heel pain, inflammation of the Achilles tendon known as Achilles tendonitis, inflammation of the sesamoids referred to as sesamoiditis, stress fractures in the bones, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD), and inflammation of the heel’s growth plate in youths and teens, also known as calcaneal apophysitis.
