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Tennis Injuries Among German League Players: Investigating Patterns and Epidemiology of Acute and Chronic Injuries

2024; Dove Medical Press; Volume: Volume 15; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2147/oajsm.s460907

1179-1543

Jonas Krueckel, Dominik Szymski, Julia Lenz, Julian Fluegel, Johannes Weber, Leonard Achenbach, R. Meffert, Volker Alt, Kai Fehske,

Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

Purpose: While injuries among elite tennis athletes are extensively documented, a notable research gap exists regarding tennis injuries among club-level players. This study examines tennis injuries in German league players, with a particular emphasis on the impact of racquet properties and court surfaces, distinguishing between chronic and acute injuries. Patients and Methods: Retrospectively analyzing data from 600 tennis players over a 1.5-year period, a standardized questionnaire covered anthropometrics, injury characteristics, equipment usage, and court surface conditions. Results: The study identified 1012 tennis-related injuries, averaging 1.7 per player. Acute injuries predominantly affected the lower extremity (56%), with ankle injuries being the most prevalent, and ligaments were the most commonly affected structures (36.4%). Chronic complaints (reported by 364 athletes) focused on the upper extremity (63.2%), primarily tendon injuries (56.8%). Racket properties exhibited no significant impact on chronic upper extremity injuries. Conclusion: This study highlights a high incidence of acute lower extremity injuries, especially ankle ligament injuries, among German league tennis players. It offers crucial insights for devising targeted injury prevention strategies applicable to amateur, semi-professional, and professional tennis players, despite finding no significant link between racquet material and chronic upper extremity injuries. Keywords: tennis, injury, epidemiology, court surface, racquet material, ankle, ligament