Physical Therapy Management for Tennis Leg
- Improvement of General Condition If the pain allows it, you may put weight on the foot, if necessary using elbow crutches during the first week. ...
- Build-up As soon as all the above exercises can be performed and walking is possible without pain, a return to tennis and other sports can be considered. ...
- Return to Play
What to do for tennis leg pain?
Initial Treatment for Tennis Leg 1 Protection. Protect the calf muscles by avoiding activities that require stretching, pulling,... 2 Rest. Rest also comes in the form of protection by resting the leg and avoiding the use... 3 Ice. Ice packs or compresses should be applied to the calf muscle immediately following an...
How do you treat a torn ligament in your leg?
Cool the painful area directly with ice, a cold pack, or cold running water for 10 to 15 minutes and repeat this several times a day. Do not place ice on the bare skin. Place a towel between the skin and the ice pack to avoid injury from the ice pack. Elevate the leg.
What is “tennis leg?
What you’ve just experienced is known as “tennis leg,” which is a tear of the medial head of the gastrocnemius–or the calf muscle. It is not a tear of the Achilles and it generally does not need surgery. Sports medicine used to think tennis leg was due to a rupture of the small muscle in the back of your knee. Not true.
Do I need surgery for tennis leg?
It is not a tear of the Achilles and it generally does not need surgery. Sports medicine used to think tennis leg was due to a rupture of the small muscle in the back of your knee.
How long does it take tennis leg to heal?
Tennis leg is routinely treated conservatively, under the management of a physiotherapist. Most patients respond well to physiotherapy with resolution of symptoms and return to exercise in 6-12 weeks depending on the extent of the tear.
Is tennis leg painful?
The most common symptom of tennis leg is a sudden, sharp or burning pain in the calf. Sometimes a snapping sound is heard. The pain is usually severe enough that activity cannot be continued. The calf muscle is usually tender to touch after the injury and there may be bruising and mild swelling.
Which muscle is injured in tennis leg injury?
We report a typical case of “tennis leg”, in which the main finding was a fluid collection between the medial head of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Since the first clinical description of this entity in 1883, the injury has been attributed to rupture of the plantaris tendon.
Does tennis leg require surgery?
What you've just experienced is known as “tennis leg,” which is a tear of the medial head of the gastrocnemius–or the calf muscle. It is not a tear of the Achilles and it generally does not need surgery. Sports medicine used to think tennis leg was due to a rupture of the small muscle in the back of your knee.
How do you stretch a tennis leg?
Start from the same position as described above, but now bend the knee of the hind leg, while keeping the heel on the floor. The stretch is felt low in the calf. Again, hold the stretch for 15 to 20 seconds (no bouncing), followed by 10 to 20 seconds rest, and repeat 3 times.
How long does it take to heal a strained calf muscle?
In total, it usually takes up to three days for a pulled calf muscle to start feeling better. But a full recovery may take up to six weeks, according to Oxford University Hospitals. Severe swelling can make any pain and discomfort last a bit longer.
How do I know if I tore my calf muscle?
Symptoms of a torn calf muscle can include:No calf strength, including being unable to balance or bear weight on the injured leg.Snapping or popping sensation in your calf.Sudden pain in the back of your lower leg, like someone kicked your calf.Swelling and bruising in your calf muscle.More items...•
Why are my legs sore after tennis?
Tennis is a sport that puts a lot of stress on your muscles and joints, particularly if you are playing on hard courts. When you take time off and you are not performing the very specific movements that tennis possesses, it is highly likely that your muscles, and even joints will be sore once you return.
How to treat tennis leg pain?
The first step in tennis leg treatment is to begin the P.R.I.C.E. treatment plan. This method entails protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. 1. Protection. Protect the calf muscles by avoiding activities that require stretching, pulling, or placement of weight on the muscles.
What is tennis leg?
Tennis leg is a term used for an injury of the calf muscles, specifically rupture of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The medial head is one of two muscular regions of the muscle, and is attached to the medial side of the femur bone. The other muscular region is known as the lateral head, and together, ...
What causes a tennis leg to swell?
It is mainly caused by a severe medial gastrocnemius strain or rupture. The condition is common among tennis players between 40 and 60 years of age, and involves the two major muscles of the calf: the gastrocnemius and the soleus. At one time, the typical tennis leg symptoms of soleus pain, swelling, and walking difficulty were thought to be ...
How to stretch calf muscles?
Stretch the long calf muscles by stepping forward with the non-injured leg, with the heel of the back leg flat on the floor and the knee straight. Move weight from the back to the front leg while pressing the back heel firmly onto the floor. Hold stretch of upper calf for 15 to 20 seconds before releasing.
What is it called when you cut your leg in tennis?
A tennis leg injury is seen when a movement of the leg causes the gastrocnemius muscle to contract while the leg is straightened. This action, called “cutting,” is often performed by tennis players who have their back leg extended during play.
When was tennis leg discovered?
Tennis leg was first discovered with the injury of a tennis player in 1883, and was thought to involve the rupture of the plantaris tendon. Recent diagnostic studies have found that cases of medial gastrocnemius strain were more frequently involved in causes of tennis leg. The plantaris muscle and plantaris tendon are rarely implicated.
How to stretch the lower calf?
Hold stretch of upper calf for 15 to 20 seconds before releasing. Repeat three times with a 10 to 20-second rest period between sets. Stretch the short calf muscles by stepping forward with the non-injured leg, with the heel of the back leg flat and the knee bent. This allows stretching of the lower calf.
What is tennis leg?
Tennis leg is an incomplete tear or rupture of the calf muscle in the lower leg. The calf muscles include the superficial gastrocnemius, the larger of the lower leg muscles, and the soleus, the smaller, deeper muscle that runs under the gastrocnemius. The Achilles tendon connects the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the heel bone.
How to prevent leg strains in tennis?
Prepare. The best way to prevent tennis leg and muscle strains is to sufficiently warm-up before playing. I know no one likes to make time to warm-up, but it is critical for injury prevention. Get to the court early to perform your dynamic warm-up. A 5-7 minute dynamic warm-up is ideal within 15 minutes of your match time. This includes movements to help lengthen your muscles to prepare for tennis and increases your heart rate and body temperature so your body is warm, which may help decrease your risk for injury. Once you compete your dynamic warm-up, grab your racket and start hitting. Your muscles will thank you.
How to get rid of calf pain?
The calf muscles may still be painful early on, so be gentle when stretching. Step forward with the unaffected leg, keeping the heel of the back leg on the floor. The knee of the affected leg is kept straight. Shift your body weight forward and press the heel of the back leg firmly into the floor.
What to expect from a physical therapist after calf injury?
Here’s what you can expect during your rehabilitation: Manual Therapy. The calf muscles are often very stiff and sore following the initial injury.
How to get rid of calf muscles?
Heel Lifts. Inserting a heel lift (with shock absorption) in both shoes for one to two weeks may help to ease the load on the calf muscles during walking. Cardio Training. Swimming or gentle cycling for 30 minutes every day increases the blood flow to the calf muscles and enhances recovery.
How long does it take to recover from a calf strain?
Depending on the severity of the calf strain, recovery may take between 4-6 weeks.
Why is it so hard to walk in tennis?
In most cases, the player is unable to continue play because of the severe pain, which makes walking very difficult. When a muscle has been strained, it is stretched beyond its allowable length and tears. If you experience a calf strain or tennis leg, take immediate action.
How to get rid of a tennis leg injury?
Fold a towel by grasping it with the toes of the injured leg. Perform this for 15 to 20 seconds, followed by 10 to 20 seconds rest, and repeat 10 to 20 times. Swimming or cycling for 30 minutes every day increases the blood flow to the calf muscles and enhances recovery after tennis leg injury. Step 2.
What is tennis leg?
The term Tennis Leg refers to an acute medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle tear in the older athlete characterized by sudden onset of severe calf pain and significant disability. The injury is invariably associated with extensive bruising and swelling, and can be mistaken for a deep venous thrombosis.
How to get rid of calf pain in tennis?
Stretching exercises for the calf muscles are particularly important. Build up training gradually, so that the body can slowly adapt to the increased load. Wear properly fitting tennis shoes with good shock absorption, sideways stability, feeling with the playing surface (grip) and optimal comfort.
What is tennis leg biomechanics?
Sports Biomechanics for Tennis Leg. This condition has been termed "tennis leg" because of its prevalence in this particular sport, but medial calf injury can happen in a variety of sports or other activities.
How to help calf muscles when walking?
A heel lift (with shock absorption) in both shoes for one to two weeks may help to ease the load on the calf muscles during walking. ‘Viscoheels’ are very useful for this purpose. Stretching the long calf muscles. Step forward with the unaffected leg, keeping the heel of the back leg on the floor.
What muscle is stretched during a lunging shot?
This action puts maximal tension on the gastrocnemius muscle as the lengthened muscle is contracted at the "push off," resulting in a tennis leg injury.
What is the most common site for a venous thrombosis?
The most common site is the medial head of gastrocnemius, but occasionally the plantaris muscle is involved. Symptoms are a sudden, sharp or burning pain in the leg, sometimes accompanied by an audible sound.
How to prevent tennis leg injury?
A proper warm up before playing the game is one of the best ways to prevent tennis leg including other possible injuries. Cardio, along with stretches will help engage blood circulation and loosen up the muscles and joints. Your chiropractor Pretoria can help you with specific stretches for tennis leg.
What is a tennis leg?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, “tennis leg” is an injury athletes often experience. It is a tear in the calf muscle known as “gastrocnemius” muscle or “leg triceps”. While injuries like this can happen to any active person, it’s more common in persons 35 years and older.
How to tell if you have a calf injury?
What are some symptoms to watch out for? 1 Sharp burning pain radiating through the calf or lower part of the leg 2 The pain is compared to having been kicked in the calf 3 The pain makes it difficult to walk 4 Swelling in the calf region
How long does it take for a tennis leg to heal?
What is the estimated tennis leg recovery time? For most patients, the average recovery time to heal from this injury is up to 6 weeks.
What to do if you have a calf injury?
There are many types of treatment options some include but are not limited to the following: Ice and elevation. The injured person must make sure that they receive immediate care for the leg.
What muscle does a tennis tear affect?
The tear may affect the “soleus” which is a deeper laying smaller muscle of the calf as well as the larger muscle aka “gastrocnemius.”. This is an injury commonly experienced by tennis players, hence the name. These sports pros put pressure on their legs through sudden jumps and jolts to hit the ball. Sudden movements like this can lead ...
How to prevent recurring injuries?
Taking extra precautions before, during, and after a game is crucial to prevent recurring injuries. Sportspersons must adequately warm up their muscles through cardio workouts such as cycling and swimming. Doing stretches before playing any sport is also very important to prevent an injury.
