Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a common condition where the tendons in your forearm leading up to your elbow become strained and inflamed, causing pain around the outside of the elbow. Pain can sometimes also extend into the forearm and the back of the hand. The condition is generally caused by overuse, either through repetitive movements or strenuous activity, and is worsened by shock and vibration, which are harmful to the soft arm and shoulder tissues.
Rest and appropriate treatment, along with making adjustments to your tennis technique, should be the main priorities in any recovery from tennis elbow. Use of anti-inflammatories or playing with a forearm strap or elbow / wrist support are also options.
Making changes to your racket setup can also help to reduce shock and vibration transmitted to your arm. Here are some tips to consider when selecting a racket and strings:
Racket
- Weight – Heavy rackets provide the highest level of frame stability and transmit less shock than lighter rackets, making them advisable for players with wrist or elbow injuries. As a general rule, use the heaviest racket weight that you can comfortably swing. Players with tennis elbow or other arm and shoulder injuries should avoid ultra-lightweight rackets.
- Flexibility – A stiff frame will transmit more impact shock to the wrist, elbow and shoulder than a flexible frame. Tennis elbow and other arm problems are often worsened by very stiff rackets. More flexible rackets provide a softer impact with less shock and vibration and are therefore recommended for players with arm and/or shoulder problems.
- Grip – Gripping the racket too tightly puts excessive tension on the tendons in the forearm. To help loosen your grip, use the biggest grip size that’s comfortable or build up the grip with heat shrink sleeves or an overgrip. A soft, well-padded cushion grip will also absorb shock. Make sure to re-grip often as a worn grip will also cause you to hold the handle too tightly.
- Vibration dampener – A vibration dampener will assist in the absorption of shock and vibration.
Strings
- String type – Soft strings such as multifilaments and natural gut are able to absorb harmful shock. Stay away from stiff strings made from polyester or Kevlar or, at the very least, use a ‘hybrid’ setup with a softer string in the crosses.
- Gauge – Switching to a thinner string gauge will offer a softer feel and can help reduce discomfort.
- Pattern – Denser string patterns (e.g. 18x20) are recommended as there are more strings to absorb shock.
- Tension – Lower tensions allow more of the impact shock to be absorbed by the strings.
