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Low back pain in the competitive tennis player
M R Marks1, S S Haas, S W Wiesel
1George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Clinics in Sports Medicine
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Low back pain is common in tennis players, with 38% missing tournaments. Further epidemiologic studies are vital for understanding and addressing low back pain in racquet sports.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedics
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Low back pain is a significant issue in tennis.
- Existing literature lacks comprehensive studies on low back pain in tennis players.
- A recent survey highlights the prevalence of missed tournaments due to back problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the etiologies, biomechanics, and pathology of low back pain in relation to tennis stroke mechanics.
- To present a treatment protocol for low back pain in tennis.
- To emphasize the need for further epidemiologic research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of etiologies, biomechanics, and pathology of lumbar spine in tennis.
- Analysis of a survey conducted on the Men's Professional Tennis Tour.
- Identification of research gaps in orthopaedic and sports medicine literature.
Main Results:
- The Men's Professional Tennis Tour survey is the sole study found addressing low back pain in tennis players.
- 38% of surveyed players missed at least one tournament due to low back issues.
- A significant lack of research exists regarding low back pain in racquet sports.
Conclusions:
- Low back pain is a prevalent concern for professional tennis players.
- There is a critical need for epidemiologic studies to understand low back pain in racquet sports.
- Developing targeted treatment protocols requires further investigation into the specific biomechanics and pathology involved.