Evaluation and treatment of shoulder injuries in tennis players: A review

Tennis, one of the most popular sports in the United States, requires both strenuous aerobic and anaerobic effort, placing competitors at risk of significant fatigue and subsequently faultymechanics. Repetitive stress on the upper extremity especially when serving contributes to the high incidence of chronic shoulder injuries as well as acute injuries. Shoulder injuries may include scapular dyskinesis, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, internal impingement, and labral, biceps, or rotator cuff lesions. Physical therapy and rehabilitation are the mainstays of treatment. When surgical treatment is necessary, prolonged recovery and difficulty with a return to pre-injury levels of competition can occur. This review focuses on the most common shoulder injuries seen in tennis players, with an emphasis on evaluation and treatment.