Don’t Risk It at the Racket: Common Tennis Injuries and How to Prevent Them

With the Wimbledon fever still fresh in the air and summer in full swing, there is no better time to hit the tennis courts yourself. 

Although tennis is a relatively low-impact sport, both regular and novice players can sustain a number of common injuries. These include: 

• Tennis elbow

• Shoulder injuries

• Abdominal strains

• Extensor Carpi Ulnaris (wrist) injuries.

These injuries are largely avoidable and can often be attributed to poor technique, lack of conditioning and insufficient warm ups. 

Whether you're a regular player or picking up a racket for the first time, here is what you need to know about common tennis injuries and how to prevent them. 

We’ve all heard of tennis elbow but what is it? 

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, occurs from overuse of the extensor muscle tendon, which connects your forearm muscles to your elbow. This repetitive strain injury is common in activities that require consistent swinging and twisting of the arm, as tennis does. Symptoms include stiffness, swelling, weakened grip and pain on the outside of your elbow.

Repetitive strain injuries can also occur in the shoulders. Overhead movements, like serves and slams, can place unnatural strain on the joint and lead to injuries like rotator cuff tears. 

Although the shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, it isn’t as structurally protected as other joints are. Therefore, it is important to regularly exercise your shoulder’s mobility and maintain a good range of motion. Building up the muscles around the shoulder with exercises like shoulder presses, standing rows and scapula setting, can help protect the joints too.

According to Ultra Sports Clinic senior physiotherapist, Danielle Yarwood, other common tennis injuries include abdominal strains, from high serving volumes, and Extensor Carpi Ulnaris injuries, from the racket’s impact.

Abdominal strains in tennis can occur during the cocking phase of service, when the torso is elongated and the shoulder has reached maximal external shoulder rotation. This can be rehabilitated and avoided by focusing on eccentric and plyometric strengthening of the abdominal wall muscles.

“I highly recommend pilates-based exercises for deep core activation alongside medball overhead power exercises,” says Yarwood. 

The Extensor Carpi Ulnaris is the forearm muscles that extends and adducts the wrist. Injuries to this muscle can be sustained through poor technique, such as an excessive use of the wrist to create topspin, or even high string tension in your racket. To protect your wrists and forearm muscles, Yarwood recommends exercises such as isometric holds and vibration drills. 

Tennis is a great social game for all ages and fitness levels. The short, frequent bursts of cardio required to chase down the ball can improve aerobic foundations, agility and your resting heart rate. The sport is also a great way to sharpen coordination and reaction times, things which we can neglect as we age. 

Feeling ready to pick up the racket? Find a tennis court near you and consider booking a session with one of our physiotherapists to ensure you get through the season injury free.

Works Cited

“An 8-Stage Model for Evaluating the Tennis Serve: Implications for Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3445225/. Accessed 30 June 2026.

“An 8-Stage Model for Evaluating the Tennis Serve: Implications for Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3445225/. Accessed 7 July 2026.

Bennett, Gordon. “Extensor carpi ulnaris injuries in tennis players: a study of 28 cases.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2577486/. Accessed 30 June 2026.

Kibler, WB. “Shoulder injuries in tennis players - PMC.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2577490/. Accessed 18 July 2026.

Maquirriain, Javier. “Rectus abdominis muscle strains in tennis players.” PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2465294/. Accessed 30 June 2026.

“Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Treatment & Symptoms.” Cleveland Clinic, 21 July 2025, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7049-tennis-elbow-lateral-epicondylitis. Accessed 30 June 2026.