The prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in tennis players : a retrospective study in a Maltese amateur tennis club

Abstract

Background: Tennis is a popular sport both globally and locally. It is characterised by repeated strokes and explosive movements, which places the athlete at a high risk of injuries. Purpose: This study aimed to gather data on the prevalence of tennis-related musculoskeletal injuries and injury characteristics in the Maltese context. A secondary aim was to analyse the impact of using different injury definitions on the number of collected injuries. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: An adapted version of the OSTRC questionnaire was distributed via email to members of a Maltese amateur tennis club. Using the ‘all physical complaints’ injury definition data on the prevalence and characteristics of musculoskeletal injuries suffered in the previous 6 months was gathered. Results were then analysed via SPSS and Microsoft Office Excel. Results: A total of 61 injuries from 106 participants were recorded, with a point prevalence of 57.5%. 11 out of these 61 injuries were ‘time-loss’ injuries, and 33 were substantial injuries. The most commonly injured locations were the elbow, knee, and ankle. Gradual onset injuries were the most common, with the majority of them occurring in the elbow (41%). The ankle was mostly impacted by sudden onset injuries (36.3%). Following injury severity calculations, sudden onset injuries to the thigh and gradual onset injuries to the elbow and knee were the most burdensome. Conclusion: Through this study injury awareness in the local population is increased, providing more insight for physiotherapists to provide injury prevention programs, especially focusing on the elbow and knee, seeing that both were most frequently recorded and most burdensome.