Sprained Ankles
One of the greatest fears of any tennis players is a sprained ankle.
Due to the side-to-side motion of tennis, with much stopping and starting, more pressure than normal is applied to the ankle joint and the result is a painful few weeks on the sidelines.
The first and most obvious method of prevention is to wear ankle supports or bindings. These will help stabalise the ankle and make it less likely to twist and become sprained. You can buy specialized supports which slip over the foot like a sock, and are worn underneath socks, or alternatively a firmly wrapped bandage can do much of the same job. Wear any support firmly but not tightly.
A good set of tennis shoes is also important, as the specially designed cushioning will help lessen the impact of movement during sudden changes of direction. A thick pair of tennis socks is also advisable, as basically any means of support should be encouraged. Every little helps.
Unfortunately, injuries to the ankle to do still occur even with supports, though they are less likely. If you do hurt your ankle, you need to give it the due care and attention it deserves. The ankle is one of the weakest joints and ligament structures in the body, and when injured it has a tendency to become weakened for life, making further injury more likely.
You can help prevent this by resting a sprained ankle thoroughly. When the injury occurs, stop playing immediately and ice it as soon as possible, preferably for as long as you can bear. Seek medical attention and preferably get it professionally strapped. You should then try and rest it for as long as possible, keeping it elevated for at least 24 hours. In most cases, you should not play tennis again for another week to give it a full chance to heal. Ensure the injury is absolutely and fully healed before training or playing again, or a lifetime of ankle problems is ahead of you.
Following a sprained ankle, even if it was duly rested and fully healed, you need to be extra protective of the ligaments and joints. Wear ankle supports as a precaution and fully stretch the area during warming up and cooling down. If further injury should occur, take even longer off than you did last time.
Having to take time off is annoying, but you are building a longer playing future by treating a sprained ankle with the highest degree of respect.
