Treating tennis injuries with light therapy

Using the Photizo Sport after the initial R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compress, elevate) treatment will help to accelerate healing.

Some of the benefits of using the Photizo Sport include:

• Reduces inflammation
• Increases blood circulation
• Boosts endorphin production
• Blocks pain transmitting chemicals
• Eases pain
• Non-invasive
• Pain-free
• Simple to operate
• Safe

Tennis is a great sport for maintaining health, fitness, strength and agility. It also has social and psychological benefits. But there are a number of injuries that can occur whether you are an elite athlete or a weekend social player.

1. Tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis is the inflammation of the tendons joining the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow and is often the result of overuse. Symptoms of include pain or burning on the outside of the elbow and weak grip strength. You may find that the symptoms are worse with forearm activity.
2. Rotator cuff tears – the rotator cuff can tear gradually, as a result of overuse, but can also result from an acute injury. Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include pain, tenderness, and weakness in the shoulder, difficulty lifting the arm, and snapping and crackling noises while moving the shoulder.
3. Stress fractures in the back – the combination of hyperextension (bending the back) and side-bending and rotation of the trunk can cause stress fractures. This motion puts stress on the vertebrae in the lower back and can eventually cause a fracture in the portion of the vertebra called the pars interarticularis. This can eventually result in a condition called spondylolisthesis, in which the vertebra shifts forward. Stress fractures are not always painful, but can result in pain in the lower back that gets worse with activity.
4. Patellar tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee) – the patellar tendon attaches the kneecap to the shinbone and aids in the movement of the leg and supporting our weight when walking and jumping. Jumping, in particular, can put excessive strain on this tendon, and repetitive jumping, which is often a part of tennis, can cause microscopic tears and injury to the patellar tendon. Patellar tendonitis can cause pain and swelling, and the affected area can feel warm to the touch.
5. Ankle sprains – because tennis can be a fast-paced game, a sudden sideways motion can cause the ankle to twist, stretching out or damaging one of the ligaments in the ankle. A sprain can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the ankle. The ankle is often unstable, and bruising can occur as well.