Every Spring, Daniel Island becomes one of the most exciting tennis destinations in the country. The Charleston Open brings world-class athletes to our backyard; and with it, an undeniable energy that gets recreational players, club members, and weekend warriors back on the court in full force.
That enthusiasm is a great thing. But it also means this is one of the busiest times of the year for sports medicine physicians like Dr. McConnell, who practices right here on Daniel Island. Because for every inspired player who picks their racket back up after the off-season, there are a handful who do it a little too fast, a little too hard, and a little before their body is ready.
The good news: most tennis injuries don’t require surgery. And with the right care, most players get back on the court faster than they expect.
The Most Common Tennis Injuries We See in Spring
Tennis is a sport that demands explosive lateral movement, overhead power, and repetitive swing mechanics. It asks all of that from joints that may have spent the winter relatively dormant. Here’s where things tend to go wrong:
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
The most recognizable tennis injury, and one of the most misunderstood. Despite the name, tennis elbow is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow. In tennis players, it typically develops from repetitive backhand strokes or gripping the racket too tightly. The result is pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow that can radiate into the forearm.
Knee Pain and Patellar Tendinitis
The explosive stops, starts, and lateral cuts that make tennis exciting are exactly what put the knees under stress. Patellar tendinitis develops when the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone becomes inflamed from repetitive loading. Players often describe it as a dull ache just below the kneecap that worsens after play and stiffens up overnight.
Shoulder Injuries
Every serve, overhead smash, and high forehand puts significant rotational stress on the shoulder. Rotator cuff strains and impingement syndrome are common in players who ramp up their serve volume quickly, especially after time away from the game. Shoulder injuries are particularly important to address early, as compensation patterns can create secondary problems in the neck, elbow, and wrist.
Most tennis injuries don’t require surgery. They require the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and a physician who understands how athletes heal.
Why Surgery Isn’t Usually the Answer
One of the most common concerns players bring into our office is the fear that an injury means time off, surgery, and a long road back. In the majority of tennis-related injuries, that simply isn’t the case.
Dr. McConnell’s practice is built entirely around nonsurgical and regenerative medicine, which means the goal is always to help the body heal itself, restore function, and get patients back to doing what they love without an operating room involved.
Depending on the injury, treatment options may include:
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy — using your own blood’s healing factors to accelerate tissue repair in tendons and joints
- Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections to reduce inflammation and restore joint comfort
- Ultrasound-guided injections for precise, targeted treatment of the affected structure
- Personalized rehabilitation guidance to correct the mechanics that led to the injury in the first place
The goal isn’t just to get you through the season. It’s to keep you playing next year and the one after that.
Don’t Wait Until It Gets Worse
Tendon and joint injuries have a frustrating habit of feeling manageable, until they aren’t. A nagging elbow becomes a chronic condition. A sore knee becomes a torn tendon. The earlier an injury is evaluated, the more options there are and the faster the recovery tends to be.
If you’re feeling something you didn’t feel before the season started, that’s worth a conversation. Charleston Sports Medicine offers same-day appointments and no referral is required so there’s no reason to sit on it.
