The world group final of the Federations Cup draws close, with Italy and Russia competing on the red clay outdoor courts for glory. Italy last took the title in 2009 and 2010, whilst Russia last won in 2007 and 2008 with the side’s last meeting in the 2008 final where Russia came out on top.
The Federations Cup was first launched in 1963 as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and has grown to become the largest annual international team competition for female tennis players. In 2013, 97 nations entered the competition.
Different types of sports injuries
Sports injuries are common for both amateurs and professionals and sometimes are unavoidable. Injuries themselves can be categorised as either muscle or joint complaints and whilst the majority of sports injuries occur as a result of overuse, some do occur from accidents such as slipping or during contact sports such as football.
Some sports injuries are more common in certain sports than others. Tennis elbow is something associated with tennis or golf (golfers elbow), but equally ankle injuries can be common among players. In a sport requiring pivoting on the ankle joint, as the game progresses and a player becomes tired then there is an increased risk of them rolling the joint when turning to make a shot. A sprained ankle can be very painful and cause inflammation of the joint but is largely self-limiting and a player should recover within a few days.
Upper limb injuries can also be common among tennis players, covering wrist injuries, elbow injuries and shoulder injuries. With players serving at well over 100mph it is clear the amount of force being placed through the upper limb and overuse can lead to joint complaints.
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow occurs as a result of overuse of the elbow joint, causing inflammation of the joint which can be painful and affect overall movement of the forearm. Despite its name, it is not primarily associated with tennis, with other repetitive activities which can lead to the onset of the condition, such as painting and even playing the violin.
Tennis elbow symptoms
The clinical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis and begins with pain being centred on the outside of the elbow joint. Another common elbow condition is golfers elbow, however the pain is centred on the inside of the elbow joint but ultimately amounts to the same pain and discomfort experienced by the patient.
In the event that you should begin to feel pain within the elbow joint it is advisable to cease your activity and rest as playing through the pain can make things worse.
How to manage tennis elbow
When playing tennis, overuse of the elbow joint can be difficult to overcome unless you stop what you’re doing. The condition is largely self-limiting, though in extreme cases surgery may be required. A typical recovery period can range from between six months and two years, which can be rather inconvenient but necessary to ensure a full recovery.
Ice can also be used to help manage inflammation of the joint, which can help control the pain and allow you greater mobility.
Another common remedy being applied by patients is the use of a tennis elbow support, which can also be used to manage golfers elbow. The support works by applying compression to the affected area of the elbow to help manage pain and inflammation and improve mobility. In the case of golfers elbow the support is simply rotated so that compression is applied to the inside of the joint rather than the outside.
If you have any concerns over your tennis elbow or in deed any other sports injuries then you should seek a professional diagnosis where they may be able to offer you advice on the best exercises to undertake to help with your recovery and may even recommend physiotherapy as an option in conjunction with rest and the use of a tennis elbow support.