What is the Tennis Toe?
Tennis Toe is a nail bed injury caused by repetitive trauma to the toe inside the shoe, often from abrupt stops or push-offs. Common in racquet sports and basketball, it results in subungual hematoma and discomfort under the toenail.
Definition
The Tennis Toe, also known as tendonitis, extensor or tendinopathy lateral side of the elbow, is an inflammation of the extensor tendons of the fingers of the hand that originate at the elbow. These tendons stretch and forearm are inserted into the bones of the fingers. When you perform an activity that involves repetitive movements of the wrist and hand, as in the case of tennis, there is an overload in these tendons, which can lead to swelling and pain.
Causes
The most common causes of toe tennis are repetitive movements of the wrist and the hand that are made in sports such as tennis, baseball, basketball or climbing. In addition, other causes may be a bad sport, a lack of warm-up, a lack of strength in the muscles of the forearm and of the hand, or an overload in the joint of the elbow due to a work activity.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the Tennis Toe is based on the clinical evaluation of the patient’s symptoms and a physical examination of the affected area. The medical specialist in trauma or physical therapy you can perform specific tests to assess the degree of inflammation of the extensor tendons of the fingers, as the proof of Cozen or proof of Mills. In addition, it may be necessary to perform imaging tests, like an x-ray or an mri, to rule out other associated injuries.
Treatment
The treatment of the Tennis Toe is based on the application of conservative measures to reduce the inflammation and pain, and in the prevention of new lesions. Conservative measures may include the application of ice to the affected area for 10-15 minutes several times a day, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) under medical prescription, and performing specific exercises to strengthen the muscles of the forearm and hand.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation of the Tennis Toe focuses on the recovery of the functionality of the hand and forearm are affected. Rehabilitation exercises focus on flexibility, strengthening, and stretching of the affected muscles and tendons. In addition, you can perform physiotherapy techniques specific, such as manual therapy, electrotherapy or the therapy of shock waves, to speed up the recovery. The recovery time can vary depending on the degree of injury and the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation.
Back to the action
Once pain and inflammation have disappeared and the patient has recovered the function of the hand and forearm are affected, you can proceed to the back to the action. It is important that this return is made gradual and progressive manner, avoiding re-perform movements that may cause a new injury. The specialist doctor or physical therapist can design a plan back to the action specific to each patient, including exercises, stretching, strengthening, and flexibility.
Note: this article is only intended to be informational use. In any case self-diagnose. If you suffer from any medical condition, we recommend that you go to your physical therapy clinic of confidence.
Cedric Arregui Guivarch
National Coach of Basketball (CES 2014)
Webgrafía and Bibliography
- Aramberri, M. (2018). Tendinopathy lateral side of the elbow (tennis elbow). Physiotherapy-online. Retrieved from https://www.fisioterapia-online.com/articulos/tendinopatia-lateral-del-codo-codo-de-tenista
- Garcia-Muro, F. J. (2012). Tendinitis side of the elbow (tennis elbow). Spanish journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, 56(6), 485-491.
- Hernandez-Sanchez, S., Serrano-Angulo, A., & López-de-Uralde-Villanueva, I. (2021). Treatment physiotherapeutic conservative in tendinopathy lateral side of the elbow (tennis elbow): a systematic review. Physical therapy, 43(2), 95-103.
- Vázquez-Carballo, C., & Vázquez-Rodríguez, E. (2019). Tendinopathy lateral side of the elbow (tennis elbow): a review up-to-date. Spanish journal of Sports Medicine, 35(2), 105-113.
- Vicente-Rodriguez, G., Fernandez-Galaz, C., & Caba-Doussoux, P. (2020). Tendinopathy of the elbow: an integral approach. Physical therapy, 42(4), 194-203.
- Villarreal-Ríos, E., Garza-Treviño, E. N., & Treviño-Garza, C. (2018). Tendinopathy lateral side of the elbow. Medical journal General Hospital of Mexico, 81(2), 92-97.
- Webconsultas. (2021). Tennis elbow: symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.webconsultas.com/salud-al-dia/codo-de-tenista
