Tennis elbow can be a debilitating injury for anyone that likes to play tennis regularly. There are many reasons for developing this injury but here are a few ways that you might not think would contribute to the problem.
If you regularly do yard work and spray to kill weeds or insects it might be dangerous to your tennis arm. Do you use a squeeze sprayer? This repetitive motion has caused me problems in the past and from experience I now know to use pressure sprayers to avoid the excessive strain this puts on my trigger finger that often translates into muscle and joint inflammation.
Another problem is using your thumb and forefinger to pick up things by squeezing the edges, for example doing this to lift large pots when planting. Many other movements and activities mimic this and can cause injuries that limit you on the tennis court.
Lastly, when attempting to open hard-to-turn lids on glass jars, remember that this kind of strain can cost you your gripping strength on the tennis court long after the snack or spread that you had to have is gone. Pick up some oil filter straps or rubber grippers to make this job easier and less damaging to your hand. Your tennis arm will thank you.
