Tennis and Golf Wrist

Upper extremity injuries seen in young athletes participating in golf and tennis are typically overuse in nature, whereas lower extremity injuries in these sports are generally due to acute trauma. The biomechanics of the swing in golf and tennis lead to stress on the wrist in both the planes of flexion-extension as well as radial and ulnar deviation. These repetitive motions can potentially result in tendinopathies of the wrist extensors and flexors. Intra-articular pathology, such as injuries to the triangular fibrocartilage complex can also occur. Initial treatment of these injuries in the young athlete is typically non-operative but may include operative intervention in order to alleviate discomfort and/or facilitate return to sport.