pain creeping up after 7 months of using poly string

[JustPlayIt]

I start stringing my rackets with poly hybrids (poly in the mains) last fall and it had felt great. Each stringly job lasted 3 times longer, and my top spin became more powerful. I was playing about 2 times a week (2.5 hours everytime). No pain in the arm whatsoever. I started playing a bit more since mid-February this year, like 3 to 4 times including one ball machine session per week, and a hint of pain in my forehand arm started creeping up. From the wrist to the upper forearm, to the lower upper arm, all the way to the shoulder from time to time, but mostly it's on the outside of upper arm (a couple of inches from the elbow) and upper forearm (again a couple of inches from the elbow, on the outside top if I extend my arm straight with palm down). I don't feel much from the elbow itself where TE typically is (I've seen plenty of pictures). For the most part, it's not even pain, it's kinda a sore, tinkling and heavy sensation, more so if I wake up in the middle of the night. My question is, is this the sign of TE in its early stage? I'm not sure if it can develop gratually over time or not. I'm not a beefy guy but fit and flexible enough I think. My racket is 11.5 oz and HL and I've been using it for almost a year.

I just ordered a powerball today. If anyone has used one for some time, could comment? I'm scared and if there's something I can do now, I want to act quick. Tennis is my favorite activity (yeah it's even better than doing that thing ;) )and I don't want to give it up due to arm problems.

[vinky]

Whether or not poly strings are the cause of your pain is not clear. It may just be that you're playing too much tennis (overtraining) and that you need a break to heal up. It's hard to diagnose ppl online, but regardless if you have TE or not, you shoudl probably take some a break to get better. Once you return, there are several things you can do to lessen the stress on your arm:
1) Change equipment - Perhaps you can find a more arm friendly racquet or string. Even lowering the tension of your strings can surprising help alot.
2) Fitness - Getting stronger by weight training will greatly increase the work load you can handle. Not only that, but better nutrition can help you recover from your hitting sessions
3) Play less - It just happens. Growing old sucks.. and our bodies cannot heal as fast as when we're younger. I didn't check your age, but after about 25-30ish, everything goes downhill. Hopefully I didn't just make you depressed ;)
4) Improve technique - More economical strokes will be better for your body.
5) Go to your doctor - probably knows more than I do. Can receive valuable advice.

[scotus]

If you have played for a long time without TE and you are getting it now that you have switched to poly, there is a good chance that it was caused by the poly strings.

The first thing you ought to do is REST. Do not lift weights. Do not try to strengthen your arm/forearm until the strange sensation in your arm goes away. (And wait for Marius to supply you with reading assignments)

This may be the beginning stage of TE, but assuming that you began to do damage to your tendon since last fall, you may need to rest anywhere from a month to a half year. Be good to your arm, and good luck.

[JustPlayIt]

Thanks a lot vinky & Scotus. Yeah I'm in late 30s and definitely feel the aging, particularly in my legs, they're noticeably slower than 10 even 5 years ago. Maybe my arms are getting weaker too.

I have a heavy top spin forehand and it's definitely not an efficient style. I may have been doing a lot more upward swinging subconciously in the past few months now I think of it after watching so many Nadal highlights. That could have contributed to the problem too. I have been practicing volleys lately with ball machines and I guess the back hand volley directly put stress on the TE tendons, considering it's 100+ back hand volleys within 2 hours for every practice session. Thank god I have a 2hbh from baseline or it might have been worse.

I guess I'll need to take it easy a bit and play less for a couple of months and see. Hopefully the powerball would help too.

[Marius_Hancu]

Yes, TE develops over time, it's an RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)

check my signature here:

Great fitness sites
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=33800

esp the Elbow and Wrist Pain sections

Get rid of polys (use natural gut or multis), reduce tension, change racquet if necessary:

FWIW
check my posting here:

Best arm friendly racquets?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=77937

Start conditioning your arm and shoulder as per the links in the above. Also, read other threads related to "elbow" and "wrist."

On Nadal's thing, read my links above on the wrist pain. Exagerated topspin leads to something like this, starting from the palm upwards.

[rounick]

Avoid computers,too!

[mislav]

Avoid computers,too!
This, I believe, is one of the most overlooked but most vicious aggravators of TE/GE. Really, try to avoid using the mouse if you have TE/GE problems.

[goober]

This, I believe, is one of the most overlooked but most vicious aggravators of TE/GE. Really, try to avoid using the mouse if you have TE/GE problems.


just switch to your nondominant hand for mouse use.

[mislav]

just switch to your nondominant hand for mouse use.
Can't do it. I'm a true righty, I guess.

[goober]

Can't do it. I'm a true righty, I guess.


Really? How hard is it to move a mouse with your other hand? I am a righty and I switched to left after I got tennis elbow. It was a little awkward at first but after a week it felt normal. The only time I need real precision on my mouse is when I am playing first person shooter games on the PC:) I switch back for those occasions but other than that I do all my mouse work with my left.

[louis netman]

just switch to your nondominant hand for mouse use.

If I didn't do the switch over 4 1/2 years ago, I would be having MAJOR difficulty right now... Switching your mouse hand will change your life! I also purchased VR software to boot...

[mislav]

Really? How hard is it to move a mouse with your other hand? I am a righty and I switched to left after I got tennis elbow. It was a little awkward at first but after a week it felt normal. The only time I need real precision on my mouse is when I am playing first person shooter games on the PC:) I switch back for those occasions but other than that I do all my mouse work with my left.
Not hard for net, mail and such trivia, but very hard for any graphic design, video and audio editing.

Since I do all those things and more, I just can't keep switching my mouse hand so many times a day.

[Ripper]

I start stringing my rackets with poly hybrids (poly in the mains) last fall and it had felt great. Each stringly job lasted 3 times longer, and my top spin became more powerful. I was playing about 2 times a week (2.5 hours everytime). No pain in the arm whatsoever. I started playing a bit more since mid-February this year, like 3 to 4 times including one ball machine session per week, and a hint of pain in my forehand arm started creeping up. From the wrist to the upper forearm, to the lower upper arm, all the way to the shoulder from time to time, but mostly it's on the outside of upper arm (a couple of inches from the elbow) and upper forearm (again a couple of inches from the elbow, on the outside top if I extend my arm straight with palm down). I don't feel much from the elbow itself where TE typically is (I've seen plenty of pictures). For the most part, it's not even pain, it's kinda a sore, tinkling and heavy sensation, more so if I wake up in the middle of the night. My question is, is this the sign of TE in its early stage? I'm not sure if it can develop gratually over time or not. I'm not a beefy guy but fit and flexible enough I think. My racket is 11.5 oz and HL and I've been using it for almost a year.

Very similar to what I have been experiencing. In my case, I think it has something to do with the way I, sometimes, hit my 1hbh. The same as you, it's not, exactly, a pain. It comes, goes and changes location. Anyway, apart from trying to clean up my bh stroke motion, I'm not doing much about it. Unless it really converts into a pain, I think I'll just kind of ignore it. I figure, if I'm going to play tennis, my arm is ALWAYS going to have some discomfort. When I used to jog, I would, PERMANENTLY, feel these kind of things in my legs' joints and muscles... and I'm talking about real soreness, stiffness and the likes (in my legs); not necessarily pains, but not twingles (like what I get in my arm), either...

Edit: And I never worried about my legs back then :)

[SC in MA]

Thanks a lot vinky & Scotus. Yeah I'm in late 30s and definitely feel the aging, particularly in my legs, they're noticeably slower than 10 even 5 years ago. Maybe my arms are getting weaker too.

I have a heavy top spin forehand and it's definitely not an efficient style. I may have been doing a lot more upward swinging subconciously in the past few months now I think of it after watching so many Nadal highlights. That could have contributed to the problem too. I have been practicing volleys lately with ball machines and I guess the back hand volley directly put stress on the TE tendons, considering it's 100+ back hand volleys within 2 hours for every practice session. Thank god I have a 2hbh from baseline or it might have been worse.

I guess I'll need to take it easy a bit and play less for a couple of months and see. Hopefully the powerball would help too.Repetitive backhand volley sessions with a ball machine will definitely put a strain on an arm. Especially if the balls are mostly flat. Poly strings don't help either. I would try dropping the ball machine sessions and not using poly strings no matter how well they might play for you.

[diredesire]

Another thing to consider is how often you restring. Poly strings by nature just go dead after a while. Sometimes the durability does more harm than good. The luxilon strings (IMO) are the worst at this. They play really well at first, and then just fizzle. They last and last, but should be cut out by the time they die. They aren't helping people after the playability has gone.

[rasajadad]

I didn't see it suggested here, but go find yourself a physical therapist and or trainer that has a lot of experience with tennis/tennis injuries. All the suggestions about sofetr strings, looser strings, and equipment is all well and good, but first you've got to heal youself. I'm 13 months into a TE injury and it's a long way back. 12-18 months depending, but don't overlook competent medical advise. Good luck!