Thigh pain from serving

[CrispyFritters]

Hello, I'm hoping to get some pain advice.

I've been experiencing sporadic leg pain in my left thigh. I believe it is the result of my service motion. When I jump up into the serve, I disproportionately use my left leg, and I think it's straining the upper thigh muscle.

It's a deep, spikey pain in the upper leg muscle, front side of body. The pain goes right on through to the bone, and it comes and goes. It's not a persistent ache, but more like a quick twinge.

I usually feel the twinge after I serve. Sometimes I feel it just sitting in my desk chair when I try to lift my left leg.

If I rest for 2-3 days, the twinges completely go away. However, they comes back as soon as I have a strenuous workout, and they are coming back more and more frequently.

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[goran_ace]

Is it just muscle fatigue? Do you slide (toe drag) your right leg over during your serve so you are pushing off only with your left leg? What I would recommend is either trying to work from a platform stance or if you must slide, slide your back heel up to the front heel instead of crossing over your toe (will also help to keep your hips from opening prematurely). As for leg strength/endurance try working out your legs individually instead of always as a pair. So try split squats, lunges, etc.

 

[CrispyFritters]

Is it just muscle fatigue? Do you slide (toe drag) your right leg over during your serve so you are pushing off only with your left leg? What I would recommend is either trying to work from a platform stance or if you must slide, slide your back heel up to the front heel instead of crossing over your toe (will also help to keep your hips from opening prematurely). As for leg strength/endurance try working out your legs individually instead of always as a pair. So try split squats, lunges, etc.

I'm hoping it's just muscle fatigue...but the pain is kinda sharp and sporadic vs a dull consistent ache. Can muscle fatigue manifet itself as sharp and sporadic?

I do slide my right leg up into the pin-point stance. My feet are staggered when I start to jump up. The toe of the right foot is about even with the middle of my left foot. I'm 100% sure I don't use my right leg enough (or at all).

Do you think my right foot is in the wrong position? I feel like it's not in the right place tp push off evenly. Maybe the fix is as simple as that. I'd really like to stay in the pin-point stance if possible, so I don't have to relearn my serve. Thanks

 

[CrispyFritters]

Anyone? No one else has any leg pain?

 

[tennisdad65]

Any chance it is a herniated disk? For me it was on the right leg. butt, hammy and calf. worst pains I have ever had in my legs.

Yours are on the left and on the quad.. so hopefully it is not a disk issue.

 

[jaybear1909]

I know this is old, but I experienced this yesterday in a doubles match and was wondering if anyone had any insight.

Same exact scenario, loaded into the pin-point serve position and felt a pulling sensation. The upper left thigh is really sensitive now and I cant load on the serve. It's been twinging for a few days but I thought it was a cramp.

Hopefully muscle fatigue because I did a tournament and had to play 5 1/2 hours straight

 

[CrispyFritters]

Hey Jaybear,

I solved the pain by going to the gym and doing individual leg lifts with light weights. That strengthened up the muscles enough. Now I can serve as usual - no pain.

 

[dragon2o00]

I've had similar issues (more sore and tight, like I pulled it). I found that I was putting too much weight on my left leg. I shifted some of my weight to my right foot and that took care of it.

 

[dlam]

I develop right buttock pain and scitica after serving
I tried to use a platform stance and likely put too much pressure on my right iliac paoas muscle
I have converted back to a pinpoint stance and make sure I don't arc my back as much
I set up more square to the net and tilt my spine more laterally than backwards. This is the proper mechanism I believe as I don't have any further back /leg pain