These days, Barcelona is hosting a new edition of the Open Banc Sabadell – Conde de Godó Trophy, in which 11 of the 18 best tennis players in the world participate; an exceptional team that offers many hours of tennis at the highest level.
However, no sports practice is without risk and, when we talk about these levels of performance, despite great preparation and training, there are small injuries that have to be dealt with.
Whether it's elite players or amateur athletes, one of the usual muscle problems in sports practice is contracture, a benign injury, but one that should be treated so that it doesn't get worse.
"The contracture appears after excessive exercise or prolonged use of a muscular area. In the case of tennis, contractures are very frequent," explains Dr. Ángel Ruiz Cotorro, director of the Teknon Tennis Clinic, belonging to the Quirónsalud group, and which is the official medical service of the Conde de Godó Trophy, which is held at the Real Club de Tenis de Barcelona.
Muscle contractures occur when a part of the muscle contracts in a sustained and involuntary way and, sometimes, a hardened painful area can be clearly palpated.
Technically, muscle contraction is the result of the binding of actin and misosin - two proteins found in muscle cells - with the calcium ion.
When a muscle contracts, the actin and myosin filaments in the muscle fibers slide past each other, shortening the length of the muscle and producing the force needed to perform a task. When the muscle relaxes, the filaments return to their original position and the length of the muscle is restored. Relaxation is achieved by undoing that union by using the energy generated by the ATP molecule, present in all living cells.
Contracture can occur for various reasons. In the case of tennis, muscle overload is common, when a muscle is overstressed or used repetitively. In the case of injuries, such as tears or strains, contractures can appear as part of the healing process. But there are other causes: emotional stress, as a consequence of the muscle tension it causes, inappropriate postures that put pressure on the muscles or even dehydration because the lack of fluids in the muscle affects its functioning. In general, any situation that causes muscle tension or fatigue or limits the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles can lead to contractures.
In situations of fatigue, there is a deficit of ATP, so that the breakdown of the union of the calcium ion with actin and myosin becomes impossible and muscle contraction is maintained. In tennis, for example, contractures of the gluteus, hamstrings and abdominal muscles are frequent. It is also common in the forearm of tennis players who practice many hours, whether they are amateurs or professionals. It is what is known as the tennis arm (tennis arm), which should not be confused with the so-called tennis elbow (tennis elbow).
For full recovery, rest is required until the pain subsides. Heat can be applied to the area and, sometimes, only in expert hands, the application of ice for long periods of time is positive.
Likewise, specific stretching in the affected area and massage are highly recommended. "The doctor should assess the possibility of prescribing analgesic and muscle relaxant which, in the case of professional tennis players, should be done with caution because they can reduce alertness," says the director of the Teknon Tennis Clinic.
But muscle injuries that occur in sports and are due, above all, to overloads can, in many cases, be prevented by what Dr. Ruiz Cotorro describes as "the magic triangle": physical preparation, eating habits and systematic sports practice.
Physical preparation, in the case of tennis, for example, consists of aerobic work, cycling, stretching and muscle toning, which must be properly scheduled for each case. Eating habits consist of a rich and balanced diet. The appropriate thing in sports practice is to incorporate around 1.5 grams of protein per kilo of weight per day. It is advisable to eat slow-absorbing carbohydrates such as rice, pasta and legumes.
Do not forget that ions such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium are involved in muscle contraction. The lack of any of them can facilitate muscle injury. The diet will ensure the intake of these ions as well as adequate hydration before, during and after exercise.
Regarding the practice of tennis, it is convenient to improve the technique of the game to avoid injuries, wear appropriate footwear and comfortable clothing, exercise on well-conditioned courts and return to sports progressively and carefully after an injury to avoid relapses. Not everyone can get to participate in the Conde de Godó, but everyone can prepare to avoid contractures.
