Literature Review “TENNIS LEG”

The tear of the gastrocnemius muscle is sometimes termed “tennis leg”, due to its frequent occurrence in younger athletes involved in the sport. This injury, however, is not limited to the athlete, and is commonly seen in middle-aged or older patients, usually over the age of 40. With a muscle tear or rupture, the patient is likely to have difficulty continuing with the sport or action. The mechanism of a gastrocnemius tear is related to the extension of the knee with simultaneous forced dorsiflexion of the ankle. In an effort to contract, the forces of the eccentric movement on the already lengthened gastrocnemius muscle lead to injury at the myotendinous junction.

Diagnosis is done by MRI and USG. Physical examination typically discloses a painful swollen calf with exquisite local tenderness on the medial side.

Clinical findings include diffuse swelling and localized, sharp pain of the calf preventing weight-bearing on the affected leg.

In the treatment part, it should consist of passive and active stretching program, soft tissue techniques, and proprioception training. The use of modalities such as low level laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are appropriate as part of the treatment plan. In addition, friction massage may help decrease the formation of adhesions. As range of motion improves, the patient may progress from isometric and isotonic exercises, to dynamic training exercises. The general conditioning exercises, closed-chain exercises, and sport-specific exercises helped the patient gain strength and agility.