After a largely successful year for Andy Murray, culminating in being crowned Wimbledon champion after 77 years of British disappointment, he will now be out of action following surgery on a long standing back injury. In the past two years Murray has taken some of the top titles in tennis with the US Open and Wimbledon, but at the same time has fallen foul of injury, something which is acutely common in the world of sport.
The latest injury setback should be remedied with surgery, addressing a trapped nerve in his lower back which can cause pain to shoot down his hip and upper leg. The injury has been managed for two years, with Murray now taking medical advice to have the issue remedied completely. Pain killing injections have been used in a bid to mask the issue, though masking an injury is not a long term solution.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional tennis player or a club player, sports injuries are common for us all and come in many different forms. The most important thing following an injury is your recovery and ensuring that you come back fitter and stronger than before.
The main forms of rehabilitation are rest, ice to manage inflammation, physiotherapy, light exercise and the use of sports braces. The latter is something which is gaining more and more prominence, with Andy Murray himself sporting branded ankle supports for added protection.
What are sports braces?
Sports braces are designed to manage sports injuries, offering the patient an additional level of protection and support during recover and beyond. Whilst sports braces can be used as a preventative measure, typically we only know of a weakness as a result of an injury. There are however knee supports which are designed to offer protection from injury, used during high impact sports such as snowboarding and motocross. These knee supports are rigid by design, compared to the material based supports typically worn by tennis players, with the exoskeleton designed to withstand impact and protect the knee joint.
Material based supports are available for all areas of the body, with knee supports, ankle supports and back supports readily available. Supports are designed to manage specific areas of the body and conditions, with ankle supports available to manage anything from a mild sprain to ankle ligament damage.
In all the sports brace offers the patient compression to an affected area which can help to manage inflammation as well as reducing pain, thereby allowing the patient to remain active for longer and aid their recovery from injury.
What are back supports?
Back supports are designed to manage conditions relating to the lower back or lumbar region. Lower back pain is a feature of not only sportsman but through everyday life, from attempting to lift something which is too heavy, to turning too quickly. The latter is common among tennis players and one of the root causes of injury. In general, back injuries occur from overuse i.e. stretching or pushing yourself too hard.
Back supports are designed to offer the patient an additional form of protection and support when remaining active. The compressive nature of the brace helps to manage inflammation and reduce pain, thereby allowing you to continue longer.
It is important to note that back supports should not be used in isolation following an injury, but work as part of your recovery programme. Back injuries range in severity and the length of recovery time required, from self-limiting strains to those requiring physiotherapy, and in the case of Andy Murray, surgery. Back supports are as much about confidence as they are about support, with patients sometimes requiring that extra reassurance.
What are ankle supports?
Ankle injuries are another potential consequence of playing tennis, with the active nature of the sport requiring players to pivot and turn quickly. In such a high tempo sport the risk of injury to the ankle joint is increased, with one of the more common forms of injury involving the rolling of the joint.
Injuries to the ankle joint can range in their severity, from a simple strain to ankle ligament damage and even a broken ankle. There are ankle supports available for each type of condition, all of which are designed to help with your recovery.
A simple strain requires ankle supports which offer compression to manage the inflammation and the pain which can work to enhance mobility. These ankle supports are breathable and discreet so that they not only conform to the skin but can be worn under clothing.
There are ankle supports available which help to mimic ankle ligaments through external straps. This offers additional stability to the joint without hindering movement, something at the heart of every sports brace.
Where more serious injuries occur, such as a broken ankle, there are rigid ankle supports available to offer maximum protection to the joint. The rigid nature of the support provides the support required to remain mobile without the ankle potentially rolling or swaying.
With numerous back supports and ankle supports available it is important you select the correct one for the condition you wish to manage. If you are unsure as to which brace is right you should speak with a clinician for a professional diagnosis and advice on the right sports brace for you.
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