Common Squash Injuries

Squash players often suffer from injuries as the game requires repetitive use of their spine, legs, and dominant arm at high speeds. The game involves using a racquet and a ball, and injuries can occur anywhere from the shoulder, elbow, and wrist to the hip, knee, ankle, and spine. Additionally, there is a risk of head and eye injuries from the ball or racquet, and collisions with the walls can also cause injuries.

Most squash injuries occur due to acute incidents rather than overuse. However, squash players commonly experience lateral epicondylalgia, an overuse injury affecting the upper limb. Squash players often refer to lateral epicondylalgia, also known as tennis elbow, as squash elbow due to its frequent occurrence in the sport.

Overuse injuries affecting the wrist and knee are also common in squash. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a common wrist injury caused by the inflammation of the tendons below the thumb. Squash players can also suffer from patellar tendinopathy, an overuse injury affecting the knee tendons due to the constant stress of running and change of direction in sports.

Squash players are susceptible to various acute injuries, such as head and facial injuries, especially to the eyes. Strains often affect the shoulder, wrist, and elbow. Eye injuries can range from a scratched cornea (front surface of the eye), retinal detachment, and globe rupture to hyphema (blood collection in the front of the eye).

Due to squash’s fast and agile nature, players commonly experience sprained ankles, calf muscle tears, back muscle strains, knee ligament sprains, knee meniscal tears, and even Achilles tendon ruptures.

What Causes Injuries in Squash?

Various factors influence the risk of injury in squash due to the sport’s unpredictable nature.

Repetitive arm movements, especially at high velocities required in squash, cause overuse injuries such as lateral epicondylalgia in the elbow and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis in the thumb.

Frequent use of the gripping muscles in the forearm, particularly those that extend or bend the wrist backward, aggravates the elbow injury. Backhand shots can worsen inflammation in this area due to the immense force required by wrist extensors.

Gripping and turning the wrist over can worsen injuries in the wrist/thumb, which can affect a player’s ability to perform powerful shots.

Eye/facial injuries usually occur due to a collision with the ball or racquet. Such injuries can be severe and require immediate medical attention to prevent vision loss. Wearing safety eyewear is recommended.

Impact due to diving or collisions with the wall can cause shoulder injuries, especially acromioclavicular joint sprains. Such injuries disrupt the ligaments that connect the shoulder to the collarbone. Falls or collisions with hard surfaces can cause wrist, hand, and elbow injuries.

Lower limb injuries are prevalent due to the rapid change of direction required in squash, including sprinting, pivoting, sudden stopping, and jarring. Joints and muscles under high strain lead to injury when the load surpasses the healing recovery rate.

If you sustain an injury while playing squash, don’t hesitate to contact your physiotherapy team for accurate diagnosis and assistance getting back on the court as quickly as possible.

Risk Factors for Squash Injuries

The following factors increase the risk of injuries in squash:

• Being 40 years of age or older
• Having limited experience or poor technique
• Having a low level of fitness, strength, and endurance
• A prior injury, especially if not appropriately rehabilitated, significantly increases the risk of further injury.
• Participating in squash frequently and at a high level
• Not wearing protective eyewear
• Using improper equipment or footwear
• Experiencing fatigue and tissue overloading due to overuse or inadequate rest periods.

If you have any of these risk factors, taking appropriate precautions and seeking advice from a qualified professional to prevent or manage injuries is essential.

How Can Squash Injuries Be Prevented?

To prevent squash injuries, take the following measures:

• Wear protective gear such as glasses to prevent eye injuries.
• Perform strength, coordination and balance exercises to prevent soft tissue, bone, or joint injuries.
• Consult with your physiotherapist for guidance specific to your body.
• Warm up before exercise and cool down after playing to decrease the risk of muscle strains.
• Perform change of direction and landing exercises to prevent lower limb joint injuries.
• Perform shoulder and arm exercises to prevent injuries in these areas.
• Recover well with stretching and foam rolling to decrease post-activity muscle tightness/stiffness.
• Consult your physiotherapist for tendinopathy programs to rehabilitate you from injury and prevent tendon injuries successfully.
• Speak to your physiotherapist to tailor an exercise program specifically for you.
• Rehabilitate appropriately in the event of injury to minimise the risk of re-injury or compensatory injury when returning to squash.

Your PhysioWorks physiotherapy team can provide you with an accurate diagnosis and assistance in returning you to the court as quickly and safely as possible.