Oblique Muscle Strain in Tennis: Symptoms, Treatment & Safe Return to Play
Quick Overview
An oblique muscle strain occurs when one of the muscles along the side of the abdomen—the internal or external oblique—is overstretched or torn.
For tennis players, this is a classic rotational injury. The obliques help generate and control trunk rotation during powerful serves, forehands, backhands, and overheads.
The injury often happens when the abdominal muscles have to produce or control a large amount of force very quickly.