Finger Sprains | Cebu Tennis

Why Tennis Players Tape Their Fingers: Support, Protection and Injury Prevention

When watching Rafael Nadal play tennis, you may notice that he frequently has tape around his fingers or hands. This can raise an important question: Does wearing a lot of tape mean the player has a severe injury?

Not necessarily.

For a professional tennis player, athletic tape can be used for several different reasons.

Support and Stability

Tape can provide additional support to a finger or joint that has previously been injured, irritated or weakened.

Finger Sprains in Tennis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Return to Play

Finger sprains are a common tennis injury that can occur when a finger is bent, twisted, jammed, or forced beyond its normal range of motion. Although a finger sprain may seem minor, continuing to play too soon can prolong recovery and sometimes lead to stiffness or instability.

Quick Overview

A finger sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments that support the finger joints.

In tennis, finger sprains can happen when:

Finger Hit by a Tennis Racket? A Sports Injury Expert Explains Fast Recovery, Treatment, and When You Need an X-Ray

From your photo, it looks like you have a small bruise (subungual hematoma) under the fingernail caused by the impact. There does not appear to be a major deformity, but I can't confirm a diagnosis from a photo alone.

For the fastest recovery: