Tennis is one of the most popular sports played by people of all ages in Southwest Florida. But it's not without risks.

An unexpected tennis injury kept Michelle Abner off the courts longer than she would have preferred. "I remember pulling a muscle in my calf that felt like somebody actually shot me with a gun, and it kept me off of tennis for a month."

Orthopedic Surgeon Darrick Saunders says along with injuries of the leg, most tennis players will, at some point in their careers, complain of pain or discomfort in their elbow as well. "Tennis elbow is actually tendonitis of muscles that attach to the elbow, they come into play a lot in the backhand of tennis."

Dr. Saunders also says that minor tennis injuries are easily treated. "Stretching exercises again at home, anti-inflammatories and sometimes physical therapy that includes ultrasound treatment, electrical stimulation."

Michelle learned her lesson the hard way, and now realizes prevention is the key to avoiding future injuries. "Probably the most important thing you can do in any sport would be to stretch and warm up."

For serious injuries surgery may be the best way to get a tennis player back on the courts.