\n<\/p>\n
Draper has been hampered by the bone bruising in his left arm for more than a year, playing just 14 matches in the past 12 months and missing all three Grand Slam tournaments so far this year.<\/p>\n
He has dropped to the cusp of the world’s top 150 as a result and will need to come through qualifying – or be given a wildcard – to play at the upcoming US Open, which starts on 30 August. <\/p>\n
Bone bruising is essentially internal bleeding in the centre of the humerus bone, according to Prof Amar Rangan, vice-president of the British Orthopaedic Association.<\/p>\n
The humerus is the long, tube-like bone between the shoulder and elbow joints, with the stronger outer layer – known as the cortical bone – protecting a spongier tissue called trabecular bone.<\/p>\n
When the trabeculae break, the bleeding increases pressure inside the bone – causing bruising.<\/p>\n
Tennis players are particularly liable to this injury because of the stresses imposed on the humerus by the rapid acceleration and deacceleration of their shots – particularly the serve. <\/p>\n
Generally it tends to cause a dull, deep-seated pain, as well as limited mobility and inflammation for some people.<\/p>\n
“How do you recover from this injury? A lot of patience – basically that is it,” Prof Rangan told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
“It is almost a race between the bone healing and further stresses.”<\/p>\n
However, the notion of a player potentially needing surgery to fix the issue is emphatically rejected by Prof Rangan.<\/p>\n
“The only thing can heal it is rest. The body has to heal and strengthen the bone,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Surgery would be further injury to the area and would not help.<\/p>\n
“As long as there is sufficient relative rest to allow the bone to heal and strengthen and consolidate it should settle down.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n