Tennis and Other Racquet Sports Concerns

Tennis is a fun game and a lifetime sport. However, if you do not take the time to properly warm up, you may get an injury. Also get help from a tennis professional when selecting the right equipment and always pay attention to the rules of the game. Here are some tips you can use to prevent injuries before you go onto the court.

• Warm-up for five to 10 minutes before playing. Warm-ups can be as simple as jogging around the court. Stop when you begin to perspire.
• Drink plenty of fluids, before, during and after play to avoid heat illness and muscle soreness.
• Avoid playing on surfaces with no “give” such as concrete. To prevent lower back injuries when playing tennis on hard surface courts, wear heel inserts to absorb the shock.
• Wear tennis shoes with good support to prevent ankle injuries. Proper fitting shoes and socks will help prevent blisters on your feet.
• To prevent blisters on your hands, keep your racquet handle as dry as possible.
• Proper body mechanics are essential to injury prevention. Your tennis professional or coach can instruct you in this area.
• Overuse injuries are common in racquet sports. Proper equipment and conditioning are important factors to prevent these types of injuries.
• “Tennis elbow” is a common injury in tennis. Prevention is the key, and a good tennis instructor will usually be able to help you correct the cause. If you have chronic elbow pain while playing, you should seek the help of your sports medicine specialist.

Youth Player Concerns

Tennis is a high skill-oriented activity. The best way for youth players to learn the game is from a qualified instructor. Both from a performance and prevention aspect, the instructor will be able to give the kind of advice that will make the tennis experience enjoyable for the young player.

High School Player Concerns

Tennis seasons can be long and grueling for the high school player. Both boys and girls need to add an element of conditioning to their game. The high school tennis coach should be aware that in order to keep his or her players competing at a high level throughout the season they must have strength and cardio endurance.

Masters/Senior Players

Tennis is one of the most popular lifetime sport activities. As physically more mature, the masters/senior player should be aware that injury not only can reduce your enjoyment of the physical activity but also impair other aspects of life. Here are some tips for the lifetime players:

• Warm up properly. At least five to 10 minutes before beginning play.
• Check your equipment often. Make sure you shoes are not worn and your racquet is in good shape.
• Other conditioning activities away from game will enhance your enjoyment. Walking or jogging and weight training will help you get into condition and help you to prevent injuries.
• An occasional lesson from your tennis professional will always help improve your technique.
• Play at your own level. Overdoing it can get you in trouble.
• Make sure that you have an annual exam and let your physician know that you play tennis to be sure there are not problems with participation in this activity.
• If you experience injury or chronic pain the does not go away in a reasonable amount of time, consult with your sports medicine specialist.
• Speed and cardiovascular endurance are the key fitness components of racquet sports.
• Hand eye coordination will be developed through practice.

Related Content

Overuse injuries
Stretching guidelines
Heat illness prevention
Tennis Elbow
Sports Safety for Children
Starting an exercise program

To improve your performance on the tennis court and prevent injuries, contact a Saint Vincent Sports Medicine specialist at 814-866-3466.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.