05 Jun Avoiding Tennis Injuries

Do you play tennis?  

Then if so you you will need to stay mindful in order to prevent potential injuries. These helpful tips will not only help you avoid injury but also learn to play without further injuring yourself if you have already suffered an injury.

In learning how to avoid injuries, first you must understand what the common injuries are and why they happen. One of the more common injuries is tennis elbow, and this happens due to an overuse of the muscle that helps move the wrist and the muscle that absorbs the impact of the tennis ball on the racket. In order to avoid this injury you must strengthen the muscles around that particular muscle as well a warm up properly. Learning proper technique when playing tennis is also critical. If you are a beginner, working with an instructor or seasoned player will help you learn the safest and most effect ways to play the game.

Another common injury associated with tennis is shoulder injuries and this comes from weak rotator cuff muscles as well as serving the ball entirely overhead. With all these overhead type movements it is easy for the shoulder joint to become inflamed, so this is why a proper warm up and a general focus on strengthening of the muscles supporting the rotator cuff and shoulder are very important. Other acute injuries can be best avoided by wearing proper footwear and making sure that a good strength and conditioning program is in place.

Another way to best avoid injuries is to stretch prior to your tennis session! Active stretching of the entire body with a focus on the abdomen and upper body for a minimum of 30 seconds each will get your muscles primed and warmed up. Other things that can be done to avoid injury would be to wear protective equipment like knee braces or arm bands to help support the elbow joint, as well as proper recovery strategy after playing such as resting and icing.

Although injury cannot be completely eliminated from playing a sport like tennis, using all of these strategies will significantly help to reduce and avoid injury as much as possible. Taking proper care of your body will also help your longevity in the sport and will allow you to play your best tennis game for years to come.