Now that the weather is improving day by day, there are more and more opportunities to get outside and enjoy lots of lovely fresh air and exercise. One of the most popular spring and summertime sports is, of course, tennis and the game is a wonderful way to socialise and keep fit… as long as you keep injuries at bay, naturally!
Whether you’re a beginner or have been playing tennis for years, injuries can and will likely happen, since the sport is very physical and you’ll use every single muscle in your body as you play. Games can also last a long time, so you’ll potentially put your body through a lot, which is why warming up before you play and cooling down once you’re done is essential.
Knowing what the most common tennis injuries are can also help you avoid them. Tendonitis is, perhaps, the most common of them all, often referred to as tennis elbow. Repetitive arm and wrist movements in tennis can cause inflammation of the tendons on the outside of your elbow, leading to pain and weakened muscles.
Also be aware of the likes of rotator cuff injuries, jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis), ankle sprains and stress fractures in your feet and lower back.
The good news is that there’s a lot that can be done to help prevent injuries such as these from taking place – and a great place to begin is making sure that you have the right equipment to hand.
Choose your shoes carefully, for example, so you can provide your feet and ankles with the proper support they need, but also so they’re well suited to the surface on which you’re playing.
Taking regular breaks while you play can also help you reduce the risk of overuse injuries, so listen to your body and if you do need to stop for a few minutes, make sure that you do.
If you do sustain an injury of some kind, make sure you stop all play and rest up to give your body time to recover. You can also come and see us here for a sports massage to get you back on the court more quickly!