Tennis Injury Prevention
Whether a professional or an amateur athlete, one of the greatest inconveniences and difficulties faced is injury. Sports related injuries can often have a long recovery time, and may be extremely painful both physically and mentally. The injury can take you out of the game, and whether you play tennis for pleasure or competition, you certainly want to avoid injuries that take you away from the sport.
Fortunately, most tennis related injuries are entirely preventable.
First, proper technique is essential. Tennis elbow is most commonly seen in novice tennis players, and is the result of improper technique or poor equipment. If you want to avoid these types of injuries and you are just starting out, you ultimately will not be saving money by getting the cheapest equipment available. In fact, once you've been to the doctor for tennis elbow (not to mention pain, suffering, and lost time) you've spent a lot more money! If you aren't a tennis expert, mastering your technique is essential to preventing injuries. Technique is not something you will learn from reading articles, instructional videos, or watching tennis. Your best bet is one on one tutoring, coaching, or tennis lessons. Again, when it comes to preventing injuries, lessons, coaching and tutoring are certainly worth it in the long run.
Second, warming up is essential to preventing injuries. Hitting the tennis courts cold can increase your risk for injury exponentially, from strained and pulled muscles to torn ligaments, and even sprains and strains as a result of falls or over exertion. To warm up properly before tennis to prevent injuries, it is recommended that you engage in a minimum of five minutes of active warm ups, up to twenty minutes. It is also recommended that warm ups start gradually and become increasingly strenuous to engage all of the muscles – static stretches and warm ups are not as effective at preventing injuries as a whole; physically stimulating series of warm ups and stretches.
Third, nutrition is important to preventing tennis related injuries. It is important before exercise to get plenty of carbohydrates and proper hydration to prevent exhaustion, depletion of glycogen stores, and dehydration. Protein will help your muscles rebuild and repair after working out, which can help prevent fatigue and repetitive stress injuries.
Finally, rest and recovery is important to preventing tennis injuries. After any strenuous workout, your body will need time to heal, recover, and rebuild to prevent injuries related to strain and fatigue. If you experience excessive tiredness or soreness, taking a day or two to recover can help you avoid injury.
Fortunately, most tennis related injuries are entirely preventable.
First, proper technique is essential. Tennis elbow is most commonly seen in novice tennis players, and is the result of improper technique or poor equipment. If you want to avoid these types of injuries and you are just starting out, you ultimately will not be saving money by getting the cheapest equipment available. In fact, once you've been to the doctor for tennis elbow (not to mention pain, suffering, and lost time) you've spent a lot more money! If you aren't a tennis expert, mastering your technique is essential to preventing injuries. Technique is not something you will learn from reading articles, instructional videos, or watching tennis. Your best bet is one on one tutoring, coaching, or tennis lessons. Again, when it comes to preventing injuries, lessons, coaching and tutoring are certainly worth it in the long run.

Third, nutrition is important to preventing tennis related injuries. It is important before exercise to get plenty of carbohydrates and proper hydration to prevent exhaustion, depletion of glycogen stores, and dehydration. Protein will help your muscles rebuild and repair after working out, which can help prevent fatigue and repetitive stress injuries.
Finally, rest and recovery is important to preventing tennis injuries. After any strenuous workout, your body will need time to heal, recover, and rebuild to prevent injuries related to strain and fatigue. If you experience excessive tiredness or soreness, taking a day or two to recover can help you avoid injury.