With The Australian Tennis Open inspiring many to take to the sport, tennis players can get an advantage via Sports Medicine Australia’s Preventing Tennis Injuries Fact Sheet. The rate of tennis injuries has been calculated at five injuries per 1,000 hours of participation. The most common injuries are to the lower limbs – ankle, knee and thigh.
“Every year once The Australian Tennis Open is over and won people are inspired to start playing tennis, often without appropriate preparation. Sadly, this is a recipe for injury,” Sports Medicine Australia’s spokesperson, Dr Anita Green said.
“However many common tennis injuries can be prevented by undertaking good preparation in the form of hydration, warming up, using appropriate equipment and practising good technique,” Dr Green said.
Sports Medicine Australia offers these tips to get prepared and minimise the risk of tennis injury:
- Always warm up, stretch and cool down
- Maintain an adequate fitness level. Undertake specific conditioning and training exercises that simulate tennis (i.e. acceleration, deceleration, twisting, turning and stretching).
- Seek instruction from a qualified coach to develop correct skills and techniques.
- Avoid over-repetition of any one type of shot. Practise a range of strokes including groundstrokes, serves, return of serves, overhead smashes and volleys.
- Use a racquet suitable for your style of play and physical capabilities.
- Check and maintain the playing surface to ensure it is in good condition and free of hazards. A tennis ground checklist can help.
- Seek professional advice on footwear.
- Be sun smart to protect from heat injury. Wear sun-protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses and SPF 30+ sunscreen.
To download the Preventing Tennis Injuries Fact Sheet visit sma.org.au. Sports Fever is here to help with offering professional advice on footwear and if you're getting in to tennis make sure you swing by our Cottesloe store and check out our Wilson concept area and stringing machine!
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