Physical therapists are trained extensively in injury rehabilitation. Like all athletes, tennis players are at risk for experiencing injuries that can interfere with their ability to play. These injuries can occur during practice, during matches, in the training room or may even be an old injury rearing its ugly head. Some common injuries that physical therapists treat in tennis players are as follows:

• Tennis elbow
• Back pain or strain
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Ankle sprains
• Patellar tendonitis
• Achilles tendonitis

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms of an injury or impending injury, it is a good idea to consult with an experienced physical therapist:

• Tenderness over an injured body part
• Pain with movement possibly progressing to pain with rest
• Weakness around the area of injury
• Inflammation, warmth or swelling over an injured area
• Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, legs or feet

While many athletes think it best to adopt a “no pain, no gain” attitude to training and competitive play, the truth is that this way of thinking can set you up for injuries that affect your performance and may even stop you from playing for a while. Aside from the normal muscle soreness that is expected when starting a new activity and resolves within a few days, tightness, discomfort, aches and pains that do not resolve quickly or recur often are signals from your body that tissues are being injured. A smart player will heed their body’s warning and seek the guidance of a professional like a physical therapist to address these concerns so that you can get back to the sport you love more quickly.

Physical therapy for tennis players will be tailored to your specific needs and injury but this list outlines some of the common treatment approaches for injuries affecting tennis players:

• Build strength in the muscles and tendons used to power and control a tennis swing and move the body quickly around the court
• Improve muscle endurance and power to generate force repetitively across a long match
• Improve flexibility where needed to allow for full range of motion during serving and swinging. If one area is restricted then another area may experience more stress
• Address motor control and coordination impairments to improve optimal technique
• Reduce inflammation, pain or irritation and determine if modifications or adjustments need to be made to your technique to reduce future injury risk

A comprehensive physical therapy program will include sport-specific exercises that will prepare your body specifically for playing tennis or any other sport you are regularly playing.

If you decide to work with a physical therapist to help correct your tennis related physical issues, your entire treatment plan could consist of around 8-20+ different physical therapy sessions that will each last 60-90 minutes. Once you complete your customized tennis physical therapy treatment plan, you will be able to continue to do the prescribed stretches and exercises utilized during your tennis PT sessions yet in the comfort of your own home.

PREHABILITATION FOR TENNIS

Why wait for an injury before taking steps to make your body more injury-resistant? Since a knowledgeable physical therapist understands the physical demands required to be a successful tennis player and has expertise in many health conditions and common tennis injuries, they are the perfect professional to take on this challenge. A prehabilitation program is intended to screen for and identify existing impairments or errors in form that may predispose you to future injury or simply hurt your performance. After identifying these concerns your therapist will design a customized training program that will make your body more resistant to injury while optimizing your form and movement patterns needed to be a successful tennis player. Regular strength, mobility, and cardiovascular training are good for all of us but you can optimize your workout routine to benefit the sports and hobbies in which you take part. Wouldn’t it be great if your regular gym routine helped keep you injury free and hitting aces on the court?

So, if you are a tennis player who has never had an opportunity to work with a physical therapist we hope you can now see the many benefits of doing so. We want to work alongside you to make tennis more safe and enjoyable for years to come. If you are a player dealing with an injury or looking for ways to reduce your risk, give us a call today to learn more about how we can help you take your athletic endeavors to the next level.

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