Tennis has long been one of the most popular sports around the world. It’s a great way to stay fit and have fun, while providing opportunities to socialize and make friends. With our range of activities, wellness is an important part of our lifestyle.

As in any activity, tennis does have risks of injury. Tennis elbow, the condition most associated with the sport, affects up to 50 percent of players. Everyone should take steps to prevent tennis injuries.

Injury Risks

The most common injuries are caused by stress to the ankle, knee, wrist or shoulder, and can affect people of any age. Some of the most common mistakes are:

• Bad technique: The correct serving and stroke motion is important, especially for the wrist and elbow. In tennis, power and control come with coordinated movement of the limbs and rotation of the hips and torso.
• Failing to warm up or cool down: Warm-up exercises and stretches are important to reduce the risk to muscles or joints. Cooling down at the end of a match is also important to prevent cramping and aches.
• Over-playing: Playing too long, or not allowing ample time to rest between matches, increases the risk of overuse damage.
• Previous injuries: It’s never wise to play if a previous injury is not fully healed. Otherwise, this could result in additional or even permanent damage.

General Suggestions To Prevent Tennis Injuries

• See a doctor for a health check-up, especially if you’re overweight, over 40, have a medical condition or haven’t exercised for a long time.
• Take a few lessons from a Golden Ocala tennis coach to ensure you’re moving and playing properly.
• Always warm up and stretch out before you play, and allow time to cool down afterward.
• For those periods when you’re not playing tennis, try to stay in shape with other exercises.
• Beat the heat and apply sun block to exposed skin, and during breaks in play move to the shade.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water before, during and after playing to replenish lost fluids.

Use The Right Equipment

You should ask us for advice on choosing the right racket, especially if you’ve had problems with your wrist, elbow or shoulders. When you’re playing, avoid slippery surfaces and select the right kind of shoe for the best traction. Be sure your clothing is loose enough to allow freedom of movement, but not so loose as to get in the way.

What To Do If You’re Injured

If injury occurs from playing tennis, take the following steps:

• Stop playing to avoid further damage.
• Seek first aid or medical treatment.
• Ask an expert for advice on taping or bandaging injuries to aid healing.
• Don’t even think about hard exercise until you’ve healed.

Golden Ocala tennis is very popular with our residents, and our staff of professionals can help you get the most from your game. To discover all the benefits of the game and how easy it is to get started, call 352-402-4351 or follow our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.