As the weather improves, the tennis courts are getting busier. Here at Onebody we love tennis. And we do work with a number of clients who are missing out on court time due to injuries. So we are planning a short series f blogs on tennis injuries - what ar ethey? Why do they happen, and what can we do to treat and prevent them?
Tennis blog 1. So what are the common tennis injuries in the average player?
Research suggests that veteran tennis players (i.e., those over the age of 35) may be at higher risk for certain injuries compared to younger players. Here are some injury incidence rates for veteran tennis players:
Tennis elbow: A study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that tennis elbow was the most common injury reported by veteran tennis players, with an incidence rate of 15.8%. The study also found that players who had a history of tennis elbow were more likely to experience a recurrence of the injury.
Shoulder injuries: A study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that shoulder injuries were more common in veteran tennis players compared to younger players, with an incidence rate of 7.8%. The study also found that players who had a longer history of playing tennis were more likely to experience shoulder injuries.
Knee injuries: A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that knee injuries were the second most common injury reported by veteran tennis players, with an incidence rate of 7.6%. The study also found that players who played on clay courts were more likely to experience knee injuries compared to those who played on hard or grass courts.
Ankle injuries: A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that ankle injuries were less common in veteran tennis players compared to younger players, with an incidence rate of 2.9%. However, the study also found that ankle injuries were more likely to result in time loss from play in veteran players.
Lower back pain: A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that lower back pain was the third most common injury reported by veteran tennis players, with an incidence rate of 6.2%. The study also found that players who had a longer history of playing tennis were more likely to experience lower back pain.
Overall, these studies suggest that veteran tennis players may be at higher risk for certain injuries, particularly tennis elbow, shoulder injuries, and knee injuries. It's important for veteran players to take steps to prevent these injuries, such as warming up properly, using proper technique when hitting the ball, and gradually increasing the intensity of their training.
We will be discussing prevention and treatment in following blogs.