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As tennis participation grows, so must injury prevention awareness
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Tennis is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, with participation having increased by more than 43% - to more than 27 million players – since 2000. This influx of athletes means good things for the sport, but the Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention (STOP) campaign has cautioned that enthusiasm for the game should not override injury prevention awareness.
Parents and coaches of young tennis players should promote proper warm-up, adequate hydration, and stretching and strengthening exercises, the STOP campaign noted in a press release.
Close attention should also be paid to proper technique and equipment. Further, it is critical for parents and athletes alike to recognize when an injury has occurred – and to never have a child “play through the pain.”
An increase in injuries
“As participation booms and training increases at the younger ages, so does the risk for injuries, particularly overuse injuries in junior players,” stated Director of Sports Medicine for the Association of Tennis Professionals Todd S. Ellenbecker, MS, PT, SCS, OCS, CSCS, in the release. “This includes the ubiquitous tennis elbow.”
Ellenbecker added, “We’re also seeing an increase in hip and lower back injuries suffered by junior players. Most are a result of overtraining and intensity. When the muscles tire, more stress is placed on the bone and other structures. If this occurs too quickly, the tissues cannot adjust rapidly enough to accommodate the stress and injury occurs.”
STOP Sports Injuries
The STOP Sports Injuries campaign is a collaboration of nearly 60 supporters – including national health and safety organizations, hospitals, sports medicine practices and sporting organizations. It was formed with the purpose of educating the public about the importance of preventing athletic overuse and trauma injuries, especially in young athletes.
“While overuse is the cause of most tennis injuries, they can almost always be prevented with changes to technique and training routines,” stated STOP Sports Injuries Co-campaign Chair James R. Andrews, MD, in the release.
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