Is Tennis a Life Long Sport?

Tennis is a lifelong sport. When you walk onto a tennis court, you can find people of all ages enjoying the sport. You may see young kids learning how to swing the racket, elite collegiate players dominating from the baseline, or a friendly game with 4 older adults with echoing banter inside the club walls. By nature, tennis is a sport that can truly be enjoyed by anyone. Once you start playing, chances are you will play for years ahead, simply because it's fun, competitive, and good for your health. There is no question tennis is an excellent sport for your physical health because it challenges aerobic exercise, coordination, and overall muscular strength. It also is a great sport because of the social and mental benefits of playing, competing, and strategizing with others. 

As a physical therapist and tennis enthusiast myself, I have seen too many people give up the sport they love due to tennis injuries. People go from playing 2-3x a week to not playing for years due to repetitive and overuse injuries such as the dreaded tennis elbow, shoulder tendinitis, and knee arthritis. The most instinct reaction is to rest an injury for 1-2 weeks, however the pain can and most likely will come back, sometimes to a debilitating extent without proper a rehabilitative or preventative plan. Pain essentially takes the joy away and can leave people sidelined for months or even years. However, I truly believe that tennis is and can be a lifelong sport with the help of a few preventative measures. Rotator cuff strength and hip mobility are just to name a few. Add in footwork and core stability and you will see both your performance and longevity exponentially improve. That's what you can do to make tennis a lifelong sport. If you need help establishing a comprehensive tennis health program, feel free to contact me. I am here to help you move better and play for life.