Tennis and Back Pain
How Tennis Causes Back Pain
-
Front- and back-hand shots require a large amount of trunk rotation and twisting in the spine when playing tennis
-
The tennis serve hyper-extends the lower back and can compress lumbar discs
-
Back muscles must support continual sudden forward and lateral movements and start-and-stop motions during a game of tennis
Preventing Back Pain and Sports Injuries from Tennis
-
Learn about the different racket tensions and be fitted by a professional for the proper tennis equipment; a more flexible tennis racquet requires more trunk rotation than a stiffer tennis racquet with looser strings
-
Consider using a slice serve rather than a kick serve to reduce the degree of back arch when playing tennis
-
Use proper form during tennis, bending the knees, holding in the abdominal muscles
-
Have a tennis professional check your form periodically
-
For new players, professional tennis instructors can teach you proper form and make suggestions on how to avoid back injuries, back pain or stress on the back
