Whilst some were watching Nick Kyrgios’ antics, Cherise was observing the subtle changes in the game and how it impacts the athlete’s bodies. Cherise fell in love with Tennis when she first picked up a racquet at the age of 6. She spent countless hours at both the Colac Lawn Tennis Club and Indoor sports Centre , and traipsing around Victoria with the Colac Squad.
As a Physio, Cherise now looks at Tennis from a different angle. It’s an amazing sport; however it can cause injury to many parts of the body due to the repetitive movement of your dominant arm, spine and legs, and the high speed impact on your racquet. The increased pace and power required to win requires huge levels of fitness, strength, flexibility and stability.
Cherise recommends using a tennis racquet appropriate for your size, experience and style of play. Tennis players, especially those with shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries should always seek professional advice before selecting a racquet and string tension.
Cherise rolled her ankles several times whilst changing direction on grass courts before following physio advice properly, and couldn’t believe the difference it made! Advice should be sought prior to purchasing tennis shoes. Due to fast directional changes the shoes need to be robust. Those prone to ankle and knee injuries may need to consider orthotics or a strengthening program.
Unlike other sports, Tennis is played on a variety of surfaces (clay, grass and hard courts) which athletes must constantly adapt to. Check the surface to make sure it’s in good condition and use balls appropriate for that surface. It is best to avoid using flat or wet balls.
Cherise firmly believes children should use equipment appropriate to their size and skill levels. Starting off in a beginner’s program such as hotshots is a good way to help players develop good skills. Developing correct technique from the start is an important part of injury prevention. In particularly, getting your serving technique right is important to avoid shoulder, wrist, elbow and back injuries.
If you are experiencing any pain whilst serving, Cherise recommends popping in to have your technique assessed, as even minor tweaks may help prevent injury. For teens experiencing any niggles working on core strength and flexibility whilst you grow is really important. We have developed a great class for this called Teen’s ABC’S : Active Balanced Centred Strong, for more information follow the link https://cbstc.com.au/teens-abcs/
At Corio Bay Sports Treatment Clinic – We Can Help!