Love Tennis? Don’t Let Injuries Keep You Sidelined

Freya Sawyer
5 days ago
3 min read

As the days get longer and the courts start to fill up again, many tennis players are dusting off their rackets, enjoying the sunshine, and getting back into matches, training, and competitions. This increase in activity is great, but your body may not have quite caught up with the enthusiasm to get back on the court.

Tennis is a dynamic and physically demanding sport that requires strength, speed, endurance, coordination, and agility. From explosive serves and rapid changes of direction to repetitive overhead movements, tennis places significant stress on the muscles and joints throughout the body. Whether you play recreationally, compete regularly, or are returning to the sport after injury, maintaining good physical health is essential for both performance and longevity on the court.

Most tennis players spend years improving their forehand, backhand, and serve. Yet many have never heard terms like “plyometric training” until they walk into a physio clinic. If your warm-up consists of a quick shoulder swing, a couple of stretches against the fence, and hoping your knees behave themselves, you are not alone.

Due to the repetitive and high-intensity nature of tennis, players are particularly prone to overuse injuries. Common issues include tennis elbow, rotator cuff irritation, shoulder pain, lower back stiffness, knee pain, calf strains, and ankle sprains. These injuries may develop gradually over time through repetitive loading or occur suddenly during fast movements and awkward landings. Many tennis-related injuries are linked to muscle imbalance, reduced mobility, poor movement mechanics, or insufficient recovery between sessions. Without proper conditioning, even experienced players can experience pain that affects both their performance and enjoyment of the game.

Physiotherapy plays a key role in both injury prevention and recovery. At our clinic, we carry out detailed assessments to identify weaknesses, movement restrictions, and asymmetries that may increase injury risk or limit performance. Treatment plans are tailored to the individual and may include hands-on therapy, rehabilitation exercises, strength and conditioning, mobility work, and advice on training load and recovery strategies.

We also use advanced VALD technology to provide objective testing and performance data. Using systems such as the VALD ForceDecks, we can assess lower limb strength, balance, force production, landing mechanics, and side-to-side asymmetries. This is particularly useful for

identifying deficits that may contribute to injuries or affect movement efficiency on court.

For tennis players, common assessments may include:

Countermovement jump testing to assess lower limb power and asymmetry
Single-leg balance and stability testing
Isometric strength testing
Return-to-play testing following injury

These objective measurements allow us to monitor progress accurately, guide rehabilitation, and make informed decisions around return to sport. VALD testing also helps athletes and recreational players understand their physical performance in greater detail and identify areas for improvement.

Preventative physiotherapy is equally important for tennis players. Improving core stability, shoulder strength, hip mobility, and lower limb control can reduce stress on joints and improve overall movement efficiency. Warm-up routines, recovery strategies, and structured strengthening programmes can significantly lower the risk of injury while enhancing performance on court.

At Nailsea Physio, we work with tennis players of all abilities to help them move better, recover faster, and perform with confidence. Whether you are managing an injury, preparing for competition, or simply looking to stay active and pain-free, physiotherapy can help keep you at your best both on and off the court.