Many people playing tennis especially the new ones gets in to injury due to incorrect serving and swinging action. This injury mainly affects elbow and wrists. Hence it is important to learn the correct techniques to avoid these type of injuries.

Hard to argue with that, but I'd add that there are a lot of shoulder injuries as well from improper form.

Risk factors
Some of the factors that can increase the risk of injury include:

* Incorrect technique – using the correct serving and swinging action is important to prevent injury, particularly to the elbow and wrist. An incorrect swinging action is caused by the player relying only on the arm to hit the ball, rather than the body’s full strength.
* Failure to warm up and cool down – warming up and cooling down is extremely important to reduce the risk of muscle and joint injuries. Warming up will not only help avoid injury but will also improve performance.
* Time spent playing – overexertion is one of the most common causes of injury in tennis. Your body needs rest and recovery between training and matches. If you don’t allow your body sufficient time to rest and recover, you may not receive the total benefits of your game. You’ll also have an increased risk of overuse injury.
* Previous injury – a previous injury can lead to similar injuries in future, particularly if you haven’t taken enough time to properly recover.

General health and safety suggestions
Before you take up tennis, keep these suggestions in mind:

* See your doctor for a check-up if you have a medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or haven’t participated in regular physical activity for a long period of time.
* Take lessons from a qualified coach to develop adequate skills and technique.
* Warm up and stretch before you play to improve joint range of motion, promote elasticity of tendons and ligaments, and prevent muscular strain. Good preparation is important.
* Cool down after play to prevent stiffness and cardiovascular complications.
* Be sunsmart. Always wear a t-shirt and hat and use 30+ sunscreen on exposed skin.
* Avoid playing under extreme weather conditions.
* Drink water before, during and after activity to keep hydrated.

Before play Joint Mobility exercises are indicated. Static stretching weakens muscles.
When you stretch statically, you have to overcome the nervous systems protective restraint on your range of motion. Tendons aren't meant to stretch, and ligaments can stretch a little. The problem with attempting to stretch these soft tissues is that it would reduce the integrity of the joints you are trying to protect. This could cause misalignment, inflammation, and wear and tear.

Stretching should be done AFTER playing and cooldown. A good Strength and Conditioning Coach will work to re-set the athletes nervous system to allow for a greater range of dynamic motion.

Always seek the best advice available.

Tom Furman
www.tomfurman.com