Today, November 25, begins one of the most important events on the international calendar of the tennis world: it is the Davis Cup, an international tennis competition, organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and in which, unlike most international tournaments, not individual players participate, but national teams composed of various players designated by your national sports federation.
Coinciding with the celebration of this competition, we want to review the benefits that this sport has on our health, explain why it is considered one of the most complete, in addition to warn about possible injuries and how to prevent them.
EC Brands
In principle, we know that playing tennis involves working both the lower and upper extremities; that requires good speed to not let a ball escape; as well as a physical background sufficiently prepared to be able to withstand matches lasting five or six hours. In addition, according to a study published in 2018 in the scientific journal ‘Mayo Clinic Proceedings’, tennis is the sport that can be practiced with an older age, extending life in more than nine years compared to those who do not perform any type of sport.
What does medicine say about him? “Physically, it promotes mobility and flexibility, and strengthens muscles and bones. Also, as it is an aerobic exercise, improves cardiovascular and respiratory health”Says Dr. Miguel Orejas, specialist cardiologist at the Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, a center of the Quirónsalud group that acts as the official provider of medical services for the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals 2021.
In addition, the doctor points out Carmelo Fernández, head of the Rehabilitation Service of the Madrid hospital, “is an endurance sport that strengthens the heart. As a calmer game, rest and positioning alternates, with accelerated moments and changes of rhythm, aerobic capacity is key “.
It should also be taken into account that it implies the use of practically all the important joints and muscles of the body, so biomechanically it is excellent. Its practice increases the coordination capacity, since you have to be attentive to the path of the ball on the court to move from one side to the other of it, as well as work on the blow with your arms, exerting maximum power in each throw.
Risk of injury
However, like any sport, it is not without the risk of injury; Knowing them and knowing why they occur can undoubtedly help prevent them. In this sense, Dr. Emilio Calvo, head of the Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology Service of the Jiménez Díaz Foundation, explains that the most frequent are those of the lower limbs, especially ankle sprain. Another type of injury is those of the shoulder: “Young tennis players have loose and unstable shoulders. The elderly, more rotator cuff injuries ”, says the specialist.
Additionally, wrists are frequent, so it is important to learn the correct way to hold the racket; or those of the hip, which are manifested by the violence and power with which the ball and the supporting foot are hit. In the ‘amateur’ player, the most common injury is the tennis elbow or epicondylitis, derived fundamentally from “the absence of a correct technique that makes the vibrations of the ball go to the racket, and from the racket to the elbow,” says Dr. Calvo.
“A correct mechanics of the game, as well as knowing the main injuries and why they can occur, helps players to prevent them”, concludes Dr. Almudena Fernández Bravo, specialist of the Center’s Rehabilitation Service, who emphasizes the importance of getting into the best hands of a specialist and have comprehensive medical advice, through Sports Medicine and Traumatology units.
* El Confidencial, in collaboration with Quirónsalud, presents a series of articles with practical information, advice and recommendations for practicing sports that improve our health and well-being. If you have any questions about this topic or want more information, you can contact the Jiménez Díaz Foundation.
