Open Stance Forehand: Injuries and Prevention

Repetitive use injuries are a danger with the modern forehand. Many injuries that occur in elite tennis players can be classified as “overuse” injuries, stemming from the repetitive demands placed upon the human body from countless hours of training and competition. Players now hit with incredible power from virtually anywhere on the court. The two most explosive shots in tennis, the serve and the forehand, also make up 75% of all strokes during a typical match. It’s not surprising then that the forces players now generate with these shots can lead to muscular imbalances and potential injury. At the USTA we believe that the risks of these types of repetitive use injuries can be reduced significantly. We believe that the solution is a properly designed strength and conditioning program, and that this type of program is a necessary minimum for all serious competitive players. In the first article we looked at lower body and hip injuries that can result from hitting the modern, open stance forehand. (Click Here.) In this article, we’ll do the same for the upper body. Then we’ll present some key exercises designed to help prevent them.You can find more exercises, as well as find out more…