Learning survival strategies to minimize injuries is far more productive than learning how to treat them!

Here are some simple tips to promote performance through injury prevention that all athletes, parents and coaches can benefit from:

Develop a Team of Sports Medicine & Science Specialists:

The multifaceted needs of today’s tennis players cannot be met by the coach or parents alone. Optimal performance needs a combination of factors including coaching, physical and mental preparation and proper nutrition and medical monitoring. As the athlete progresses up the competition ladder and the sophistication of performance increases, the coaches and parents must act as coordinator for the sport medicine and science needs of the squash player.

• Get to know your local Sports Physician and Sports Physiotherapist.
• They can help you to locate other Sport Medicine & Science Specialists that you may need access to such as:
  • Sports Massage Therapist, Podiatrist, Nutritionists and Dieticians,
  • Sport Psychologist or Mental Trainer, Exercise Physiologist,
  • Sport Vision Specialist (Optometrist),
  • Kinesiologists and Strength and Conditioning Specialists.

• It is important to develop a network of reliable, qualified, sports medicine backup personnel that know you and understand tennis and the rigors of training.
• You and your coach should work closely with the Physician / Physiotherapist to determine an effective pre-habilitation or rehabilitation program.
• Your sport science and medicine can help in planning, structuring and modifying the training schedule.

Proper Rest, Recovery and Rehabilitation Techniques

Training for and playing squash is both physically and mentally demanding and recovery sessions must be incorporated into your sports specific training programs. The benefits of structured recovery sessions are well documented both in terms of improved performance and decreased injury rates. Athletes, coaches and parents all need to be aware of the importance of recovery following heavy workloads.

It is difficult to have a 100% injury free training program. As a player you are working hard, pushing yourself to the limits to achieve your best performance and injuries are an ever present danger. However, injuries can be minimized and controlled with a sensible injury prevention and management strategy at the heart of your training plan. 

Parents can be the frontline in injury prevention and management strategy. If any deficiencies are identified and prehabilitative (training for training) programs are prescribed, the parents need to reinforce these as part of the overall training schedule. Finding a skilled professional may not always be easy, but ask other players, coaches and  sport medicine professionals for suggestions.         

Successful coaches use sport specific training and recovery programs that are scientifically based. They make effective use of mental training and ensure optimal health and nutrition. It is vital that all coaches keep up to date with current research on training techniques and constantly update their coaching practices.

Carl Petersen is a Partner and Director of High Performance Training at City Sports & Physiotherapy Clinic’s in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He works with athletes ranging from club level to those on the WTA / ATP tennis and World Cup ski tour. He travelled fulltime with the Canadian Alpine Ski Team for 15 years. His physiotherapy and fitness coaching roles have given him the opportunity to work with, coach and design training programs for Olympic Gold, World Championship Gold and World Cup medallists. Petersen has worked and lectured to physicians, therapists and coaches on 5 continents most recently in Australia, England, Ireland, Paraguay, Argentina, Turkey, Switzerland and the USA. He has published over 200 articles in a variety of publications for both the Scientific and lay community which have been translated into 6 languages. He has also written or co-authored 3 books including Fit to Play Tennis-High Performance Training Tips and has produced a series of core stability training DVD’s entitled Fit to Play™ & Perform.  More information available at www.citysportsphysio.com  

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