Heat Illness
Players who practice or play in hot conditions are susceptible to heat illness. The three stages of heat illness, in increasing order of seriousness, are heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
It Is Bad When My Body Goes "Snap, Crackle, Pop"?
Tennis players occasionally hear their bodies making strange sounds on, and sometimes off, the court. These sounds are described as a popping, snapping, or crunching, and are usually associated with movement of a joint. Players may be concerned that these sounds could be evidence of damage to a muscle, tendon, or joint, and that continued play may worsen the condition. There are several guidelines to help you determine whether the sounds are significant for injury.
Managing an Injury
One question that is always asked of coaches and sports medicine experts is whether ice or heat should be applied to an injured area. Here is some information on the benefits and drawbacks of the application of ice and heat.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
As a high-performance coach, you need to know some of the basic terminology regarding injuries to the musculoskeletal system. These are the most common injuries in tennis, and they generally fall under the broader heading of overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are injuries that, instead of occurring from one particular event or incident, happen when repeated stresses are applied to body tissues, resulting in overload and breakdown.
Pain!
Pain located in muscles (i.e., thigh muscles, forearm muscles etc.) is usually less serious and comes from repeated exercise and training activity. This type of pain is also difficult to train or play through, but is not considered as serious.
Cool Down
Most players and coaches are familiar with warming up and getting the body prepared to engage in a high-intensity activity. The cool-down, on the other hand, is less understood but no less important to performance. A proper cool-down is an essential part of a post-match routine and can aid a player’s physical recovery and preparation for the next practice or match.