Just like with any physical activity, there is always the chance of getting injured. With tennis, the most common injuries happen to the elbow, wrist, knees, and toes. Tennis enthusiast Aaron Umen gives his advice on how to prevent these four common injuries.

You may have heard of “tennis elbow,” and this is a common condition that occurs where the tendons in your arm connect at the elbow joint. Since tennis involves extending your arms straight and exerting enough force to change the direction of the ball, it makes sense that the arm area will be the most likely culprit for injuries. Because there are a lot of short sprints and changes in direction on the court to return the ball, your knees and toes can bear similar injuries to your arms as well.

It may seem obvious, but the best medicine is preventative medicine, so be sure to properly warm up the body before playing the sport.  With joint injuries, applying a cold compress to the affected area for twenty minutes can help reduce any swelling. Beyond that, anti-inflammatory gels and creams can help loosen your joints up again and reduce any pain. 

Be sure to cool down with static stretches after playing tennis because holding long stretches can help increase your range of motion and allow the muscles to recover faster! Plus, a faster recovery means the quicker you’ll be able to get back on the court!