Physical Therapy for a tennis injury is a crucial part to any athlete’s recovery. The injured area, whether it is tennis elbow, or a strained back from tennis, must be nursed back to health and restrengthened so that the muscles are stronger than ever and do not succumb to further injury.
The job of the physical therapist is to do three things after a sport’s related injury.
- Decrease swelling, pain, and inflammation
- Improve movement
- Work on restrengthening the injured area
Once in Physical therapy, a Queens physical therapist will provide an individualized treatment plan to follow during your physical therapy sessions.
The first two jobs of the physical therapist, decreasing swelling, pain, and inflammation and improving movement are accomplished via ice, massage, soft electrical stimulation, and stretching guided by a Ozone park physical therapist.
The last job, restrengthening the injured area, involves strengthening the muscles around and of the injured area to improve not only strength but balance as well.
For example, lets say that you have sustained a shoulder injury in tennis, or are having shoulder pain because of tennis. These exercises are used in Cross Bay Physical Therapy to improve the strength, mobility, and flexibility of the injured area so that you can get back to playing the sport you love.
One exercise to strengthen your shoulder and decrease shoulder pain is:
Pulldowns
Here, a band is placed around a pole above one’s head. One then takes each end of the band with each hand. Next, one pulls the band, with both hands, down to one’s pockets and about 6-8 inches away rom the body. This exercise is a work out for the shoulder muscles.
A good exercise to increase the shoulder’s flexibility is to stretch the Serratus Anterior:
Serratus Anterior Stretch
Here, you put one back behind you back, and then grab your wrist with your other hand behind your back as well. Pull your wrist toward you to feel a nice stretch in your shoulder. If this hurts, stop stretching or do not pull as hard.
Physical therapy for tennis injuries is important to get your shoulder in tip top shape and to be able to play without furthering the tennis injury. Call (718) 835-0084 today to start physical therapy! Cross Bay Physical Therapy is located in Howard Beach, Queens. Call a Queens physical therapist today at (718) 835-0084.
By Benjamin Bieber