Have you noticed that your body gets stiff when you sit down after a physically intense match – even for a few minutes? Does your back and neck feel tight hours after you ended your hitting session? Think about how you felt after running around the court and returning several low shots.
I used to play tennis nearly every day – primarily singles matches, rigorous singles hitting sessions, or lessons. When I injured myself, someone I respected asked about my stretching habits – to which I replied “What stretching habits”? I clearly missed the memo about integrating a stretching routine before and after playing tennis. I learned that stretching after playing tennis really does make a difference in your level of play and how your body recovers from playing tennis.
[Read more…]