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Junior tennis injuries are starting to get more media attention as youth sport injuries have increased over the past decade; it is more common to see surgeries performed on young athletes for overuse injuries. Much of this media attention stems from other sports like baseball and football, but tennis is also one sport where overuse injuries is an area that every coach, parent, tennis performance trainer (TPT) and Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) should hold a strong education. Many of these injuries, and even surgeries, used to be only performed on college and adult athletes. Fortunately for tennis, the average young tennis player experiences relatively few severe injuries and is considerably lower than many other sports [1]. However, overuse is a concern in competitive young tennis athletes. Although injury rates and types of injuries are not as well researched as in some other sports (i.e. baseball, soccer, etc.) some interesting data exists that can help us better understand young tennis athletes and the typical issues that they see. Over a multiyear period a major junior national tennis tournament 21% of participants sustained an injury [2]. Over the last few decades research has been inconsistent about where the majority of tennis injuries occur. Earlier research showed that a large percentage of injuries occurred in the lower body [3]. However, more recent research has showed that upper body and core injuries are becoming more prevalent [4]. This is likely due to the change in technique (more open stance movements and greater reliance of upper body in stroke production, the slower surfaces and new technologies in the racket and strings.)
One unique study involved a series of questions on training, technique, competition and other factors that was provided to all participants at the largest junior team tennis event in the US [5]. It was collected at 12 different locations and 861 junior tennis players completed the survey:
- 97% of individuals who completed the study
Gender breakdown:
Age: 10-17
As the goal of the study was to evaluate injury patterns and trends a clear definition of injury was important. “An event that forces a player to miss 3 or more consecutive days of tennis play, either practice or competition, or that requires medical attention from a trainer, therapist, or doctor.”
Major Findings From This Study
Below are three charts that provide the breakdown of the location of injuries based on the three different age groups (12 and under; 14 and under; 16 and under).
One unique study involved a series of questions on training, technique, competition and other factors that was provided to all participants at the largest junior team tennis event in the US [5]. It was collected at 12 different locations and 861 junior tennis players completed the survey:
- 97% of individuals who completed the study
Gender breakdown:
- males-43% (356);
- females-57% (N=476).
Age: 10-17
As the goal of the study was to evaluate injury patterns and trends a clear definition of injury was important. “An event that forces a player to miss 3 or more consecutive days of tennis play, either practice or competition, or that requires medical attention from a trainer, therapist, or doctor.”
Major Findings From This Study
- For both the 12 and under and 14 and under age group the shoulder was the most often injured area. However for the 16 and under age group the back was the most commonly injured area.
- Only 51% and 54% (male and female) of respondents use free weights and only 38% and 39% use machines.
- Only 43% and 58% (male and female use medicine ball during training).
- 90% and 97% (male and female) use a double-handed backhand
- 20% and 22% (male and female) use an abbreviated/short service motion
- 83% of all players predominantly train and play on a hardcourt surface
- 81% of all injuries in junior tennis players were tennis related
- 51% of all athletes that reported an injury visited a Physician or Physical Therapist
Below are three charts that provide the breakdown of the location of injuries based on the three different age groups (12 and under; 14 and under; 16 and under).
When all the data was pooled together the following showcases the most common injury areas in the junior players who participated in this study (male and female combined ages 10-17)
Summary:
The shoulder and back are two major areas that need a greater focus in training and injury prevention programs. The high prevalence of hardcourt tennis play is something that needs to be taken into account when devising on and off-court training programs. The increase in injuries as athletes’ age through their junior career is also something that should be of major interest to coaches, trainers and administrators. More education is needed to ensure that appropriate understanding of volume and injury prevention programs are implemented to help reduce the likelihood of injuries in junior tennis players. This is something that requires good communication between tennis coaches, certified tennis performance specialists and parents to ensure that the young tennis players develop and optimize performance while limiting the occurrence of injury.
1. Kibler, W.B. and M. Safran, Tennis Injuries, in Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries, D. Caine and N. Maffuli, Editors. 2005, Base, Karger. p. 120-137.
2. Hutchinson, M.R., et al., Injury surveillance at the USTA boys' tennis championships: A 6-yr study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1995. 27(6): p. 826-30.
3. Reece, L.A., P.A. Fricker, and K.F. Maguire, Injuries to elite young tennis players at the Australian Institute of Sport. Aust J Sci Med Sports, 1986. 18: p. 11-15.
4. Winge, S., U. Jorgenson, and L. Nielson, Epidemiology of injuries in Danish championship tennis. Int J Sports Med, 1989. 10: p. 368-371.
5. Kovacs, M.S., et al., Demogrpahic data and injury trends in American national junior tennis players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2012. 26(1): p. S62.
The shoulder and back are two major areas that need a greater focus in training and injury prevention programs. The high prevalence of hardcourt tennis play is something that needs to be taken into account when devising on and off-court training programs. The increase in injuries as athletes’ age through their junior career is also something that should be of major interest to coaches, trainers and administrators. More education is needed to ensure that appropriate understanding of volume and injury prevention programs are implemented to help reduce the likelihood of injuries in junior tennis players. This is something that requires good communication between tennis coaches, certified tennis performance specialists and parents to ensure that the young tennis players develop and optimize performance while limiting the occurrence of injury.
1. Kibler, W.B. and M. Safran, Tennis Injuries, in Epidemiology of Pediatric Sports Injuries, D. Caine and N. Maffuli, Editors. 2005, Base, Karger. p. 120-137.
2. Hutchinson, M.R., et al., Injury surveillance at the USTA boys' tennis championships: A 6-yr study. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 1995. 27(6): p. 826-30.
3. Reece, L.A., P.A. Fricker, and K.F. Maguire, Injuries to elite young tennis players at the Australian Institute of Sport. Aust J Sci Med Sports, 1986. 18: p. 11-15.
4. Winge, S., U. Jorgenson, and L. Nielson, Epidemiology of injuries in Danish championship tennis. Int J Sports Med, 1989. 10: p. 368-371.
5. Kovacs, M.S., et al., Demogrpahic data and injury trends in American national junior tennis players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2012. 26(1): p. S62.
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For Media Inquiries: Mary Jo Kovacs
International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA)
(770) 828-5779
www.itpa-tennis.org
July 9th, 2014
International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) becomes the sport science and physical conditioning education advisor for the Research and Coaches Education Department of Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET).
Atlanta, Ga (USA)--The International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) today announced a new agreement with the Spanish Tennis Federation (Real Federación Española de Tenis), namely with its Research and Coaches Education Department to become the sport science and physical conditioning education advisor for tennis coaches, physical trainers, strength and conditioning professionals and physical therapists who work with tennis athletes throughout Spain. The iTPA is the worldwide education and certification organization for trainers, coaches and specialists who are passionate about tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention. The iTPA is the first of its kind in the tennis industry.
Through quality, evidence-based education combined with accurate, professional credentialing overseen by a Certification Commission comprised of world leading experts, the iTPA offers three levels of tennis-specific certification: Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS). “The iTPA was established to ensure that tennis players are provided with the best training from iTPA certified individuals using the latest evidence-based practical information to improve on-court tennis performance while limiting the likelihood of injuries,” said Dr. Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., FACSM, CTPS, MTPS, CSCS*D. “The iTPA is excited to become the official physical conditioning education partner for the RFET. As part of this great partnership over 350 Spanish tennis coaches, who are members of the RFET through the Professional Coaching License, are now members of the iTPA and gain access to the unique educational offerings focused on improving on-court tennis-specific performance and the reduction in injuries. Over the coming year the iTPA and RFET will work closely together to develop combined educational offerings to help increase the opportunities for high quality evidence-based education for Spanish tennis coaches, physical trainers, physical therapists and healthcare providers who train and treat tennis athletes.”
“For the RFET, this agreement will be a valuable support for the development and training tennis players in Spain and from the Department of Research and Coaches Education we may increase the services and the resources available for our Spanish tennis coaches, physical trainers, physical therapists and healthcare providers in order to update knowledge and support them in their daily work with tennis players,” commented Dr. David Sanz (PhD., High Performance Masters Degree, Director of Research and Coaches Education RFET). “The iTPA platform provides a high quality resource, with the thoroughness of information that not only comes from experience, but of evidence applied to tennis players in recent years. This partnership starts today with this first initiative and we will increase our relationship with new activities in the future.”
About International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA):
The iTPA is the worldwide education and certification organization for trainers, coaches and specialists who are passionate about tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention. The education company offers a professional training and education process that establishes recognition through 3 certifications: Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS). The certification materials are overseen by the iTPA Certification Commission consisting of world experts in improving tennis performance and reducing injuries; visit the iTPA website at www.itpa-tennis.org.
About Real Federación Española de Tenis (RFET):
The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) is the governing body of tennis in Spain.
The RFET has a Coaches Education and Research Department which deals with the coaches education program for tennis coaches as well as with the research projects funded by the RFET in cooperation with other institutions.
The tennis coaches education in Spain has two main streams: the initial education and the continuous education. The initial education is recognized from 1997 by the Spanish National Sports Governing Body (CSD) and the Ministry of Education. There are more than 10.000 tennis coaches certified in Spain by the RFET. The continuous education combines both traditional approaches such as refresher courses, conferences and workshops with distance learning courses organized in conjunction with Universities and other academic institutions. Visit the RFET website at www.rfet.es.
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Download the press release PDF HERE. Also available in Spanish on our media page.
International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA)
(770) 828-5779
www.itpa-tennis.org
July 9th, 2014
International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) becomes the sport science and physical conditioning education advisor for the Research and Coaches Education Department of Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET).
Atlanta, Ga (USA)--The International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) today announced a new agreement with the Spanish Tennis Federation (Real Federación Española de Tenis), namely with its Research and Coaches Education Department to become the sport science and physical conditioning education advisor for tennis coaches, physical trainers, strength and conditioning professionals and physical therapists who work with tennis athletes throughout Spain. The iTPA is the worldwide education and certification organization for trainers, coaches and specialists who are passionate about tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention. The iTPA is the first of its kind in the tennis industry.
Through quality, evidence-based education combined with accurate, professional credentialing overseen by a Certification Commission comprised of world leading experts, the iTPA offers three levels of tennis-specific certification: Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS). “The iTPA was established to ensure that tennis players are provided with the best training from iTPA certified individuals using the latest evidence-based practical information to improve on-court tennis performance while limiting the likelihood of injuries,” said Dr. Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., FACSM, CTPS, MTPS, CSCS*D. “The iTPA is excited to become the official physical conditioning education partner for the RFET. As part of this great partnership over 350 Spanish tennis coaches, who are members of the RFET through the Professional Coaching License, are now members of the iTPA and gain access to the unique educational offerings focused on improving on-court tennis-specific performance and the reduction in injuries. Over the coming year the iTPA and RFET will work closely together to develop combined educational offerings to help increase the opportunities for high quality evidence-based education for Spanish tennis coaches, physical trainers, physical therapists and healthcare providers who train and treat tennis athletes.”
“For the RFET, this agreement will be a valuable support for the development and training tennis players in Spain and from the Department of Research and Coaches Education we may increase the services and the resources available for our Spanish tennis coaches, physical trainers, physical therapists and healthcare providers in order to update knowledge and support them in their daily work with tennis players,” commented Dr. David Sanz (PhD., High Performance Masters Degree, Director of Research and Coaches Education RFET). “The iTPA platform provides a high quality resource, with the thoroughness of information that not only comes from experience, but of evidence applied to tennis players in recent years. This partnership starts today with this first initiative and we will increase our relationship with new activities in the future.”
About International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA):
The iTPA is the worldwide education and certification organization for trainers, coaches and specialists who are passionate about tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention. The education company offers a professional training and education process that establishes recognition through 3 certifications: Tennis Performance Trainer (TPT), Certified Tennis Performance Specialist (CTPS) and Master Tennis Performance Specialist (MTPS). The certification materials are overseen by the iTPA Certification Commission consisting of world experts in improving tennis performance and reducing injuries; visit the iTPA website at www.itpa-tennis.org.
About Real Federación Española de Tenis (RFET):
The Royal Spanish Tennis Federation (RFET) is the governing body of tennis in Spain.
The RFET has a Coaches Education and Research Department which deals with the coaches education program for tennis coaches as well as with the research projects funded by the RFET in cooperation with other institutions.
The tennis coaches education in Spain has two main streams: the initial education and the continuous education. The initial education is recognized from 1997 by the Spanish National Sports Governing Body (CSD) and the Ministry of Education. There are more than 10.000 tennis coaches certified in Spain by the RFET. The continuous education combines both traditional approaches such as refresher courses, conferences and workshops with distance learning courses organized in conjunction with Universities and other academic institutions. Visit the RFET website at www.rfet.es.
###
Download the press release PDF HERE. Also available in Spanish on our media page.
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For the last few decades, the discussion around whether young kids should lift weights or perform resistance training has progressed substantially. It is important to review the science around resistance training in young individuals and make decisions about training based on the best available science. Basing decisions on how to train young athletes without understanding the underlying science is not recommended and something that can put young athletes at greater risk of injury and/or slow the development and progress. Recently an international group of experts in youth resistance training were asked to review the large body of scientific literature and develop an International Consensus on “Youth Resistance Training.” Three individuals on the iTPA Certification Commission were heavily involved in the consensus document, and is something that should be read by all coaches, trainers, performance specialists, physical therapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, parents and sports administrators.
The summary of the document concludes with this statement: “A compelling body of scientific evidence supports participation in appropriately designed youth resistance training programmes that are supervised and instructed by qualified professionals.”
The summary of the document concludes with this statement: “A compelling body of scientific evidence supports participation in appropriately designed youth resistance training programmes that are supervised and instructed by qualified professionals.”
Here are a few take-home messages from the “Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus” which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine this year.
1. “The use of resistance training by children and adolescents is supported on the proviso that qualified professionals design and supervise training programmes that are consistent with the needs, goals and abilities of younger populations.”
2. “Parents, teachers, coaches and healthcare providers should recognize the potential health and fitness-related benefits of resistance exercise for all children and adolescents. Youth who do not participate in activities that enhance muscle strength and motor skills early in life may be at increased risk for negative health outcomes later in life.”
3. “Appropriately designed resistance training programmes may reduce sports-related injuries, and should be viewed as an essential component of preparatory training programmes for aspiring young athletes.”
4. “Regular participation in a variety of physical activities that include resistance training during childhood and adolescence can support and encourage participation in physical activity as an ongoing lifestyle choice later in life.”
5. “Resistance training prescription should be based according to training age, motor skill competency, technical proficiency and existing strength levels. Qualified professionals should also consider the biological age and psychosocial maturity level of the child or adolescent.
6. The focus of youth resistance training should be on developing the technical skill and competency to perform a variety of resistance training exercises at the appropriate intensity and volume, while providing youth with an opportunity to participate in programmes that are safe, effective and enjoyable.”
Read the position stand for more detail:
Read the full International Consensus below:
Position statement on youth Resistance Training the 2014 International Consensus
Please follow the iTPA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/itpatennis), the twitter feed (@itpatennis) and the iTPA website for more information on this topic and other updates related to tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention www.itpa-tennis.org
1. “The use of resistance training by children and adolescents is supported on the proviso that qualified professionals design and supervise training programmes that are consistent with the needs, goals and abilities of younger populations.”
2. “Parents, teachers, coaches and healthcare providers should recognize the potential health and fitness-related benefits of resistance exercise for all children and adolescents. Youth who do not participate in activities that enhance muscle strength and motor skills early in life may be at increased risk for negative health outcomes later in life.”
3. “Appropriately designed resistance training programmes may reduce sports-related injuries, and should be viewed as an essential component of preparatory training programmes for aspiring young athletes.”
4. “Regular participation in a variety of physical activities that include resistance training during childhood and adolescence can support and encourage participation in physical activity as an ongoing lifestyle choice later in life.”
5. “Resistance training prescription should be based according to training age, motor skill competency, technical proficiency and existing strength levels. Qualified professionals should also consider the biological age and psychosocial maturity level of the child or adolescent.
6. The focus of youth resistance training should be on developing the technical skill and competency to perform a variety of resistance training exercises at the appropriate intensity and volume, while providing youth with an opportunity to participate in programmes that are safe, effective and enjoyable.”
Read the position stand for more detail:
- The use of resistance in youth is recommended
- The need exists for appropriately designed programs
- Programs need to be appropriate for training age, motor skill competency, technical proficiency and current strength levels.
Read the full International Consensus below:
Position statement on youth Resistance Training the 2014 International Consensus
Please follow the iTPA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/itpatennis), the twitter feed (@itpatennis) and the iTPA website for more information on this topic and other updates related to tennis-specific performance enhancement and injury prevention www.itpa-tennis.org
