Doctor's diary: Tennis fever

By Dr Reggie Sangha

With Wimbledon here, many are thinking about taking up tennis again. But how do you avoid the likes of tennis elbow and tennis leg? BBC diary doctor, Dr Reggie Sangha, explains.

WIMBLEDON ON THE BBC 22 June - 5 July BBC One, BBC Two, BBC HD, Red Button, website streaming (UK only) and text commentary, 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC iPlayer More details of coverage BBC Sport: Tennis

Wimbledon is here, and a lot of people feel motivated to get off their sofas and play tennis. It's a great healthy outdoors activity with the added bonus of being social. Here are some top tips to help you play tennis safely and prevent any unnecessary injuries:

• Ensure adequate hydration by drinking plenty of fluid beforehand and taking some with you to the court. Eat carbohydrates two hours before exercising to give you fast release energy
• Use sunblock and a sunhat if necessary to protect against sunburn
• Warming up is essential to prevent injury. A lot of injuries occur because people have been sitting down all day then suddenly become very active on court.
• The muscles need time to warm up so jogging on the spot, doing high kicks, circling shoulders and sending wrists back and forth is very important
• Cool down for 10 minutes after playing.

If you are a keen tennis player then ensuring you have the right tennis equipment such as shoes that have ankle support and a good grip on the soles will prevent any ankle sprains. Also, the correct sized tennis racket and handle can help prevent tennis elbow.

Have fun!

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