Dealing with Injury as a Tennis Player: Lessons Learned
When I think about the times when I dealt with injuries as a tennis player, they weren't always easy. In particular, when I was growing up, I struggled a lot with wrist injuries. Part of that was because I used my wrists for a lot of things: typing, writing, playing piano, and of course practicing tennis for hours. So, I often strained and overworked those muscles, which led to a lot of pain and frustration. I was often depressed when I was injured and I couldn't do the activities I enjoyed.
Still, when I look back on those experiences, I recognize I learned a lot from them. I started becoming more careful with how I used my wrists, especially with repetitive wrist motions. I used to stubbornly push through the pain, but I eventually realized it was important for me to let my wrists rest.
When tennis players deal with injuries of any kind, it can feel like a real and disappointing setback. No one wants to be hurt, and because tennis involves so many of your muscles and body parts, it can be impossible to play for a while if you have a serious injury. Many tennis players learn to rest and pace themselves, although this can be challenging in the professional environment, where there are often very few breaks in between tournaments.
Dealing with injuries as a tennis player could be very painful, but I also learned some valuable life skills through those difficult periods. I learned patience and better ways to take care of myself, and I found that if I didn't overwork my wrists, I could still do the things I enjoyed, like writing and playing tennis.
I also learned that if I gave myself time to rest, the injury wouldn't last forever. Eventually, my body would heal, and I would be healthy and happy again!
So, these were the things I've learned as I've faced injuries. Now when I feel discomfort or pain, I try not to push through it. Instead, I give myself some time to rest, and in a few days or weeks, I often feel a lot better. Giving myself a chance to recover makes a big difference.
For example, when I hurt my back earlier this year, I decided to rest instead of pushing through the pain. The rest helped me to heal, and so far, I haven't experienced any more back pain!
This is why I'm fully supportive of players who believe the pro tennis schedule should be less physically taxing. I think if players had more time to rest between tournaments, there would be less injuries, and players would be healthier. I also think this would actually bring more benefits to the tournaments, not less, because the players would be able to bring a higher level of tennis in better health.
Anyway, the key life lesson I've learned through dealing with injuries in tennis is patience. You don't have to push through a painful injury, and you don't have to stress yourself beyond your limits. When you need a break or a rest, feel free to take it. Give yourself the chance to rejuvenate, and you'll be back in the swing of things!