How much Tennis is too much?

[Tennisrichmond]

I picked up Tennis last Spring (no physical activity last 4 years,) and was playing 7 days a week for 2+ hours daily. Then I cut it down to 4 days a week. During last 4 months I had runners knee, and suffered other knee/forearm/elbow injury. Doctor tells me it is from over use. Plus I have only access to hard court in my area.

This article from CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/31/tennis.injuries.anyone/index.html) lowered my moral even more. I am not sure why my body can’t take all the pounding from Tennis. It maybe because I started out as physically unfit or mother nature (age) slowing me down?

How much Tennis do you play and what age group are you in? I am interested to hear from those that are in mid 30s or older.

How much Tennis and other activities (Weights, cycling, etc) you do in a week. Are you taking any nutritional supplements (protein powder, etc)?

Tennis Richmond
Starting Tennis Blog (http://startingtennis.blogspot.com/)

[eagle]

Mid 40s. Playing close to 15 years.

2-3hrs, 4-6 times a week.

Singles and doubles.

Correct weight to height ratio.

Eats right meaning everything in moderation.

Knock on wood. No ailments.

Since you just picked up the game, you are subjecting your body to a lot of punishment if you play 7 times or even 4 times a week.

You may have to cut it back more or at least get in better shape.

r,
eagle

r,
eagle

[Cindysphinx]

Late 40s.

Amount of tennis highly variable. This week, total time on court will be 10-12 hours. I also work out 4-5 days per week.

Mostly doubles.

Correct weight to height ratio, but I picked up some vacation weight that I still need to lose.

Currently nursing unhappy knees and a groin strain.

I don't take any nutritional supplements. I consider them to be snake oil.

[El Diablo]

I'm always surprised that people expect their bodies to take the kind of pounding frequent tennis provides. Think about what man did over the tens of thousands of years this body has been evolving -- a little group hunting, a little farming, a little putzing around in the woods or desert. There's simply nothing in the anthropologic history to suggest that your body would be prepared for something like tennis. I think playing more than about three times a week is asking for trouble.

[chess9]

We are highly variable critters when it comes to exercise tolerance. You've gone over your tolerance line and your body told you.

So, you have an important piece of information about the stresses your body can endure. What will you do with it?

Only you know, or can know, what all your physical strengths and weaknesses are. You may be suited to light swimming and gardening for the rest of your life. You might ultimately be suited for Ironman Triathlons. Or, like the average Joe, perhaps you should consider a variety of approaches? A bit of cycling, some occasional running, some swimming, a bit of weight training, and when you are healed, some tennis again.

Training smart means pushing hard when you have the appropriate base, or predicate conditioning. Too many weekend warriors are racing before they 'learn' to run slowly.

So, I'd suggest you start from the beginning...and if you aren't the sort to read every web site on training, then get a personal trainer to give you advice.

For what it's worth, I'm 66. I run about 20 miles a week, cycle these days only about 25 miles a week, lift three days a week now, and play tennis 4 days per week. BUT, I've been doing extensive training for almost 60 years. I watch my diet, and am 6', and 175 lbs today.

-Robert

[akthe47]

I'm almost 30, good height/weight, and play 3-4 times a week (2-3 hrs each), but I do running (long distance), biking, weight lifting, and tennis training (agility drills, plyometrics, etc) to supplement the tennis. I find tennis helps other sports and vice-versa.

I do have to agree that tennis requires a certain level of physical fitness if you really want to move on the court and hit great shots. I think like the article says (and shows in the picture), not everyone is ready to play tennis physically, though their mind may be there mentally.

[dannyjjang]

We are highly variable critters when it comes to exercise tolerance. You've gone over your tolerance line and your body told you.

So, you have an important piece of information about the stresses your body can endure. What will you do with it?

Only you know, or can know, what all your physical strengths and weaknesses are. You may be suited to light swimming and gardening for the rest of your life. You might ultimately be suited for Ironman Triathlons. Or, like the average Joe, perhaps you should consider a variety of approaches? A bit of cycling, some occasional running, some swimming, a bit of weight training, and when you are healed, some tennis again.

Training smart means pushing hard when you have the appropriate base, or predicate conditioning. Too many weekend warriors are racing before they 'learn' to run slowly.

So, I'd suggest you start from the beginning...and if you aren't the sort to read every web site on training, then get a personal trainer to give you advice.

For what it's worth, I'm 66. I run about 20 miles a week, cycle these days only about 25 miles a week, lift three days a week now, and play tennis 4 days per week. BUT, I've been doing extensive training for almost 60 years. I watch my diet, and am 6', and 175 lbs today.

-Robert

dang chess...still going strong..once again big respect....

[chess9]

Thanks, Danny!

-Robert

[Kobble]

I know it sucks when you love something, or are itching to make progress, but you have to back off sometimes. Maybe go easier for a while and find some suitable prehab exercises to condition your weak links.

[eagle]

We are highly variable critters when it comes to exercise tolerance. You've gone over your tolerance line and your body told you.

So, you have an important piece of information about the stresses your body can endure. What will you do with it?

Only you know, or can know, what all your physical strengths and weaknesses are. You may be suited to light swimming and gardening for the rest of your life. You might ultimately be suited for Ironman Triathlons. Or, like the average Joe, perhaps you should consider a variety of approaches? A bit of cycling, some occasional running, some swimming, a bit of weight training, and when you are healed, some tennis again.

Training smart means pushing hard when you have the appropriate base, or predicate conditioning. Too many weekend warriors are racing before they 'learn' to run slowly.

So, I'd suggest you start from the beginning...and if you aren't the sort to read every web site on training, then get a personal trainer to give you advice.

For what it's worth, I'm 66. I run about 20 miles a week, cycle these days only about 25 miles a week, lift three days a week now, and play tennis 4 days per week. BUT, I've been doing extensive training for almost 60 years. I watch my diet, and am 6', and 175 lbs today.

-Robert


Chess9, we bow before your presence.

I just hope I can be at least 20% of your fitness when I reach your age now. I'm not that far off so I had better get going. :)

r,
eagle

[charliefedererer]

We are highly variable critters when it comes to exercise tolerance. You've gone over your tolerance line and your body told you.

So, you have an important piece of information about the stresses your body can endure. What will you do with it?

Only you know, or can know, what all your physical strengths and weaknesses are. You may be suited to light swimming and gardening for the rest of your life. You might ultimately be suited for Ironman Triathlons. Or, like the average Joe, perhaps you should consider a variety of approaches? A bit of cycling, some occasional running, some swimming, a bit of weight training, and when you are healed, some tennis again.

Training smart means pushing hard when you have the appropriate base, or predicate conditioning. Too many weekend warriors are racing before they 'learn' to run slowly.

So, I'd suggest you start from the beginning...and if you aren't the sort to read every web site on training, then get a personal trainer to give you advice.

For what it's worth, I'm 66. I run about 20 miles a week, cycle these days only about 25 miles a week, lift three days a week now, and play tennis 4 days per week. BUT, I've been doing extensive training for almost 60 years. I watch my diet, and am 6', and 175 lbs today.

-Robert

Tennisrichmond,
You are not going to get better advice than that posted here by Robert.
The answer is not going to be supplements.
It's going to involve a little trial and error, and recognizing that when your body hurts, you have to let it rest before you can push it again.
And crosstraining activities that don't involve heavy pounding on your knees, or violent throwing motions with your arms will be in order.
So will thrower's exercises (http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/media/thrower10.sw), and core work.
And hopefully you are not carrying any extra weight like the guy in the CNN article.
Good luck.