Best play-style for injury prevention?

[LeeD]

Table tennis is all twisting, jerking, jumping, and quick explosive movements...kinda like net play in tennis.
Swimming as noted, biking (not motocross) is highly recommended, except for bad drivers and traffic.
I can ride 40 miles in 2.5 hours, but cannot run one step due to detached tendons in my ankle/foot, and a bad medial collateral leading to moderate swelling (about 3/4") after serious physical activity.

[Red Sunset]

Originally Posted by ollinger

Swimming is the best thing you can do, no serious trauma to the knee. Rehab will not restore cartilage.

Yes, I'm well aware my cartilage is gone forever, but rehab will help protect my remaining cartilage. I have discoid menisci on both knees, so even tho I've had some removed, I've still got plenty remaining. I'm NOT swimming. Biking maybe. Sounds like table tennis might be out. What about rowing?

[tennytive]

Play more doubles, keep your weight down, and run in waist/chest deep water if you don't like swimming.

Sorry to hear you have that much trouble at such a young age.

[goran_ace]

Hate to throw more rain on your parade but rowing is another sport that is very tough on the knees. Puts a similar load on the knees as doing squats, repeated over and over again.

As for biking, I have two friends who have really bad knees and have both gotten into biking as a last resort and are now nuts about it. One of them did a 100-mile ride this summer.

[Red Sunset]

Thanks Goran. There is a velodrome near where I live. Maybe it's worth a shot.

[LeeD]

Biking....
Don't crash.
Don't sprint until you have ridden for at least a base # of miles.

[tyu1314]

wii tennis, or any video or computer tennis game

[maggmaster]

I have had knee problem since college soccer. I am 30 and train 7 days a week. As long as I maintain a decent strength program my knees don't bother me. You must strengthen all of the muscles around your knees and you can't ever slack off. Also if your goal is to play high level tennis, you have to drop any other activity that is hard on the knees, don't run use the eliptical Also you have to maintain a healthy weight, extra weight is really tough on your knees.

[Red Sunset]

Back to the original question. Surely playing like Aggassi or Del Po is a bit easier on your body than playing like Rafter? S and V has gotta put more pressure on your knees?

[GuyClinch]

I am with Ollinger. I don't think style will solve your problem. Even if you play a 'low impact' style you will have occasions where you quite naturally go with full exertion..

I don't care if you are playing doubles with seniors - those guys are going to expect you to run that lob down since you are still young.

Limit your tennis to 1 match a week for a season.. Because if you push it too much you are going to have to give up tennis. It sounds like your Doc wants to you to quit already.

Do the rehab and whatever other exercises you can find that help your injury religiously. And personally though its quackish I know I would take both fish oil and a joint supplement..

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Red Sunset

Back to the original question. Surely playing like Aggassi or Del Po is a bit easier on your body than playing like Rafter? S and V has gotta put more pressure on your knees?

Sprinting up to the net once (or twice if you fault) is a lot easier than running balls down side to side to side to side to side to side to side.

[Red Sunset]

Well, you guys were all correct. My physio agreed with surgeon (and Ollinger!). No more tennis for me. Cycling, Swimming, or Golf only. Oh well. Played tennis from ages 10-32 and got to 5.0 at my best. On to the next challenge!

[goran_ace]

Originally Posted by Red Sunset

Well, you guys were all correct. My physio agreed with surgeon (and Ollinger!). No more tennis for me. Cycling, Swimming, or Golf only. Oh well. Played tennis from ages 10-32 and got to 5.0 at my best. On to the next challenge!

Sorry to hear that you have to hang it up, but (1.) if I had to choose between another year of tennis and dealing with severe knee pain/injury the rest of my life I'd have made the same choice, and (2.) not many players ever get close to playing at 5.0 so you've had a good run. Best of luck to you in cycling/swimming/golf.

[Red Sunset]

Thanks Groan. Appreciate it.

[Red Sunset]

*Goran, not Groan, lol.

[Frank Silbermann]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Sprinting up to the net once (or twice if you fault) is a lot easier than running balls down side to side to side to side to side to side to side.

Yeah, but that's only if you serve and volley so well that all volleys are within easy reach. Otherwise you get nothing _but_ sharp starts, stops, and direction changes.

[dominikk1985]

also avoid hard and cement courts

[LeeD]

Key to playing injured is your MIND.
You have to be willing to let shots go that force you to stretch fully or run hard, and just smile and say... "nice shot".
I haven't run 10 steps in over 5 years. I play doubles just fine, and drop a level in singles over my doubles play.

[Red Sunset]

Think I'll just take the advice of my surgeon and physio, both of whom I trust, and take up cycling or golf. I don't wanna be 50 and not be able to walk up a flight of stairs.