Higher bone density in tennis players (BBC)
- Thread starter onehandbh
- Start date
speedysteve
Legend
Doesn't surprise me.
When growing up I played a lot of tennis.
My racquet arm and shoulder always seemed more developed.
When growing up I played a lot of tennis.
My racquet arm and shoulder always seemed more developed.
SteveI
Legend
Check out Rocket Rod Laver in this prime.
GodlessEndeavor
Professional
Muscle growth causes bone density to increase. The body has feedback loops like that in order to keep things balanced. If you're stronger you also need more bone density to handle the extra weight and repeated efforts.
Grafil Injection
Hall of Fame
Cool bone and muscle graphics, and lovely forehands from Freya. Probably works faster when you're young, but even I notice it after an intensive Summer of play.
Shroud
Talk Tennis Guru
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Frame shock-induced bone density?
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
This is why I do not use a dampener.
Bare leather unless it is hot and humid.
Acrually, that's not the reason, but apparently a side benefit?
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
String dampers / dampeners will somewhat reduce string vibrations delivered to the arm but they do not reduce frame shock.
What is a Tennis Vibration Dampener
If you've wondered what those objects are hugging the bottom of the tennis strings in some racquets, this article is for you. We explain what vibration dampeners are and what they do.
www.tennis-warehouse.com
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
Any other noticeable differences between left and right side?
e.g. right vs left calf / quad / foot / ear / etc.
Rosstour
G.O.A.T.
You mean visually like something that's obvious to the eye, or just capabilities-wise? (eg dominant eye)
Not much that I was born with. My feet are the same length but different widths. That caused a lot of problems this year
Ok wait. There are some asymmetries. Right (dominant) pec, trapezius, and lats are all smaller. My right trap didn't "come in" until much later than my left in childhood, and I still have problems firing it sometimes.
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
I don't believe there is a max size. The long worm dampeners (usually rubber or gel-filled) are somewhat larger, more massive than simple dampeners.
As long as the damper / dampener does not encroach the normal playing area -- that is, it remains outside the stringbed. It must be below the bottom string, above the top string or outside the edge strings on both sides.
If desired, you could put a string dampers in all 4 areas. And you could put multiple string dampers in any or all of those areas.
The issue with too much string damping is that it will make your strings feel very dead. And it will mute or deaden the sound of your ball contacts too much. Most players find that they prefer some amount of tactile and auditory feedback rather than a muted / soft feedback.
A string damper typically weighs only 2-3 grams or so. This is not enough mass, not even close, to affect frame shock. Rather than using a lot of string dampener mass to reduce frame shock, it would be better to add some metallic weight (like Pb) to the frame or inside the handle (foam or Pb weight)
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Ribs???!!? It can't be because of tennis, lol
Rosstour
G.O.A.T.
Why not?
I have ab muscles on my right side that just aren't there on my left. What else do you suppose it could be from?
The thickness is all up and down the right side of the rib cage
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
You're right-handed but some of the muscles on your right side are smaller? The opposite of what I would have expected.
Are the smaller right side muscles stronger or weaker than their left side counterparts?
Of course it can. They are under violent stress.
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Any documented example from pros? Saying everything is possible is easy. If I don't see it in pros, I find it hard to believe it can happen to rec players.
Have you examined them?
johnmccabe
Hall of Fame
Dude you often comes out with attitude without evidence. I think the rib thing is unlikely in rec players and I'm open minded. But if you don't know any solid examples and keep coming across as rhetorically talking down on people, I'm not interested in what you think anymore.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Uneven rib cage as an overuse injury or accommodation? Sure it’s not a scoliosis or some other birth defect that was mild in your youth but has manifested or worsened with age?
I’ve had an obvious scoliosis since my mid 60s. Apparently I was born with a scoliosis but it was so mild when I was younger, it was never detected or diagnosed until recently
Uneven rib cage: Causes, treatment, and when to seek help
A variety of conditions can cause the appearance of an uneven rib cage. Learn more about the possible causes and the treatment that is available here.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Uneven Rib Cage: Causes & Treatments
Learn all about uneven rib cages. An uneven rib cage can cause problems with your breathing and posture. We’ll give you full details about the causes of an uneven rib cage and review various treatment options based on the cause and the severity of the asymmetrical aspects of the rib cage.
www.healthline.com
LOBALOT
Legend
In my opinion the unilateral aspect of the tennis is the only weakness of the sport compared to other activity especially for older players:
- You get the benefit of exercise with enticement of being fun.
- You get the social aspects of the sport which is important as we age.
- You get competition if that is what you are into.
I do however feel my right arm is much stronger than my left and my one side or the other tend to get banged up/sore (Right Shoulder, left hip, this type of thing).
Supplementing tennis with a periodic gym workouts helps to balance this out (Which I should do more of!).
- You get the benefit of exercise with enticement of being fun.
- You get the social aspects of the sport which is important as we age.
- You get competition if that is what you are into.
I do however feel my right arm is much stronger than my left and my one side or the other tend to get banged up/sore (Right Shoulder, left hip, this type of thing).
Supplementing tennis with a periodic gym workouts helps to balance this out (Which I should do more of!).
Cool. That's exactly the way you come across. The dude just gave you an example. My ribs are bigger on one side too.
Rosstour
G.O.A.T.
They're much weaker now after a series of injuries to the upper arm and shoulder, but they were weaker before.
I have this theory that our weaker side is actually our stronger side which is why we use it to brace/plant. Our "stronger" side is actually weaker but more coordinated. Just my weird idea
When I was a kid playing a lot the forearm was bigger on the right but not anymore
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
I'm righthanded and my right side is noticeably stronger. (eg on my right side I can do more 1-arm pushups and 1-legged pistol squats, dumbell presses, etc)
I go to the gym to keep the strength difference smaller.
LOBALOT
Legend
I am not nearly at that strength level but while I do demonstrate quite good ambidextrous skills while drinking post-match beer I am noticeably better at it with the right side of my body.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
I am not particularly strong. These are bodyweight exercises, and I don't weigh very much, so they are easier for me than they are for most other people.
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