lower back pain from serving
- Thread starter pwnxor
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masterxfob
Semi-Pro
if the back pain is due to serving, you may need to strengthen your core.
TheFuture101
New User
Rest for afew days without playing tennis. Get someone who knows tennis preferablys a professional to watch you serve and correct your form. Don't rotate so fast lol. If you have a video camera of some type just post it and the amazing people here on the forums will gradly help you. 
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
ferb55
Rookie
Olli....thanks for the being the voice of reason. Guys haven't seen this kid hit a thing and are telling him how toplace his feet, arch his back etc etc...
Lots of things cause lower back pain. However, not typically as early as 16. I recently tried to strengthen my core with two or three days of good ab work. The result was some serious lower back pain. It makes sense. The stronger the ab muscles get, they begin to pull things out of line if the lower back is not worked equally. Tight hamstrings can tilt the pelvis out of line if they are not stretched properly.
I doubt your serve is the reason for your pain. Have a doctor or physical therapist look at it and listen to what they say. Not a bunch of weekend tennis players.
This can be a real chronic issue if not addressed. I think you would be wise to not only have it looked at, but also educate yourself on what causes this and what some signs are that would indicate it might be a problem.
Lots of things cause lower back pain. However, not typically as early as 16. I recently tried to strengthen my core with two or three days of good ab work. The result was some serious lower back pain. It makes sense. The stronger the ab muscles get, they begin to pull things out of line if the lower back is not worked equally. Tight hamstrings can tilt the pelvis out of line if they are not stretched properly.
I doubt your serve is the reason for your pain. Have a doctor or physical therapist look at it and listen to what they say. Not a bunch of weekend tennis players.
This can be a real chronic issue if not addressed. I think you would be wise to not only have it looked at, but also educate yourself on what causes this and what some signs are that would indicate it might be a problem.
superlobber
New User
Don't arch your back when serving (or only arch it slightly). Instead of using a lot of back arch, bend your knees and let the back lay back instead of arching back. Letting your heels come off the ground (as seen in this Becker graphic), will facilitate a good knee bend will allow you to lean back without (much) back arch.
I totally agree with you on this point. I have back pain myself and really kick in when I began to start doing the kick serve which required a lot of back arching. Take it easy on your back by taking it easy on the serve.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Of course it is only speculation. I presented this a one possibility, not a diagnosis. In my 35+ years of playing this sport I've seen quite a lot of players develop back issues from excessive back arch on serves. It is better to present this as a possibility so that the OP is aware of it. If the OP is aware of this possibility, he can probably determine if this is applicable to his situation.
Yes, of course this should be looked at by an expert.
SEE A DOCTOR YOU SHMUCK. can't believe I just called this cool 16 year old kid a...a...shm...can't even say it. But he is if he doesn't go to the doc by friday.
ollinger is the only intelligent one here. Pain is generally the bodies warning sign for damage, or illness, misalignment or disease. Unless you are a professional in the medical field there would be no way to self dignose asccurately. See a Doc, kid before playing again.
ollinger is the only intelligent one here. Pain is generally the bodies warning sign for damage, or illness, misalignment or disease. Unless you are a professional in the medical field there would be no way to self dignose asccurately. See a Doc, kid before playing again.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ I think that you guys are overlooking something important here. The doctor that the kid sees may or may not know anything about the mechanics of a tennis serve. I had assumed that if the pain that this guy experienced was anything more than a mild/dull ache, that he would have sought out medical attention before asking here. Perhaps I gave the kid too much credit, or perhaps you guys did not give him enough.
To me, it sounds like the OP is looking for some tennis-specific causes for his back pain. A doctor may not be able to provide this for him. I know this from my own experience. In my early 30s, I suffered from some reoccurring back pain. I consulted with a a couple of doctors (2 different occurrences) about this somewhat chronic pain. The doctors did not find anything unusual about my back condition but they did give me some pretty good medical advice and a brochure on the proper way to lift and some general advice on the care of the back. When I asked about tennis and volleyball as possible contributors, I received a very vague, very general answer. Apparently neither doctor know much about the specifics of these sports to provide a decent answer to the question.
Their advice helped somewhat, but the problem would still flare up from time to time. Finally, I had a PE coach suggest that I might have a bit too much back arch in my tennis serve. I had not been aware of any excessive back arch until I witnessed a video of myself serving. I changed the mechanics of my serve to minimize this arch and the back issues disappeared for good. In the past 25 years I've only had a couple of incidences of back pain -- neither appeared to be tennis-related.
.
To me, it sounds like the OP is looking for some tennis-specific causes for his back pain. A doctor may not be able to provide this for him. I know this from my own experience. In my early 30s, I suffered from some reoccurring back pain. I consulted with a a couple of doctors (2 different occurrences) about this somewhat chronic pain. The doctors did not find anything unusual about my back condition but they did give me some pretty good medical advice and a brochure on the proper way to lift and some general advice on the care of the back. When I asked about tennis and volleyball as possible contributors, I received a very vague, very general answer. Apparently neither doctor know much about the specifics of these sports to provide a decent answer to the question.
Their advice helped somewhat, but the problem would still flare up from time to time. Finally, I had a PE coach suggest that I might have a bit too much back arch in my tennis serve. I had not been aware of any excessive back arch until I witnessed a video of myself serving. I changed the mechanics of my serve to minimize this arch and the back issues disappeared for good. In the past 25 years I've only had a couple of incidences of back pain -- neither appeared to be tennis-related.
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D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
Ditto. I have/had back pain... and after going to doctor's and physical therapists the conversation can be summarized like this:
me: "doc, it hurts when i do this..."
doc: "don't do that... rest, take 2 of these, and give me more money 2 weeks from now,... i mean, schedule a follow up visit to see if you've improved"
For me the pain stems from over reaching on a kick serve (usually because either i didn't bend my knees (which leads to me overcompensating to generate pace via shoulder rotation and arm swing) or I tossed the ball too far behind my head, etc... (eg. technique was poor)
charliefedererer
Legend
SA,
I think you've hit on an important point about many doctors not knowing many of the specifics about tennis, and the intensity that most of the posters here play at. When some doctors hear their patient plays tennis, some think of the social mixed doubles that they have been exposed to.
I know you have been a real help to many with a host of problems because of your insights into causes from bad technique, inadequate conditioning, and harsh equipment.
I am also quite sure you did not imply he should not seek medical advice to make sure something else was going on.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
^ thnx for backing me up on this guys.
Had to chuckle when I read this. Have had a similar experience more than once. (However, not a reason to avoid medical or professional help even if there is only a remote chance that a problem could be serious).
Had to chuckle when I read this. Have had a similar experience more than once. (However, not a reason to avoid medical or professional help even if there is only a remote chance that a problem could be serious).
tennisdad65
Hall of Fame
I have seen way too many posts on this health forum that go: "Please go see a doc, instead of listening to folks here".
This is my personal view:
DOCS ARE USELESS FOR TENNIS SPECIFIC INJURIES
. I rather take advice from my tennis friends. Most of them have been playing for 30+ years and have seen/had every possible tennis injury.
I have had every injury possible on all my joints and muscles. In my early years I would see a doc everytime. I would get the same advice: rest for X weeks, ice (sometimes), maybe massage or not, sometimes heat or not, and mostly painkillers. They have no idea what causes it , how to prevent it in the future etc..
This is my personal view:
DOCS ARE USELESS FOR TENNIS SPECIFIC INJURIES
. I rather take advice from my tennis friends. Most of them have been playing for 30+ years and have seen/had every possible tennis injury.I have had every injury possible on all my joints and muscles. In my early years I would see a doc everytime. I would get the same advice: rest for X weeks, ice (sometimes), maybe massage or not, sometimes heat or not, and mostly painkillers. They have no idea what causes it , how to prevent it in the future etc..
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
I have had lower back issues since I was 14-16. Kind of something I just have to deal with, and learn to play with.
Some days I just can't serve at all, and that is something I accept.
I have put in a lot of work, and it is much better, certainly to the point where it is managable, and if it acts up it is only for a few days to a couple weeks at most.
Firstly the core strengthening stuff.
Secondly, the two primary guys that I see for coaching are Alexander Technique guys. And they/we, have modified my motion a bit to use my legs more in order to get my back in the position it needs to be in, rather than arching my back. Also to center my weight more over my feet to take strain off my legs and lower back, and create more repeatability in my delivery.
The theory being that up until contact, you should be able to yell "Freeze" and that I should be able to hold that position for however long with no undue strain on any part of my body.
If I am hurting or stiff when I start playing, I am basically sunk, and it is a battle the whole way, but now if I feel ok at the beginning serving doesn't bother me much, and I can lay it down, pretty much effortlessly.
Of course I am still working on better balance, and such, but I know I am heading in the right direction.
J
Some days I just can't serve at all, and that is something I accept.
I have put in a lot of work, and it is much better, certainly to the point where it is managable, and if it acts up it is only for a few days to a couple weeks at most.
Firstly the core strengthening stuff.
Secondly, the two primary guys that I see for coaching are Alexander Technique guys. And they/we, have modified my motion a bit to use my legs more in order to get my back in the position it needs to be in, rather than arching my back. Also to center my weight more over my feet to take strain off my legs and lower back, and create more repeatability in my delivery.
The theory being that up until contact, you should be able to yell "Freeze" and that I should be able to hold that position for however long with no undue strain on any part of my body.
If I am hurting or stiff when I start playing, I am basically sunk, and it is a battle the whole way, but now if I feel ok at the beginning serving doesn't bother me much, and I can lay it down, pretty much effortlessly.
Of course I am still working on better balance, and such, but I know I am heading in the right direction.
J
If the OP wants to keep playing tennis, he must follow a 3 steps process.
First he has to seek medical help to heal the injury properly. Once he fully recovers, then the tennis pro will help him correcting his technique to prevent further injury. The last step is tennis-specific overall conditioning.
Overlooking any one of these steps will greatly increases the risk of more serious injury, IMO.
First he has to seek medical help to heal the injury properly. Once he fully recovers, then the tennis pro will help him correcting his technique to prevent further injury. The last step is tennis-specific overall conditioning.
Overlooking any one of these steps will greatly increases the risk of more serious injury, IMO.
I have recurring back problems. The primary cause is serving, and a secondary cause seems to be the open stance forehand. My strokes are okay, but the body can take only so much wear and tear, so I accept them and go on. I'm a middle-aged extremist who's learned things the hard way.
To the OP, I would recommed a medical check up just to make sure that there is no spondolysis or spondolisthesis developing. These afflictions are apparently common among young folks. Assuming the back is fundamentally okay, you need to fix your technique so that it's easier on the back.
To the OP, I would recommed a medical check up just to make sure that there is no spondolysis or spondolisthesis developing. These afflictions are apparently common among young folks. Assuming the back is fundamentally okay, you need to fix your technique so that it's easier on the back.
