Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Seriously, go see a Sport Medicine Doctor for an opinion!
Only 42 and I'm developing neck and lower back pain that's already hampering me from playing.
- Thread starter DavidBart
- Start date
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
ollinger
G.O.A.T.
You cannot self teach yoga. You will need to be adjusted.
You cannot successfully self teach yoga. It requires continual correction to gain the muscle memory. I have practice six days a week for five and a half years. Still considered a beginner, but my movement is much better and no major injuries for a while. Just occasional niggles.
With a physical therapist I would encourage you to be a bit scared, just like going to a new chiropractor. There are good chiroprators that can help a lot, but there are bad ones too. With my last back injury I visited good and bad PTs and Chiros, and it was the bad PT that messed me up worse than anything. Went in one day walking better than I had been in a while and left barely able to walk and in a lot of pain. That was the last time I went to PT with that injury. I was too scared to take another chance on it for fear I would be forced into having surgery. I did end up going to 2 chiropractors after that. The first one was ok, but not as conservative as he should have been IMO. I went to him twice and quit going. The next guy was really good IMO. He gave me a more thorough orthopedic exam than any of the doctors I saw including the spine specialist my doctor sent me to. His treatment was very safe IMO, and after 3 visits I felt like I was doing way better than I had been before. He was not on insurance and not exactly inexpensive, and also not close to home. So I stopped after 3 visits. I think if I would have gone to him a lot sooner my recovery would have been half the time it was.
Anyway, with neck and back issues I think finding the right person to help, whether chiro or pt, might be the most important thing. Diagnosing the issues and getting rid of any habits that might contribute to them is super important. Check out the back mechanic book if you want more good info on it.
Anyway, with neck and back issues I think finding the right person to help, whether chiro or pt, might be the most important thing. Diagnosing the issues and getting rid of any habits that might contribute to them is super important. Check out the back mechanic book if you want more good info on it.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
Sure one can self-teach yoga; even before YouTube people were doing it. There's no magic behind the poses just because they have fancy names like "Slouching Tiger" and "Forbidden Dragon".
I agree. But this doesn't mean one can't self-teach yoga.
You're also comparing apples [yoga] to oranges [adjustment, which I'm assuming is chiropractic]: the latter is for immediate relief; the former is for strength & flexibility, with the idea that the stronger and more flexible you are, the less likely you'll have something get out of whack that needs adjusting.
I would think both are important and have their place.
Just not true. Even when a teacher shows you, and there is a mirror to look in, people don't take the correct position. Your body lies to you. The same is true in tennis. You might think you look like Federer, but watch a video of yourself with a coach. Eventually with enough correction you get proper form.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
Did all yoga instructors go to an accredited school and get a degree, like, say, medical doctors? Of course not. Some are better at picking it up than others. It also helps to have some understanding of the body's mechanics so one knows what to stretch and to what degree.
When I do a hamstring stretch, I'm doing yoga. Maybe very basic, "even a child could do this" yoga but yoga nonetheless. I don't see why I need a yoga instructor for that.
I video myself playing tennis on occasion so I know what I look like. I've gotten over the shock of seeing how slowly I move and how little rotation I get, etc. Fortunately, yoga is way more static so I can do it slowly and if I have a mirror, I can compare what I look like vs what the instructor looks like [either live or on YT].
If that is what you believe. Good for you.
Lots of poor teachers out there, you need to be selective. I worked my way through many teachers in yoga, tennis and dance before finding ones that care.
Having a degree doesn't mean they are any good.
ByeByePoly
G.O.A.T.
Do you feel knots in your neck if you feel around? If yes, the following works for me.
Not a doc ... I mention the following in "neck" threads just because the following works for me with occasional crick in the neck, which I think would get worse (maybe the nerve problems) if I didn't relieve it. My neck cricks happen with bad posture watching TV
... not from tennis. When I notice the neck issue, every single time I feel around left and right of neck (cervical) spine, I find the knots. It's my understanding the knots pull at neck spine alignment ... release the knots and release the pull. I take a sock with a tennis ball in it, put ball between knot and wall ... and with some pressure against wall ... I turn my head left and right. Usually I can feel a pop/release ... neck feels great after.Obviously necks, backs, nerves and tingling is nothing to mess with ... even I would go see a doc with nerve tingling. Like I said ... just mentioning it because it works for me ... not theory.
fyi ... got the technique from here ... no idea about if guy is legit:
https://www.diyjointpainrelief.com/neck-and-shoulder-pain-relief.html
Last edited:
DavidBart
Rookie
Thanks for all the comments!!
A lot of what was posted here, applies to some degree I'm sure.. But heres what worked for me so far about 70+%. One P.T. session! My insurance covers this but not chiro so I had nothing to loose. Did chiro month ago, didn't hurt but didnt seem to help because pain wasn't acute.
PT Session:
-5 min back, neck massage. Some by hand, some with Hypervolt style gun.
-3 sets each of 4 exercises. These were kind of lame I thought. Some of the yoga style stuff I've been doing is way more intense, but maybe they know something I dont. Don't think that really helped.
-Lied down 13 min with hot towel around neck and under back.
I feel so much better, Not 100% but very good. On the courts 4 days in row. 2 before therapy / 2 after. Much less pain and looser over all.
I sense that one of the elements of my session did 90%+ of the improvement... my bet is it was the massage that loosened something up back there, but don't know for sure. Never had a massage before.
I'm pretty new to this aspect of tennis so the pain and it's severity really scared me. Found it hard to believe that I'd have this level of improvement so quickly. Thought I'd share my experience.
A lot of what was posted here, applies to some degree I'm sure.. But heres what worked for me so far about 70+%. One P.T. session! My insurance covers this but not chiro so I had nothing to loose. Did chiro month ago, didn't hurt but didnt seem to help because pain wasn't acute.
PT Session:
-5 min back, neck massage. Some by hand, some with Hypervolt style gun.
-3 sets each of 4 exercises. These were kind of lame I thought. Some of the yoga style stuff I've been doing is way more intense, but maybe they know something I dont. Don't think that really helped.
-Lied down 13 min with hot towel around neck and under back.
I feel so much better, Not 100% but very good. On the courts 4 days in row. 2 before therapy / 2 after. Much less pain and looser over all.
I sense that one of the elements of my session did 90%+ of the improvement... my bet is it was the massage that loosened something up back there, but don't know for sure. Never had a massage before.
I'm pretty new to this aspect of tennis so the pain and it's severity really scared me. Found it hard to believe that I'd have this level of improvement so quickly. Thought I'd share my experience.
DavidBart
Rookie
I tend to agree more with you, even though instruction in any capacity goes a long way.
I think some basic poses, even it's not done 100% accurately, are still better than no poses. Some of the yoga stretches/stuff just feels good. I've also looked up many routines. I sort of feel which ones are helping and which ones to skip, when having only limited time.
I've lifted weights for 20 years. Friends still notice things and will make adjustment recommendations...
Now, I would NEVER advise someone squatting 400lbs (Not me!) without the PERFECT form. But yoga?... I'll be a rebel and improvise a little.
ByeByePoly
G.O.A.T.
You can learn a lot in our geezer thread ... I bought the massager mentioned ... excellent.
https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...er-50-come-on-in.596076/page-44#post-13285150
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BOYA2M2?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
DavidBart
Rookie
Hey, I got scared last year when my arms were falling asleep on me. Took 1.5 month off right away. (Focused on serves and wall) Didn't mind, because I was doing something for longevity in the sport I love.
Overall condition improvement: 0%
... maybe 6 months was the magic number. I didn't try that.
Funny story... I sensed it was tennis related, so I backed off and saw a Neurologist. The f**ing guy ran me through a month of tests. Never mentioning to even slow down on and put me on Gabapentin instead. Let's just say my last visit to see him, security was called in.
We hear the medical system isn't the best, this was a prime example.
One PT session last Friday seemed to help more than 1.5 month off.
DavidBart
Rookie
A lot of good stuff in that Geezer thread
I was looking at that massager yesterday and ordered the chair pad version, also Zillion. Not sure if it's as good as yours...
https://www.amazon.com/Zyllion-Mass...gateway&sprefix=zillion+chair&sr=8-4-fkmrnull
ByeByePoly
G.O.A.T.
Oh cool ... does neck, back and butt
at once ... sweet. I had to get creative holding/positioning mine for neck, lower back, calves, hamstrings ... and obviously one spot at a time. It is versatile on applying different pressure ... holding against vs more weight (leg) on top. The rotating balls on mine reverse themselves ... I have no control. If I have a knot, I will just put it over one of the 2 rotating balls ... whoa ... that will get your attention.
Harry_Wild
G.O.A.T.
Go to the ones that spent 3-5 years in India studying with one of the Yoga guruses! They are the ones that are deep into Yoga techniques and knowledge. They are the ones that float in the air while walking and put their hands together and bow when they meet you and do the same routine when leaving to go!
Be a rebel with injuries.
It's cooler to be a rebel with injuries, than a nerd with none
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
I,ve been through this due to 30 plus years of playing and coaching 6 days a week and to manage the situation requires daily exercises and swimming every second day, a great diet with supplementation and regular weekly physio.
When you play a sport like tennis for a long time you can develop a lot of muscle imbalance and wear and tear arthritis, stenosis and disk bulge and you just need to
do the work. Let's also don't forget to factor in rest and sleep.
When you play a sport like tennis for a long time you can develop a lot of muscle imbalance and wear and tear arthritis, stenosis and disk bulge and you just need to
do the work. Let's also don't forget to factor in rest and sleep.
can you tell us more on how do you manage a lot of tennis and still stay healthy?
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Crocodile
G.O.A.T.
1. Daily strength program which takes me over an hour to complete which includes neck, shoulders, back, core upper and lower legs
2. Swimming 1km every second day plus exercises
3. 2 Physio visits a week, neck Tuesday's and lower back Friday
4. Anti inflammatory diet including supplements CoQ10, 2000mg fish oil, magnesium, tumeric, no processed foods, grilled fish, vegetables, fruit, dairy, flaxseeds and whole grains.
5. Coaching 30 hours a week spread out over 6 days with Sunday rest. Usually 2 hours in the morning and 3 in the Afternoon and reverse on Saturdays.
7. Daily meditation 5am and hypnosis session every 6 weeks.
8. Once a week do my own hitting with mates and tournament play every couple of weeks.
9. Use a heavy racquet with a large grip and gut or multi strung at 50lbs. Prefer Volkl, PK, Prince, Pacific, Yonex and Angell with the odd Tecnifibre ( 315 ltd customised). PK Q Tour 325 is the gold standard.
10. When I get tired I wear a lumbar support band which is very good.
Injuries that I have overcome and managed in the past 30 years include neck stenosis, l5 S1 sciatica, golfers elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis, wrist synovitis, quad tendon inflammation. It's all about consistency and discipline and how much you are prepared to do to maintain high performance. I hit with all standard of players including elite tournament players and recognise when to go hard and when to nurse the body.
Just to add while I'm editing, I would recommend avoid getting sick and get rest, stay away from vices and look for organic stuff.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
I like and do these exercises as well.
Proper form is very important, especially when you start increasing weight.
I had two injuries years ago:
1. rotator cuff injury from bench press: from lowering bar too high (toward head instead of toward belly button)
2. lower back from squat: this one time i let my back relax at the bottom of the squat instead of keeping it firm. (back rounded a bit and pulled something)
sredna42
Hall of Fame
LOL something new, I have never seen or heard of this before in my life
GrandSlam45
Rookie
I love the thread title -- "Only 42" Like people in their 40's are too young to get injuries? LOL.
Next we'll hear from someone saying "I'm only 62 and my knees are sore."
Next we'll hear from someone saying "I'm only 62 and my knees are sore."
movdqa
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm 60 and I'm feeling pretty good. I do deadlifts, shoulder press, bench press and squats using barbells and doing this four times per week has decreased injuries and little niggling strains. These four exercises do not take a lot of time if you've got a good setup. I'm stronger today than I was in my 40s. When you're 42, you're usually pressed for time and efficient exercises that prevent injuries can make the rest of your life more pleasant.
The downside is that you might need clothes that are bigger in some places and smaller in others.
The downside is that you might need clothes that are bigger in some places and smaller in others.
I'm going to re-invent martial arts based on the movie The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Ambidextrous tennis will be one chamber, ballet another, break-dancing another, etc . . ., and Headis a chamber.
Which reminds me, head training is in one of the chambers in the movie. People already thought of everything.
GrandSlam45
Rookie
No way, I thought I was the only one in the world who knew about this movie. One of the greatest Kung Fu flicks of all time!
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Any update from @DavidBart ?
