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The following is an except from an article by one of the leading orthopedic surgeon on benefits of tennis. It cites some studies on bone health that can be further investigated if desired.
http://ustaassets-beta.americaneagle.com/assets/1/15/Phys_SportMed.TennisHealth.pdf
Bone Health
For years, scientists and physicians have recommended impact or weightbearing exercises for people who want to increase bone strength and density and prevent osteoporosis. According to Wolff’s law, bones remodel in response to mechanical demands placed on them. When used and “loaded,” more bone is laid down, and the “stressed” bone gets stronger.31 Tennis places bone-building dynamic stresses on the body, with a positive impact on skeletal health and overall durability. In general, the body adapts to bouts of mechanical overload by getting stronger. This adaptation is not only true of bones but is also seen in muscles, tendons, and ligaments.31 Optimal skeletal health necessitates movement and loading, and “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” As exercise physiologist Thomas Cureton once said, “the human body is the only machine that breaks down when not used.” Experts usually recommend weight training, running, jogging, or even walking to build bones; however, when it comes to an activity that creates repetitive impact with the ground and impact when striking the ball, nothing beats tennis. Bone development for children is critical, and bone growth and maintenance for seniors is equally important. Pluim et al1 analyzed 22 independent studies documenting the positive impact of tennis on bone health and bone density. Tennis players consistently had greater bone density in their dominant arm and better bone density in the hip and lumbar spine compared with age-matched controls. Interestingly, bone mineral content and bone density were greater in those who took up tennis at earlier ages. This underscores the importance of bone-building activities like tennis in children and teenagers, especially young females, who reach peak bone mass in their late 20s. The more bone that is “banked” early, the less vulnerable an individual will be, as expected skeletal losses occur in middle age and older. The key to a healthy adult skeleton begins in youth with proper exercise and nutrition. T hese are the critical bone-building years. Researchers also agree that tennis, 3 times per week, supports the exercise recommendations of the ACSM regarding physical activity and bone health, both for the development of bone minerals in children and adolescents and the preservation of bone health during adulthood.32 In the ACSM position statement on physical activity and bone health, the authors specifically cite tennis as a bone-building option. Using tennis players as the experimental group and comparing them with sedentary people of the same age, Pirnay et al33 clearly demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between the tennis players and bone mineralization. In another study on this topic, the bone mineral content of athletes (tennis players) was significantly greater than that of non-athletes, but did not differ among the sports. Therefore, tennis contributes to bone mineral density.34 When one considers the bonebuilding potential of tennis with its ability to improve balance, coordination, and agility, tennis becomes an attractive preventive strategy for the commons falls and/or fracture problems encountered in adult and elderly populations. Again, starting early, before higher level of fall risk becomes a contraindication to tennis, is the key.
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