Tennis | Tips to sidestep injury on court this summer

Tennis — a low-impact, individual sport — is a smash across all ages and abilities throughout Australia. Whether you compete at a club or join a friend for an afternoon game at your local park or sports centre, it is one of the country’s top ten activities. Plus, when a Grand Slam is broadcast on TV, Aussies love to hit the courts too.
So, if you’re inspired to play tennis this summer, here’s our advice on how to reduce your risk of injury as you play.

It’s not new news that regular exercise is a critical component to manage your health and wellbeing. Yet, it can be the first ball to fall as life becomes a juggle. So, instead of giving up your exercise routine completely, consider a total body workout solution instead. These five sports deliver a whole body tune up in one go.

To exercise at home by yourself, try self-limiting exercises. They require minimal coaching and promote good posture, strength, control … and your body tells you immediately if your technique is wrong through fatigue or discomfort. Check out these ideas!

If you suffer from regular pain or tightness in your body, home remedy can be your first port of call to give yourself immediate relief. The latest trend in therapeutic relief is a massage gun – a tool developed to relax muscle tightness and help improve blood flow. The question is: are they a good idea?

The alarm goes off at 6am. “I don’t feel motivated to work out,” you tell yourself. Before you know it, you’ve missed – no, you’ve chosen – not to do your morning exercise.
The truth is, motivation is something that is innate to the human condition.  In fact, the more motivated we are, the more our wellbeing benefits. Here’s how to keep motivated with three easy tips!

Whether it’s backyard cricket, horsing around in the pool with the kids, or a round of golf with mates – participating in any activity without regular ‘match fitness’ can leave you susceptible to injury. As with swimming, golf is an excellent low impact activity for everyone. It gets you out into the fresh air (which helps reduce stress and anxiety whilst boosting your mental alertness) and incorporates incidental gentle walking between greens. If you have a round of social golf coming up, check out how you can reduce your risk of tweaking a niggle and instead focus on a legendary hole in one. (We’ve no tips for the latter!)

ycling is a great all-rounder to add to your exercise regime. It improves your strength, balance and endurance. It can help you build muscle, burn calories, and really get your blood pumping – reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

The bonus? Cycling is a mental wellbeing booster. Not only does it combine physical activity with the outdoors and beautiful scenery, it’s a social sport that encourages you to team up with some mates and ride together. You could even squeeze in a stop at a café for a second breakfast and a chat during your workout!

Tips for adding running to your exercise routine Hands up if you’ve muttered this phrase: “I’m not much of a runner.” That might be true. Right now. But did you know that regular running is a great way to improve your physical and mental health?  An aerobic exercise, running can reduce stress, improve your heart health and alleviate depression. It can be a sport that’s hard to get into as it can take time to

Feeling a bit stiff in your lower back? It can be a debilitating discomfort and one that almost all of us experience. Before you next reach for some pain medication, talk to your Sydney Spine chiropractor, or your trusted health professional, about how a few laps at your local swimming pool could help you relieve some of your aches and pains.

Calling all everyday athletes: yes, you can do it!  Whether you plan to sign up to compete in this year’s City 2 Surf, Sydney to Gong Bike Ride or Bondi to Bronte Ocean Swim – setting yourself a physical challenge is a great way to get active regularly and keep motivated throughout the year.  If you are just starting out, the best thing you can do for you and your body is to set small, incremental goals that build up to