~ Tennis, a sport with numerous health benefits for individuals of all ages. 

  • Anaerobic fitness by offering short, intense bursts of activity during a point followed by rest which helps muscles use oxygen efficiently.
  •  Ability to accelerate by practice in sprinting, jumping and lunging to move quickly.  Powerful first step by requiring anticipation, quick reaction time and explosion into action.
  • Speed through a series of side-to-side and up and back sprints to chase the ball.
  •  Leg strength through hundreds of starts and stops which build stronger leg muscles.
  •  General body coordination since you have to move into position and then adjust your upper body to hit the ball successfully.
  •  Gross motor control through court movement and ball-striking skills which require control of your large muscle groups.
  •  Fine motor control by the use of touch shots like angled volleys, drop shots and lobs.
  •  Dynamic balance through hundreds of starts, stops, changes of direction and hitting on the run.

~ Physicians and other health care professionals can play an important role in educating patients and the public about the health benefits of tennis as well as motivating them to take up this activity as part of an overall exercise prescription