Prevention of upper extremity injuries in tennis

Tenis je sportska igra u kojoj je, zbog specifičnih struktura kretanja i pokreta, lokomotorni sustav izrazito opterećen. Specifičnosti teniske igre pridonose pojavljivanju značajnijeg broja ozljeda gornjih ekstremiteta. Kako do ozljeda ne bi došlo ili kako bi se umanjio njihov broj, potrebno je posvetiti veliku pažnju njihovoj prevenciji. Glavni cilj ovog diplomskog rada je sistematizirati saznanja o vrstama i učestalosti ozljeda gornjih ekstremiteta u tenisu s osvrtom na specifičnosti i raznolikosti pokreta u tenisu te ukazati na važnost prevencije ozljeda koja se može ostvarivati kroz planirane i ciljane, specifične preventivne trenažne programe, usklađene s individualnom procjenom i usmjerene na individualne potrebe tenisača. U ovom radu, prikazane su velikim dijelom ozljede gornjih ekstremiteta do kojih dolazi zbog specifičnih pokreta i kretnji tijekom izvedbe teniskih udaraca. U svrhu sprječavanja i smanjivanja rizika nastanka takvih ozljeda, prikazani su preventivni treninzi, odnosno vježbe koje treba provoditi prije svakog treninga koje će na kvalitetan i adekvatan način pripremiti gornje ekstremitete sportaša, konkretnije rame, lakat i ručni zglob za nadolazeće napore treninga ili natjecanja. Budući da ozljede predstavljaju problem za nastavak aktivnosti i mogu udaljiti sportaše s terena kroz duži vremenski period, čak dovesti i do prekida karijere ukoliko se radi o profesionalnom bavljenju sportskom aktivnosti, preventivni programi trebaju imati svoje mjesto u svakom ciklusu sportske pripreme te ih treba sustavno i redovno provoditi.Tennis is a game where, due to specific motion movements, the locomotor system is too loaded. Specific elements of tennis game can occure significant number of injuries which are related to upper extremities. In order to avoid injury or to reduce their number, it is necessary to pay more attention on how to prevent them. The main goal of this graduate thesis is to systematize the knowledge of types and frequency of upper extremity injuries in tennis, with reference to specificity and variety of the movement in tennis, and to point out the importance of injury prevention that can be achieved through planned and targeted specific prevention training programs, coordinated with an individual assessment and focused on individual needs of tennis players. In this research, the most common upper extremity injuries are described because of specific motions and movements during the execution of tennis shots. In order to control and reduce risks of injuries, many prevention trainings and warm up exercises that need to be perform before each training, are shown in this research and it will prepare different types of muscles from upper extremities, more specifically the shoulder, the elbow and the wrist, for upcoming training or competition. Since injuries may disrupt activity and divert athletes from field for a longer period of time and even lead to career breaks when it comes to professional engagement in sports activities, prevention programs should have their place in each cycle of sports preparation and they must be performed systematically and regularly