To be a great athlete, one of the most important facets of preparation and execution is form. In tennis your swing is what sets you apart in your game, and your form is what gets the match won. Signature swings are what some of the most world-renowned tennis players and golfers are known for. Some people however, have a signature form that is faulted and over time will create a condition called Tennis Elbow.

Tennis Elbow is a result of the one-sided game. Balance is the key to keeping your body healthy and happy, however it is unavoidable in tennis since you must rely on one side greatly than the other. Here’s why: on average, a tennis player will use the same arm and hand over and over to achieve a connection with the ball. Not only is the elbow bearing the brunt of constantly duplicated motions, but the head, the neck and the shoulders are also locked into this duplicated form. Stress is then loaded on the body, because such specific movements are concentrated to either the left or the right side of the body. This one issue makes Tennis a magnet for over-use injuries.

Another reason for Tennis Elbow among athletes is that very few, if any, tennis players have a perfect biomechanical serve. Inefficiency within the body’s pattern of movement creates a breeding ground for debilitating injuries within shoulder girdle. Twisting of the arm coupled with inflammation and repeated friction with the bone on the outer elbow joint, can almost guarantee an injury if not balanced by proper conditioning.

Professional tennis players understand this necessity and have included Pilates into their fitness regime. Great players such as Serene and Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova, Jennifer Capriati, and even Pat Cash, have all been said to use Pilates to keep their game going strong. While these are prime examples of the ultimate in the sport of tennis, Pilates can help those athletes that are “less professional” keep their body balanced and in the case of Tennis Elbow, improve a digressing condition.

The great thing about Pilates, for those who suffer from Tennis Elbow, is that it is easily malleable to whatever your body conditioning needs may be. Pilates was designed to be tailor-made for those clients who may need more attention in one area, while still keeping the entire body in mind. With Tennis Elbow, a program will be designed to work the body in a uniform matter. This will curb the atrophy of one side of the body and will establish equilibrium between the weaker and the stronger. In doing so, the core muscles will be deeply trained which creates a baseline of stability for the body.

The most deadening effect of Tennis Elbow is that it limits an athlete’s range of motion. When a tennis player’s range of motion is compromised it makes the game perceptibly insurmountable. Flexibility within the shoulder and upper back can be increased through Pilates, which will increase a shortened space of play. Not only will flexibility be introduced but Pilates and its unique exercise program has an ability to lengthen the tighter muscles in the torso to increase the twist and lift that a tennis player will need for those wins.