Specific sports injuries: tennis and back pain How tennis causes back pain Front- and back-hand shots require a large amount of trunk rotation and twisting in the spine when playing tennis The tennis serve hyper-extends the lower back and can compress lumbar discs Back muscles must support continual sudden forward and lateral movements and start-and-stop motions during a game of tennis Preventing back pain and sports injuries from tennis Learn about the different racket tensions and be fitted by a professional for the proper tennis equipment; a more flexible tennis racquet requires more trunk rotation than a stiffer tennis racquet with looser strings Consider using a slice serve rather than a kick serve to reduce the degree of back arch when playing tennis Use proper form during tennis, bending the knees, holding in the abdominal muscles Have a tennis professional check your form periodically For new players, professional tennis instructors can teach you proper form and make suggestions on how to avoid back injuries, back pain or stress on the back By: Thomas E. Hyde, DC July 20, 2000