Fit for Tennis: Patience is key to recovering from injury

Don't rush - take as much time as you need getting back to full fitness. 
"The biggest piece of advice I could give to players and coaches is not to rush back into things," said Steckley. "There isn’t an athlete on this planet that enjoys wasting time and that feeling that they are falling behind. When the athlete does start back, the key is to gradually take things day by day, session by session. Listening to your body and being very open with your team and people around you is so important. Superheroes are made for the movies." 

With experience, you'll come to understand when you should return to competition. 
“One of the hardest things is knowing when you’re ready to come back," said Lisicki. "I’ve made the mistake in the past of coming back too soon when I wasn’t quite ready. That comes down to experience, of knowing what your body is capable of." 

You'll need encouragement along the way, so it helps to surround yourself with strong, positive people. 
“Even during the times I have been injured, I never thought about quitting. That’s because tennis is my passion and it’s what I want to do. But of course there were days during my rehab when it was difficult and it seems like a long way back," said Lisicki. "But those are the times when you need to have good friends and people around you who can help you stay cheerful. You can’t always do this on your own and you need their encouragement.”

Coming back from an injury is a mental as well as a physical challenge. 
"Once your body is ready to be pushed again. it’s the mental aspect you then have to deal with," Steckley said. "Depending on the injury and length of the time out, there is almost always a mental aspect to overcome. Trusting the body is one part and trusting your game is the other, which I find sets a lot of players back longer than needs to be the case." 

Some players will want to watch a lot of tennis when they're injured; others won't. 
“When I’ve been injured, I’ve found it too hard to even watch tennis on TV. I knew that it would be too painful," Lisicki said. "Missing Wimbledon one year was a real heartbreaker and I knew that if I watched it I would just want to be out there on the court even more.”

You're more likely to have a successful comeback if you can manage your expectations. 
"When you do come back, you have to think that you’re starting from scratch again. Things are going to happen slowly so you can’t expect too much at the beginning," said Lisicki, while Steckley said: "The biggest mistake players and coaches make when returning after injury is expectations. The focus is all on results. A desire to make up for lost time brings an element of added stress which typically takes away from the main objective, which should be taking it one day at a time, enjoying the process and working on your game. 

"Being in the now is so important. Understanding that where you were before the injury is not where you are currently and to be OK with that and committed to the new challenge ahead. When a comeback is truly broken down and approached with this mindset, the chances of having a successful comeback are much greater, and you'll also find it more enjoyable."

Gain a new appreciation of your health. 
 “There was a time when I was on crutches and I was having to learn how to walk all over again. That gave me a new appreciation of what it is to have two healthy legs and what it is you can do with them," Lisicki said. 

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This is an editorial. Views expressed do not represent those of WTA Sports Sciences.