On Track Physiotherapy
Tennis/Pickleball Rehab in Ann Arbor
Finding Relief from Tennis and Pickleball Injuries in Ann Arbor
If you’re an avid tennis or pickleball player struggling with nagging joint pain, muscle strains, or tendonitis that prevents you from playing your best, you don’t have to suffer in silence. On Track Physiotherapy’s customized tennis and pickleball rehab program helps athletes and weekend warriors alike recover from common playing-related injuries quickly and safely.
Led by skilled physical therapists like Dr. Dr. Greg Schaible, PT, DPT, CSCS and Dr. Morgan Kennedy, PT, DPT, TPI, FDN, CIMT, CAFS, our personalized treatment plans address the underlying causes behind your pain by combining hands-on manual therapy, targeted therapeutic exercises, movement pattern analysis, and more. The goal? To get you back on the court performing at your peak potential.
Who Can Benefit from Tennis and Pickleball Rehab?
Our rehab program is tailored to the needs of athletes seeking to:
- Alleviate joint, muscle, or tendon pain caused by playing tennis or pickleball
- Regain strength, flexibility, stamina, and range of motion after an injury
- Improve movement mechanics and playing efficiency to prevent future injuries
- Return to competitive play or favorite recreational activities as soon as safely possible
Whether you’re recovering from an acute strain, chronic overuse issue, previous surgery, or just general tightness and imbalance, our experts can help you pinpoint problem areas and address them through customized treatment. We want to keep you playing the sports you love for years to come.
Overcoming Setbacks for a Successful Comeback
Tennis and pickleball may not seem high-impact, but the explosive start-stop motions, back-and-forth lunges, and repetitive overhead swing patterns they require exert immense stress on muscles, joints, and connective tissues. It’s no wonder elbow tendonitis, rotator cuff strains, back spasms, knee inflammation, and IT band friction are so common among recreational and competitive players alike.
Attempting to push through minor pains often backfires, causing patients to overcompensate and develop even more debilitating issues down the road. That’s why it’s crucial to seek professional help at the first sign of injury instead of trying to endure rigorous training and matches while hurt. On Track Physiotherapy’s tennis and pickleball rehab program helps athletes in Ann Arbor address dysfunction early and recover completely. We want you back swinging your racquet with confidence, not apprehension about the next flare-up of pain.
What You Can Expect with Our Tennis and Pickleball Rehab Program
Every patient is unique, so we begin with a thorough assessment of your injury, medical history, playing experience, goals, and more. Specialized testing like movement screens and blood flow restriction training help us gain further insight into the nature of your condition.
Armed with this data, your physical therapist custom-tailors a comprehensive treatment plan that strategically progresses as you improve week to week. Though each protocol varies, you can generally expect activities like:
Hands-On Manual Therapy
- Joint and soft tissue mobilization
- Trigger point release
- Muscle energy techniques
- Graston or IASTM therapy
- Pain modulation modalities
Targeted Therapeutic Exercise
- Progressive strength training
- Neuromuscular re-education
- Proprioception and balance activities
- Sport-specific agility drills
- Cardiovascular endurance conditioning
Movement Pattern Analysis
- Identify biomechanical inefficiencies
- Movement pattern and gait correction
- Swing evaluation and modification
- Equipment recommendations (shoes, orthotics, braces, taping, etc.)
By addressing dysfunction from multiple angles, we can resolve your complaint, optimize playing mechanics, bolster physiological resilience, and ensure you develop no compensation patterns or weaknesses that increase your risk of re-injury.
The Benefits of Personalized Tennis and Pickleball Rehab
Our uniquely customized programs lead to vastly superior recovery outcomes compared to self-guided attempts to return to play. Participants enjoy benefits like:
1. Lasting Pain Relief and Restored Function
Instead of merely masking symptoms, we target the root causes of discomfort, like joint restrictions, muscle imbalances, overhead swing flaws, and more. This facilitates true healing and allows a return to pain-free play.
2. Improved Strength, Flexibility, and Stamina
Strategic stretches, resistance training, and cardio conditioning enhance joint mobility, muscle activation, and cardiovascular endurance so you can cover the court with ease.
3. Refined Movement Mechanics and Technical Skills
Analyzing details like footwork patterns, stroke efficiency, and follow-through motion allows us to identify technique flaws contributing to overuse damage. Refining these mechanics significantly decreases injury risk.
4. Faster Return to Play
Our accelerated sports rehab progression achieves recovery milestones efficiently so participants regain game readiness weeks or months sooner than unguided attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Program
Wondering if our tennis and pickleball rehab services are right for your needs? See some of the most common questions patients have below:
Is pickleball really a high-injury sport?
Though smaller and slower-paced than tennis, pickleball still involves repetitive overhead motions and quick start-stop movements that strain joints and tissues. Injury rates have risen significantly as popularity has increased. Our program counters this.
Am I overdoing physical therapy sessions?
Don’t worry about “overtraining.” Your therapist customizes treatment volume and intensity to align with your recovery timeline. We monitor soreness levels and make adjustments as needed to progress at safe and optimal rates.
Do professional athletes do physical therapy?
Absolutely! Even elite competitors have physical therapists on their sports medicine team to help prevent injury, enhance performance, and overcome setbacks. If it benefits them, imagine how much our treatment can help you!
Take Control of Your Tennis and Pickleball Recovery
If pain or lost functioning hampers your enjoyment of tennis, pickleball, or any favored racket sport, On Track Physiotherapy can help you reclaim your competitive edge. Our tennis and pickleball rehab program assists athletes recovering from sprains, strains, overuse injuries, and post-operative conditions to get back on the court quickly and safely. Schedule a consultation today to discuss customized treatment plans with our rehab team. Regain your confidence, consistency, and conditioning with personalized therapy from the movement specialists trusted by Ann Arbor’s athletic community. We want to get you feeling – and playing – like yourself again!
About The Author
Conquering sports injuries with personalized care is Dr. Greg Schaible’s passion. He specializes in Certified Strength & Conditioning and Sports Rehab, drawing upon years of experience to help individuals overcome sports injuries and their challenges. At On Track Physiotherapy in Ann Arbor, Dr. Greg Schaible employs a patient-centered approach, wielding cutting-edge techniques and bespoke care plans to empower individuals to reclaim their physical well-being.
Crystal Borgman
I started going last fall for numerous issues with muscle pain/cramping throughout the body, exact reason unknown but likely due to at least a few different causes over time. Within a couple weeks of dry needling, I started to notice a difference. It wasn’t long before I overcame the fear of actually moving my body because it seemed like I hadn’t been able to do anything without aggravating some body part. I liked the holistic approach of not just dry needling but also strength training, use of a foam roller, and also a theracane. After several months I developed TMJ (the extent of my “injuries” I think was not quite apparent at first) and Greg even treated the TMJ. Eventually, after several months of weekly therapy, I credited Greg with getting my life back because it felt like I couldn’t do much of anything and had been missing a lot of work. He taught me so much about proper techniques for long-term management of muscle tension and pain, and I feel empowered to address any lingering or new issues going forward. I would recommend On Track Physiotherapy to anyone struggling as I have, where stretching and massaging doesn’t seem to do the trick. This place really changed my life
Bob Fraumann
I met Dr. Kennedy after 5 years of seeking relief for calf, neck and shoulder issues that began to affect both my work and temperament because of chronic pain. I played college football and the neck and shoulder damage from years of impact left me with nerve impingement that had started to impact my quality of life and mobility in the operating room as a practicing anesthesiologist. After trying massage, theragun, trigger point injections and a variety of acupressure based devices with no lasting results, I was introduced to Morgan. I observed her working with a few clients and, with my background in exercise science, appreciated how she incorporated soft tissue work and dry needling along with specialty exercise and manual techniques. I scheduled an appointment and she started with a full evaluation of all my complaints. Over a period of months, she meticulously worked through each complaint, dedicating sessions to the most optimal treatment techniques for my needs. As a physician, I appreciated how anatomic her analyses were and how she incorporated this into her therapy plans. The relief I felt as the chronic pain was relieved changed both my physical and mental approach to how I performed at work and my relationships with others.