Why Tennis?
Tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports, enjoyed by elite athletes and millions of recreational players of all ages and abilities. It can be played by anyone who can hold a racquet. Tennis was part of the Olympic programme from the inaugural 1896 Summer Games in Athens until it was dropped after the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris (because of a dispute between the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the International Olympic Committee over the definition of amateur players). Tennis returned to the Olympic programme at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. The tennis tournaments of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run from July 27 to August 4 at the Roland Garros Stadium.
Why a Physiotherapist Guest Editor?
A decade ago, in 2014, we launched our first targeted topic issue: Sports Medicine in Tennis. Back then, as a young journal, we were honored to have Dr. Ben Kibler, a leading authority in the field, as guest editor. Dr. Kibler assembled a prestigious team of international experts he personally selected. This issue remains one of our most cited to this day, a testament to its lasting impact. Today, the Aspetar Journal is excited to celebrate our multi-disciplinary approach once again. We're thrilled to introduce Milena Mirkovic, a Senior Physiotherapist – highly specialised in Tennis, as our guest editor for this special Olympic issue. As a former tennis player, Milena completed her physiotherapy degree and Clinical Master's at La Trobe University in Melbourne, as well as the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Physical Therapy. For the past 14 years, she has worked at the Lawn Tennis Association in London, working full-time with elite British tennis players. Milena is the author of multiple publications on shoulder and tennis injuries. She is the founder of www.tennis-physio.com. Milena Mirkovic exemplifies the dynamic spirit of a young professional whose dedication and expertise promise to shape the future of physiotherapy.
Looking back over twenty years, physiotherapy has undergone a revolutionary transformation. No longer solely associated with massage and post-surgical rehabilitation, the profession now encompasses a diverse range of practices; from sports-specialised physiotherapy and neurological rehabilitation, to chronic pain management and preventative care. This evolution is directly linked to the explosion of knowledge within the field.
Gone are the days when physiotherapy education relied primarily on anecdotal evidence and tradition. Today, a robust body of research informs every aspect of practice. Sophisticated biomechanical analysis, advanced imaging techniques, and in-depth studies on movement patterns have provided a deeper understanding of the human body and its intricate workings. This knowledge empowers physiotherapists to develop targeted treatment plans, maximising patient outcomes and recovery rates.
Physiotherapists are now equipped with a wider range of skills, from manual therapy techniques to exercise prescription and patient education. This holistic approach empowers patients to take an active role in their recovery, fostering lasting improvements in their overall health and well-being.
This issue serves as a testament to the tremendous progress our field has made and a thrilling glimpse into the future. In addition to all these excellent papers, I would like to strongly recommend to readers an interview by our guest editor, with the young British women Tennis star Emma Raducanu. I would like to thank our guest editor, Milena Mirkovic for her excellent work, as well as all the authors for their generous contribution which have made this special Olympic issue possible.
Prof Nebojsa Popovic MD PhD
Editor-in-Chief