As a tennis player recovering from tendinitis, what sort of vitamin supplements should I be taking?

Question

Last fall, I played a little too much tennis and developed tendinitis in my right wrist and began to see a slight hint of tennis elbow, but fortunatley stopped and immobilized my arm before anything permanent could set in. Now that spring is coming, I'm going to start playing tennis a lot and I'm wondering what sort of vitamins and/or excersizes and/or anything I can do to keep my arms and joint strong and healthy. I currently take a normal multivitamin, a omega-3 complex and a glucosamine/chondroitin complex. Is there anything else I can be taking to strengthen tendins/muscles/connective tissue/bones? Also, what sort of excersizes, workouts or warm ups can you reccomend for me?

Answer 1

Nutrition

A diet emphasizing raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds is rich in the vitamins and nutrients that promote healing. Yellow vegetables and fruits such as carrots and cantaloupe are good sources of vitamin A, which is needed for collagen synthesis. Citrus fruits and dark blue fruits such as blueberries provide vitamin C and bioflavonoids to speed healing. Include a generous portion of wheat germ in your morning muesli. As the best food source of vitamin E, it destroys the harmful free radicals released during an inflammation. Add pumpkin seeds for zinc, which acts synergistically with vitamin E. The spices turmeric and cumin are known for their anti-inflammatory action. Pineapples contain the enzyme bromelain, which helps reduce pain and swelling.

Using unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil daily on salads or baked potatoes, mixed into rice, pasta or vegetable dishes after cooking, or incorporated into any dishes which do not require heating to high temperatures will help reduce the pain of tendinitis. Unrefined, cold-pressed flax seed oil contains the essential fatty acids omega-3 alpha-linolenic and omega-6 linoleic acid which the body converts into anti-inflammatory hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements are used to reduce inflammation and encourage healing. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is important for repairing connective tissue and collagen after an injury; it also reduces inflammation. Evening primrose oil supplies gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a building block for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. If the inflammation is acute and painful, the enzyme bromelain taken between meals acts as a strong anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and pain after an injury. Vitamins E and A help to repair connective tissue and cells. Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants; they stop injury-induced free-radical damage to cells. Vitamin E further prevents internal *scarring.

Glucosamine supplements, combined with proper diet and vitamins, can rebuild damaged cartilage without producing side-effects. As an anti-inflammatory agent and painkiller, it is effective for long-term treatment of chronic illnesses. Most patients experience relief after taking glucosamine for six weeks.

A healthy diet can provide all of the nutrients needed for healing, plus supplements.


The eccentric program consists of:

Holding a static stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and repeating three to five times (in my case the infraspinatus).

Perform the eccentric exercise slowly on days one and two, moderately on days three to five, and fast on days six and seven. Then increase the resistance (never more than five pounds for the cuff muscles). Three sets of repetition.

Stretch statically as in #1.

Ice for five to 10 minutes to decrease swelling and pain.