CBD for Tennis Players:
Everything You Need to Know
By Rachel Snyder - Posted on September 19, 2022
Our team sat down with Dr. Dave Gordon, MD, IFMCP, ABoIM and asked him a series of questions related to CBD for tennis players. Why would a tennis athlete want to take CBD ? When is the best time to take it and how does it work? An fitness enthusiast himself, Dr. Dave outlines why CBD would be a great addition to your tennis training toolbox.
Why is CBD a great recovery tool for both tennis players and athletes in general?
Healthy recovery is crucial for athletes that want excellent performance and continued enjoyment of their sport. CBD has been shown to positively affect so many aspects of recovery including discomfort, inflammation and sleep. It’s not surprising that CBD is regularly used by tennis players as well as athletes in other sports. Research has shown that a small dose of CBD may significantly help delayed onset muscle soreness, one of the biggest problems for athletes. Another reason CBD for tennis players is great is due to its safety. CBD has so much potential to help without causing undesired side effects.
Should you take CBD right after playing tennis?
It makes sense on many levels. Taking CBD after a workout can reduce muscle soreness. Plus, many people need help winding down after playing in order to get back to their regular day, or get ready for sleep. CBD can help there too.
Why is CBD great for tennis players joints and tendons?
Inflammation…Inflammation…Inflammation. Playing tennis is tough on the body, as the complex physical sport requires full body participation to run, swing, pivot, and hit, often leading to pain, inflammation and potentially even arthritis. CBD is great at helping that exercise-induced inflammation, including tennis elbow and tennis toe, and could be considered safer than commonly used other supplements. It’s great that CBD can be ingested to help inflammation and discomfort from your game. CBD topicals are also great to get targeted results.
Are there any benefits to taking CBD before training?
Does discomfort limit your training? Do you get pre-performance stress? Does stress from your workday affect your training? Those are just some of the reasons someone might use CBD for tennis. Getting yourself in the right mindset and not allowing yourself to be distracted by discomfort, stress, or jitters is crucial to a good day on the court.
A lot of athletes get anxious/competition jitters, disrupting their gut. Any tips to help prevent this or how best to prepare for it?
Pre-performance nerves can be crippling for many athletes, whether it sends them running to the bathroom or limits their success. CBD for tennis players has been shown to improve pre-performance stress and stress-induced spikes in heart rate and blood pressure, so it’s a great tool to consider. Also don’t forgot the basics! Regular practice, breathing exercises, positive visualization, quality nutrition, and sufficient sleep are all necessary to limit pre-performance jitters and should always be done alongside your CBD routine.