Practices and perceptions of recovery modalities in professional tennis players

Bedford, Steve, Wilson-Thain, Samantha, Barden, Craig ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5504-2548 and Thain, Peter K. (2026) Practices and perceptions of recovery modalities in professional tennis players. Performance Enhancement & Health, 14 (5). p. 100467. doi:10.1016/j.peh.2026.100467

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Abstract

Objective: To explore professional tennis players' perceptions, behaviours, use and barriers related to recovery strategies during a Grand Slam tournament window Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Forty-three professional tennis players completed an online survey during a Grand Slam tournament window. Data are reported descriptively using frequencies and percentages, and open-ended responses were analysed thematically. Results: Sleep and massage were perceived as the two most effective recovery strategies (93% and 88.4%, respectively). Massage (86.0%) and ice baths (74.4%) were the most used recovery strategies. Stretching had the highest percentage of participants using it after every match and/or training session (93.1%), followed by nutrition/supplements (91.3%). Foam rolling was predominantly chosen for its ease of accessibility (50%). Coach/peer influence most strongly affected the use of sleep optimisation strategies (41.2%). Limited availability was the most frequently reported barrier for massage (60%). Lack of motivation and low perceived effectiveness were the primary barriers for stretching (36.4%) and foam rolling (42.9% and 39.3%, respectively). Discomfort was the main barrier to using ice baths (55.6%). Conclusion: This study assessed perceptions and self-reported recovery behaviours rather than athletes' objective knowledge. There is a potential need to strengthen athlete and practitioner education, improve access to evidence-based support, and address the structural and motivational constraints that limit the consistent application of effective recovery strategies.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Tennis; Surveys and questionnaires; Athletic performance; Post-exercise recovery techniques
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure Q Science > QP Physiology > QP301.H75 Physiology. Sport R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Craig Barden
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2026 09:40
Last Modified:	05 Oct 2026 10:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16562

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