Can the Open Stance Forehand Increase the Risk of Hip Injuries in Tennis Players?

Background: The open stance forehand has been hypothesized by tennis experts (coaches, scientists, and clinicians) to be more traumatic than the neutral stance forehand as regards hip injuries in tennis. However, the influence of the forehand stance (open or neutral) on hip kinematics and loading has not been assessed.

Purpose: To compare the kinematics and kinetics at the hip joint during 3 common forehand stances (attacking neutral stance [ANS], attacking open stance [AOS], defensive open stance [DOS]) in advanced tennis players to determine whether the open stance forehand induces higher hip loading.

Influence of the forehand stance on knee biomechanics: Implications for potential injury risks in tennis players.

The open stance forehand has been hypothesized to be more traumatic for knee injuries in tennis than the neutral stance forehand. This study aims to compare kinematics and kinetics at the knee during three common forehand stroke stances (attacking neutral stance ANS, attacking open stance AOS, defensive open stance DOS) to determine if the open stance forehand induces higher knee loadings and to discuss its potential relationship with given injuries. Eight advanced tennis players performed eight repetitions of forehand strokes with each stance (ANS: forward run and stroke with feet parallel with the hitting direction, AOS: forward run and stroke with feet perpendicular to the hitting direction, DOS: lateral run and stroke with feet perpendicular to the hitting direction) at maximal effort.