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USTA Chief Medical Officer to Serve on Advisory Council

The United States Professional Tennis Association announced that United States Tennis Association’s Chief Medical Officer, Brian Hainline, M.D., will join an already impressive group as part of the Tennis — for the health of it! advisory council for 2009-2010.

In his position with the USTA, Hainline develops and oversees medical policies affecting all areas of the sport, from recreational programs to professional tournaments, with an eye toward promoting and developing the healthy growth of tennis.

The mission of the council is to ensure that all components of Tennis — for the health of it! are health-enhancing, developmentally appropriate, safe and fun. It will be chaired by Michael F. Bergeron, Ph.D., FACSM, USPTA, director of the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance and Center for Youth Sports & Health, and Jack Groppel, Ph.D., FACSM, USPTA Master Professional and vice president, co-founder of Human Performance Institute.

The members of the advisory council for 2009 and 2010 are:

Leslie Allen
President and CEO of Game Plan Inc.
Founder of Allen Tennis Training Academy and Leslie Allen Foundation

Sue Burke
Co-owner of F.I.T, which offers year-round tennis and fitness programs, in Boulder, Colo.

Nicholas DiNubile, M.D.
Orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine in private practice in Havertown, Pa.

Todd Ellenbecker, DPT
Physical therapist and clinic director of Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Director of Sports Medicine for the ATP tour

Brian Hainline, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, United States Tennis Association

Jim Loehr, Ed.D.
Co-founder of the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, Fla.

David Robinson
Tennis director at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Owner and founder of TenniStrength & Fitness

Thomas Rowland, M.D.
Pediatric cardiologist at the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.

Kathleen Stroia, P.T., A.T.C.
Vice President, Sport Sciences & Medicine and PRO U™ for the WTA Tour

Stella Volpe, Ph.D., R.D.
Associate Professor of Nursing, and Miriam Stirl Term Associate Professor in Nutrition
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Sophie Woorons-Johnston, Ph. D.
Owner/director Brookstone Meadows Tennis Club

“This apolitical council plays an extremely important role in moving this initiative forward in the tennis industry and more broadly shining light on the role of tennis in regard to the wellness of the American public and ultimately those around the world,” said Groppel. “The true strength of this council lies in the fact that it is apolitical and multidisciplinary in nature, representing various sciences, areas of medicine and coaches, and tennis is a common thread in the work of all the members.”

“The advisory council has a tremendous opportunity to advance tennis and play an integral role in connecting the entire tennis industry and communities across America to the National Physical Activity Plan and other key health-related initiatives,” said Bergeron.

The responsibilities of the Tennis — for the health of it! advisory council will include the following:

• Support Tennis — for the health of it! and all tennis industry programs under the Tennis — for the health of it! umbrella initiative, to further the growth and enrichment of the game.
• Work with the American College of Sports Medicine and its supporting partners through Exercise is MedicineTM to prompt the medical and fitness communities to
  1. Recognize the health-enhancing benefits of tennis
  2. Recommend tennis as a desirable pathway for increasing physical activity and developing a long-term healthy lifestyle.
• Collaborate with the National Physical Activity Plan leadership and supporting organizations to promote Tennis — for the health of it! to policymakers, health professionals, and the public as an integral part of the national strategy to enhance the health of America by meeting the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
• Promote “healthy tennis.” The council has a parallel responsibility to address the factors and challenges that lead to increased injury risk during training and competition and decreased interest and participation in the game.
• Publish consensus and position papers on the health benefits of tennis and recommendations for ensuring healthy tennis.
• Call for research and partner with others in research and education initiatives that support the council’s mission and objectives.

Tennis — for the health of it! is an initiative started by the USPTA in 2008 to make the general public aware of the tremendous health, fitness and psychological benefits of tennis and encourage people to get out and play the sport as a part of their regular fitness regimens. The sport of tennis is also social and fun, and can be a welcome change to routine gym workouts or as an additional activity in a fitness routine as part of a healthy lifestyle. The USPTA and its members are the front-line delivery force through which the public can receive these benefits through lessons and other tennis activities.

Posted on April 23, 2009
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