Our elbows go through hell on a regular basis, and we may not even realize how much stress we put on this poor joint every day. Whether you are playing tennis, basketball, baseball, golf or pretty much any sport that requires arm movements, you are running the risk of injuring that elbow. Let’s look at a few ways that you can keep your elbows happy and tickle your funny bone instead of breaking it.

1. Wear a proper brace.

If you are playing tennis or if you have a history of tennis elbow, you’ll need to get outfitted with a brace. Once you’ve strained this joint, it’s pretty likely that it’s going to happen again. A brace can greatly reduce the odds of re-injury and it will generally just feel better. You’ll be able to do more if you aren’t hampered by a sore elbow.

2. Warm up properly.

Brace or no brace, you’ve got to get stretching before you do anything. Your elbows are subjected to a lot of daily abuse and daily stretching can be very helpful for those that suffer from chronic elbow pain. Make sure that you never skimp on your warm up, you will regret it later.

3. Know your body.

Let’s say you’re playing baseball and you’re really giving it all you have. After a few throws, you might start to feel a dull ache in your elbow. As you keep throwing, it only gets worse. If you try to push past that pain and keep going, chances are pretty high you’re going to sprain or strain it. You need to know how to listen to your body and pay attention to these warning signs. You can look at this way, you can try to struggle through 15 more minutes of throwing, and risk not being able to exercise for six weeks, or you can quit after you feel that first ache and avoid injury.

4. Change up your routine.

Elbows are at such a high risk for injury because this joint is used so frequently and often in a repetitive fashion. Going back to our baseball analogy, if you keep throwing the same pitch for several minutes straight, your elbow is going to protest. Try changing up your routine so that you’re not using that elbow in the same way every time. Taking short breaks will help you exercise longer.

5. Wrap it up.

If you don’t have a brace, but you know you’re going to be using your elbow a lot, wrapping can be very beneficial. However, wrapping only works if it is done properly. Otherwise, you may actually increase your risks for spraining it. Ask your personal trainer or even a physical therapist to show you how to wrap your elbow. You may need someone else there to do it properly until you get the hang of doing it one handed on your own.

Even though our elbows are prone to injury, you can greatly reduce the risk by following the points above and knowing when to say when.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-15 08:32:59. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Related Posts

• 5 Ways to Prevent Knee Injuries During Your Workouts Our knees have to handle a lot of stress, and if you’re exercising vigorously or doing weight training, you’re asking a lot out of them. If you already have knee problems, the situation can be a bit tricky at times and it is very easy to reinjure yourself if you……
• Why Do We Hit Plateaus? The plateau is a dieter’s bane and even the best of us can end up at a stage in our weight loss where it seems like nothing works anymore. Even if you have been losing weight for sometime, it is incredibly discouraging to reach that point where you suddenly stop……
• 3 Ways to Blast Past Your Plateau Every year, millions of dieters experience the same problem. You’re going along great, losing weight steadily and then boom - nothing. No matter what you try or how you limit your diet, you can’t lose any more weight. There are a few easy answers to this and a few easy……
• Is Natural Weight Loss Possible? With all of the medical advances out there, and the concern over side effects, many people are getting interested in natural weight loss methods. While there are a few out there that are thinly veiled scams, natural weight loss can be possible, when you have the right foundation and the……
• Simple and Serious Resistance Band Workouts Most people know what resistance bands are, but do not realize how effective these exercise tools can actually be at building strength and helping to work off weight. How can a series of rubber tubes or bands actually do anything, right? It is time to lose this attitude because resistance……

Related Websites

• Creating Income Streams That Last Whether you are decades away from retirement, or it is staring you in the face, creating multiple streams of income is considered to be one of the best ways to secure your financial future. However, it is important to consider not only how much these streams can bring you, but……
• Things To Avoid While Working Out So You Won’t Get Hurt photo credit: Erik Charlton After having an injury in the summer of 2007 to my rotator cuff while involved in some strenuous exercise, I realized just how important it is to be careful when you’re working out so that you can avoid injury. If you don’t take precautionary steps,……
• Review: The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Tennis by Robert G. Price The Ultimate Weight Guide to Weight Training for Tennis is a tome which describes well over 80 different exercises and techniques for developing your tennis technique. These techniques span from weight training to flexibility and are used by athletes across the globe. The program that is outlined in the book……
• How to Keep a Tennis New Year Resolution…. New Year’s Resolutions are like a road map for success in tennis, business and life. Resolutions are challenging to keep - everyone seems to say. So is the pursuit of our dreams and ambitions in the face of living day to day. What is important is to make our day……
• A Review of The Golf Doc by Ed Palank When it comes to playing golf, many of us wonder just how dangerous it is. Statistics have shown that heart attacks frequently occur on the course and countless people, including celebrities die every year. This book by Ed Palank seeks to remedy this problem and provide golfers with tips……

Online Stores

• Playing Cards Breweriana, Beer Collectibles