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How To Get Rid of Tennis Elbow

I know how many of us feel about tennis elbow. We have all heard of tennis elbow and usually don’t really pay attention until it hits us, then we really car how to get rid of tennis elbow.

A couple of years ago I had been struggling with a tendon or ligament problem in my lower arm for a couple of weeks and actually I got a cortisone shot which to my surprise cured it.

Cortisone or Brace – How to Get Rid of Tennis Elbow

The cortisone shot helped me but I worry that it was only masking the problem so I am sure to stretch and strengthen these muscles as well as wearing a brace for part of the day. finally I was also icing my arm to try and get the tennis elbow problem to go away.

Tennis season is in full swing, and while this country club sport may seem leisurely, if not played correctly, it can be detrimental for joints and muscles  inlcuding tennis elbow. ChicagoHealers.com Dr. Mark Sobor M.D. provides the following symptoms and solutions for treating tennis elbow:

Tennis Elbow Cause

  • Symptoms of Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

Tennis Elbow or lateral epicondylitis, is a pain or inflammation of the outside part or (lateral side) of the elbow.

As a repetitive use injury, where individuals use their wrists and forearms, almost anyone can acquire this condition. Tennis elbow’s origin is due to muscle spasms in and around forearm, supinator and extensor muscles.
anatomy involved with tennis elbow

  • Take your hand and turn in out as you would hold a bowl of soup; this best represents in the action of the supinator muscles of the forearm.
  • The action of the extensor muscles of the forearm can be represented as a backhanded hit in tennis.
  • Using these muscles when they are not properly stretched, strengthened, or warmed up will cause muscles to go into spasm.
  • When muscles are in spasm, they become tight, less mobile and will pull causing constant tension on tendons. This eventually causes inflammation and pain.

Treating Tennis Elbow

Make sure your forearm and shoulder muscles are conditioned properly before use, whether it is tennis you are playing or simple sweeping the floor.

When it comes to tennis, proper hitting technique is important so that there isn’t an overstraining of muscles when hitting the ball. Consult a tennis trainer to make sure you are hitting the ball correctly.

Stretching and strengthening the arm regularly before and after playing sports.

  • See below for sample stretching techniques.
  • Specific acupuncture techniques locate key trigger points in and around the forearm, which successfully release muscles spasms, and instead of steroids use homeopathic injections to inflamed tendons and muscle spasms that decrease pain and inflammation in tissues and joints.

Tennis Elbow Stretches

Stretching and Strengthening Techniques

  • With your arm straight out in front of you and palm facing downward, take the opposite hand and push down on your fingers and apply pressure until your fingers are pointing back towards the ground. Apply gentle tension until the fingers are pointing back towards you.
  • Soft tissue releases help by applying pressure to the muscle at the same time it is being stretched.
  • A massage can help reduce the muscular tightness and reduce the tension on the tendons.

Just as an update, I did get rid of my tennis elbow with icing, rest, and wearing a cuff on the top of my lower arm for a few days. I have gone back to doing some weights and my arm is stronger now than it has been in a long time now that the tennis elbow pain is gone

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Is Increase Of Serotonin The Single Best Way To Increase Happiness?

Serotonin is a compound that most persons have heard about and we all want to increase serotonin naturally. It’s what is known as a neurotransmitter, which is a compound that allows the brain to deliver chemical messages.

Some other common brain neurotransmitters are acetylcholine and dopamine. If neurotransmitter levels are low, especially in the case of serotonin, it can cause a person to feel terrible.

Complex emotions like attitude, mood, disposition toward contentment, mental focus, memory and others are all linked to neurotransmitters in the brain.

Serotonin Deficiency Symptoms

A deficiency in one or more neurotransmitters can cause the onset of depression, lack of motivation, memory loss, and lack of focus. So being sure that you’ve got a good supply of the building blocks the body needs to create these neurotransmitters is very important.

Serotonin and other neurotransmitters though are very complex compounds, and the body needs lots of different building blocks to be able to make them.

Not only that, but a person’s lifestyle also affects the manufacturing and release of neurotransmitters. So if you are looking to boost your levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters naturally, you will most likely want to approach the situation from multiple angles.

seratonin-hormone-pathways

How to Increase Serotonin Naturally

The main and most important contributor to Increase Serotonin Naturally is diet. Like I said before, neurotransmitters are complex compounds and the body requires lots of building blocks in order to build.

So being sure that you’ve got a nice balance of veggies, proteins, fruit, and complex carbohydrates can help ensure that you are getting the correct building blocks.

Also, be sure that you are getting a good supply of Omega 3 essential fatty acids into your diet. These are brain foods which boost overall brain function, and have been shown to be very deficient in most diets.

The Standard American Diet is horribly deficient in a variety of essential nutrients. The foods we typically eat are usually void of nutritional elements.

Your lifestyle is also very impactful. With neurotransmitters, it’s important to not just keep adequate production levels, but also to have consistent release. The body may have an adequate supply of serotonin on hand, but might not be releasing a lot of it into the blood stream.

There are specific habits and routines that you can try that could help encourage your body to both produce and release more serotonin.

Exercise and raising Serotonin Levels

Another way to increase serotonin naturally is exercise. But before you go complaining that you don’t have the time, money, or motivation to get into a habitual exercise routine, know that even taking a short sunset walk everyday can be enough to get more serotonin into your blood stream.

And if you don’t have time or motivation for something as simple as that, then there’s really nothing more I can tell you.

Without at least a minimal level of exercise or activity, it’s difficult to get the body to produce and release enough serotonin to feel good. Aside from that, sleep too is very important.

If you have lots of stress in your life or if you aren’t getting adequate sleep at night, it’s tough for your brain to maintain a healthy level of function.

Sleep is very important in the realm of neurotransmitters. People who don’t sleep well are often groggy, fatigued, lacking mental clarity, and suffering from memory impairment.

Natural serotonin boosters can be very powerful at helping your body make and release serotonin. If you’re trying to find serotonin supplements or dopamine supplements, you must first know that the body cannot absorb them through pills. It must create them itself.

Now that you know how to increase Serotonin naturally it is up to you to get the diet and exercise right as well as sleeping and resting enough.

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8 Top Tips For Stress Relief + A Great Infographic

Stressful situations are all around you; a deadline at work, an argument with a loved one, or a surprise bill in the mail all easier to handle if you have some tips for stress relief. These are considered temporary stresses and will come and go during your lifetime.

To cope with any kind of stress, your best bet is to start off in “a better place”. By that I mean you should do things in your life to help you feel confident and good about yourself. That way you’re better able to cope with any stressful situations that come along, and you may even begin to calmly handle situations that previously stressed you out. Here are some tips for stress relief:

Top Tips For Stress Relief

Is your stress real or is it mostly created in your mind? Step away from the situation for a moment and ask yourself if you’re taking it too far and making a mountain out of a molehill. Sometimes it’s helpful to ask yourself, “What would Gandhi (or someone you admire who is laid back) do?” Calm yourself down and talk yourself through it as if you were having a conversation with that person you admire.

Sometimes you have to do something that you simply don’t want to do and this can make you feel stressed. If you must do this thing, don’t procrastinate because this causes the stress to build. Break the task down into smaller, manageable bites and start it. Sometimes just the act of starting can bring stress relief. When possible, get someone to help you or even pay someone to do it for you.
ways-to-reduce-stress-full

It’s also worth mentioning that poor time management can cause stress. Plan your tasks ahead of time so that you complete them without feeling rushed or forced. You may want to look into actively learning some time management skills.

When stressed, it can be helpful to talk to a friend who is centered, calm, and helpful. Chose someone who can help you put it all in perspective, not someone you can drag down with you. If you don’t know anyone like that, it’s okay to pay someone, i.e. a professional, to help you sort it out.

Can you change what stresses you? If you can, then take action to change it even if you’re afraid to. Taking action is a huge stress reliever. If you can’t change the stressful situation, then realize no amount of worrying about it will help.

Taking care of yourself is very important in preventing and dealing with stress. Learn how to do relaxation breathing, meditation, or yoga. Drink lots of water, get enough sleep, and eat healthy whole foods. Do what you can in these areas, but don’t stress about it if you’re not perfect.

Another big stress reliever is to volunteer and help others. This takes the focus off you and on other people with problems much bigger than yours. You feel good about helping, plus it puts your own worries into proper perspective.

Relief from stress can come from talking to someone who can help, taking care of yourself, taking action instead of dwelling on the problem, and helping others. By following these tips For stress relief you can learn to deal with the stressful situations that come your way.

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