Welcome back to this week’s edition of 2-Minute Tuesdays where we are talking about one exercise topic for two minutes and giving you three reasons why you should follow our advice. Now this week, we are talking to those of you who are experiencing some elbow issues. Whether you feel it when you are picking up a bag of groceries, trying to grab items off of your shelf, or doing other activities throughout your day, there are certain things you can with your exercise to make sure your elbow doesn’t get worse and possibly trend it towards better.
1) Add In Resistance Training For Your Elbow Flexors & Extensors
Exercise Tip Number One If You Are Experiencing Elbow Issues: Add in resistance training for your elbow flexors and elbow extensors. If you think about the action your elbow does, it bends and it straightens. Make sure you are strengthening the muscles that bend and straighten your elbow, such as your biceps and triceps.
Action Step: Add in exercises for your biceps and triceps, such as curls and press downs. Consider doing isometric versions of these, too, to help keep your joints safe.
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2) Do Exercises For Other Joints
Exercise Tip Number Two If You Are Experiencing Elbow Issues: Consider doing exercises for the joints that are farther away and closer to your body than your elbow. For example, do exercises for the muscles that bend and straighten your wrist, as well as exercises that strengthen the muscles that control your shoulder blade. Helping these other areas be better-supported can help to take stress off of your elbow and may allow your elbow to heal better if healing needs to take place.
Action Step: Consider adding in specific exercises for your wrist muscles and shoulder blade muscles during your workouts. These can be added into your warm-up routine to make sure they get done.
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3) Get Checked Out By Your Local MAT® Specialist
Exercise Tip Number Three If You Are Experiencing Elbow Issues: Get checked out by your local MAT® specialist. Muscle Activation Techniques® (MAT®) is designed to find muscles that are not functioning properly and causing other muscles to compensate. Often times, when joints feel funky, it is because the muscles around that joint are not doing a good job, or they are compensating and protecting from something. In addition to making sure your joints stay strong and stable by consistently resistance training, make sure you are also getting a tune up from your local MAT® specialist.
Action Step: Find a certified MAT® practitioner in your area here! And if you would like to learn more about MAT®, download our FREE eBook here!