Tennis Elbow / Lateral Epicondylitis

Tennis elbow is a common  injury associated with overuse causing pain in the outer elbow and back of the forearm. This group of muscles work to extend and bend the wrist and fingers. 

Contraction of the forearm extensors, causes tension through the tendon at its attachment to the lateral epicondyle. When this tension builds due to overuse or force, there is a risk of damage. Tennis elbow is a condition of inflammation and degeneration of the extensor tendon at its attachment to the outer elbow. Most often a result of gradual overuse, tennis elbow can however result from trauma to the area.

Causes of tennis elbow

You do not have to play tennis to have this condition. It is a condition associated with repetitive activities involving wrist extension against resistance. Usually caused by sporting activities and manual labour it is one of the possible repetitive strain injuries - RSI. It can also be developed from other activities involving repetitive gripping of the hand.

Often people develop tennis elbow from a sudden increase in activities that place stress on the forearm extensors or due to a change in these activities. Heavy lifting forceful gripping through the arm along with a history of wrist, elbow, shoulder or neck injury may also increase the likelihood of developing this condition.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms may present as an ache and aggravating during activity involving these muscles. Tennis elbow is also painful when touched and can radiate down the forearm. Pain can range in severity and sharpness, depending on the range of activity. Normal daily activity such as turning a door knob can become painful in severe cases, developing a debilitating stiffness in the elbow. A thorough assessment and examination from a myotherapist can diagnose tennis elbow. 

Treatment

Myotherapy uses a variety of modalities in the treatment & prevention of Tennis Elbow. Applied pressure combined with the movement of the elbow, in addition to simple exercises & stretches which increase strength & flexibility of the affected area are important recovery factors in rehabilitation of the condition.  Controlled manipulation of the extensor carpiradialis is performed in treatment of tennis elbow to increase range of motion, blood flow and free the area to restore normal function. With correct treatment, most cases of tennis elbow usually recover within a few weeks. In more severe and chronic cases recovery can take up to a few months. Early motherapy intervention is therefore vital in speeding up recovery.

Contributing factors

There are several factors which can predispose people to developing this condition. These need to be assessed and corrected with direction from a motherapist.

 Some of these factors include:

• insufficient sports recovery
• excessive activity
• poor sporting technique
• muscle weakness
• muscle tightness
• joint tightness
• poor posture
• inadequate warm-up

Motherapy for tennis elbow

Motherapy treatment for this condition is vital to the healing process and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Treatment may involve:

• joint mobilization
• dry needling
• heat treatment
• self care education
• technique correction
• anti-inflammatory advice
• corrective sport or activity plan

Leading the way in Health Regeneration

At Advanced Myotherapy you will find:

• Highly qualified and caring Myotherapists
• Specific treatment and management of your conditions
• Postural health and correction
• Injury rehabilitation
• Treatment for all ages
• Personalised self care advice
• Early and late appointments 7 days a week

Established on Elgin Street Carlton in 2008, by experienced Therapists who continue to be competitive leaders in musculo-skeletal health and recovery, Advanced Myotherapy is dedicated to continual professional development and bringing you up-to-date on the latest research in muscle health and best self care practices.

Advanced Myotherapy is a warm and professional clinical practice primarily treating musculo-skeletal conditions and is fast becoming popularly recommended by clients, Doctors, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths and specialists alike. Advanced Myotherapy place importance on thorough assessment and examination to determine best treatment methods according to symptom roots, pain and other contributing factors to conditions. 

Our treatments combines myofascial release, trigger point therapy, dry needling / acupuncture, assisted stretching, cupping, postural alignment, as well as nutritional and rehabilitation advice for longer lasting results. Structural conditioning through musculoskeletal correction is the most important aspect of our work at Advanced Myotherapy. Your pain management and optimal health is the purpose of what we do.

Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have further queries or questions concerning your condition. If you would like to visit our official website and learn more about us, feel free to check us out here @ www.advanced-myotherapy.com and we look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Understanding Back Pain

Back and Spinal problems can result from a range of factors such as injury, ageing, poor posture and bad habits that lead to muscle imbalance causing spinal compromise. What happens when this takes place is the discs / bones placing pressure on nerve roots lead to symptoms like acute and chronic pain, tension and tingling. Poor lifestyle habits stress the body by creating structural imbalance and what this leads to is disc degeneration, bulging or rupture, arthritis, instability and premature ageing.

Back pain occurs when there is injury to the spinal discs, stiff joints, ligaments or muscle imbalance and inflammation. These can come from fractures, strains, injuries, wear and tear. Pain is a result of pressure and irritation on the spinal cords and nerve roots which stem from the spine itself. Muscular weakness, overuse, stiffness and impaired range of motion are the leading causes of spinal problems and  pain.

Osteoarthritis is a result of the wearing down of joint cartilage which comes from restricted movement and flexibility. This leads to being prone to injury. Disc degeneration is the narrowing of space between the vertebrae affecting the spinal alignment. Excessive pressure from certain habits of daily living over time leads disc herniation, rupture, pinched nerves, pressure and pain.

Numbness in in any area where the nerve normally provides sensation comes from disc herniation. Mistaking this to be a problem in the area of the symptom (pain) risks not treating the actual cause. Myotherapists trace the problem to it's (compressed nerve) roots and treat the cause rather than temporarily treating the "resulting" pain. Treatment will also involve addressing the originating habitual / lifestyle causes that lead to the  musculo-skeletal problem in the first place.

Sciatica is the result of pain that comes from pinched lumber region nerves that run down the legs through the buttocks and thighs and some down to the feet. Herniated discs can cause Sciatica which is ultimately a result of pressure on the nerves which can be easily treated with Myotherapy.

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of space between the bones which leads to degeneration of the spine. This leads to structural changes and bulging discs and lack of blood and oxygen supply to the spinal cord which cause swelling, numbness and pain in the affected nerves. This results in a sense of heaviness, weakness and fatigue which can be treated and prevented with Myotherapy. Most back problems can be treated without surgery and in many cases, Myotherapy helps prevent it.

Headaches / Migraines

What causes headaches?

If you suffer from headaches / migraines, a myotherapy checkup is a step in the right direction. Myotherapy's drug free treatments have helped millions of headaches sufferers over the years.


Myotherapists treat the root causes of spinal nerve root compression, that has an incredibly debilitating effect on the body. It affects millions of people and is very much an epidemic. When spinal compression is corrected the body functions more efficiently to use its natural abilities to regenerate itself. 

There are a variety of causes to headaches, which left untreated can lead to persistent problems and pain.  From strong smells to intense lights, sinus congestion, high blood pressure, dental problems, drugs, poor vision, diet, tension, stress and dehydration - headaches are a symptom of nerve compression and inflammation.

Treatment

The treatment for headaches depends on the cause.  A Headache arising from visual problems can often be cured by eye and posture exercises to increase blood flow and restore natural vision. An headache related to blocked sinus or ears is relieved by clearing the mucous and congestion. This is most often treated by a natural method known as "ear candling" and other complimentary treatments / remedies such as saunas and drinking lemon and salt water to break down the mucous. While headaches are often treated superficially with painkillers to dull the nerves and cover the symptoms, the cause mostly goes untreated. 

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year on drugs from aspirin and panadole to prescription meds that may provide temporary desired relief, without the cause of the headache corrected. That's why we may see millions of people swallowing pills for years, suffering with the (direct) effects of long-term medication, without improvement. It's not a healthy way to live.

The Myotherapy Approach

Millions of headache sufferers are turning to the natural, drug free myotherapy approach to health. Myotherapists are the only specialist professionals who are trained to analyze and correct the musculoskeletal root causes of imbalance that can damage your nerves and cause spinal degeneration and nerve root compression, weakening your body and causing fatigue to set the stage for premature ageing and disease. If you would like to know more about the benefits of Myotherapy and how it can help you, click here.

The Ultimate Winter Self Care Guide

As we settle into the crispy mornings of Winter's cold, we share with you our Golden Rules to:

• Avoid suffering with fatigue
• Clear mucous build up & congestion
• Build the immune system

These are 3 of the most powerful ways that you can prevent getting sick in the colder seasons and are the basic principles of health that form the foundation for having more energy for life!

Half way through 2012 already, consider this our guide to help you through to the warmer festive season with good health and vitality. Below we have our Top 5 Golden rules of Winter Self Care in each vital area of wellbeing. Consider these to be the Keys to unlocking your potential for energy this Winter.

5 Ways to: Avoid Suffering Fatigue & Congestion and Build the Immune System

1. Wake up to a Eucalyptus shower 
Enjoy the uplifting steam of Eucalyptus pure essential oil in your morning shower. Just put a few drops on the shower floor before turning on the taps. Do this every morning to help you wake up as Eucalyptus is incredibly stimulating for the senses and can help sharpen your awareness to kick start the day. This will also help prevent the common cold by clearing the sinus and respiratory system. Eucalyptus is also well known for it's anti-bacterial properties, so will work wonders at keeping infection at bay.  

2. Stock up on Vitamin C! 

Nutrition is King when it comes to longevity! Avoid getting sick with quality plant food. Drink orange juice, squeeze lemon in your water and on your salads. Include citrus where ever and whenever you can. Citrus is one of Nature's Golden secrets to sustaining life and building the immune system! In Winter we can often opt for the fast option of pre-cooked foods or take away but things like mashed potato, steamed vegies or a pumpkin soup can be so quick and simple to whip up and root vegies are incredibly grounding, which is perfect for the colder times. Include enough green vegies, nuts and natural salts in your diet and you will have plenty essential fatty acids and magnesium to keep you healthy and strong, not just through winter but all year long. 

3. Correct bad posture with healthy habits
Wind down at the end of each day with relaxing music and a good stretch to reverse bad posture and the shortening of muscles which create imbalances. Spend a good minute in each stretch to allow your muscles to fully release and bring blood flow to the areas. Circulation is vital especially in winter when it's cold. It's also the time when the body instinctively protects itself from the cold by tightening up. Avoid sleeping on your stomach which results in a twisted neck. Over time this causes problems and pain, along with rounded shoulders which fall forward and end up leading to the dreaded "hunch back". 

4. Open your windows every day! 
If you find it too cold in Winter to keep a window or two open at all times, even just by a centre metre or so, then at least open them wide up for a few hours a day. If no where else, then you must do this for your bedroom, as you spend 8 hours every night there and over a week, that's a lot of stale air in the lungs if not well circulated. Stale air will have you waking up tired where as fresh air keeps the respiratory system healthy and prevents breathing problems, chest infections, colds, flu and asthmatic vulnerability. 

5. Hydration linked to Longevity & Youth 
The most vital element in Nature is Water. "Drying is dying" and wrinkles are the first sign of dehydration. When we are born we are 90% water. As we grow into adults we are around 70% water and when we die, we remain around 50-60% water! So let that fact remind you to keep the fluids up and stay young! 


In Winter we tend to drink less water because we are cold, where as in Summer we are well aware of our thirst. The best way to keep balance in Winter is to keep warm and maintain healthy blood flow / circulation, so that we are drinking more. Movement generating heat in the body, so it's even more important in Winter to keep up both exercise and fluids! 

Top Tension Prevention Principles

First Aid for aching muscles is as simple as returning to the fundamental principles of self care, which are the key pillars of tension prevention and stress management. 

The most common causes of muscle ache is a lack of either exercise or recovery. Tension is a result of muscle imbalance, which can be remedied with rest, heat, lengthening and strengthening. The essential keys to muscle balance and well being, are centred around blood flow and circulation. Massage/ Myotherapy are also helpful ways to encourage this and restore ease of motion and mobility.

The second most common cause contributing to aches and pains has it's origins in mental stress and fatigue. One of the best ways to remedy and relax aching muscles is with the best of what mother nature has to offer in pure essential oils, being the real Farmacy of earth. 

Aromatherapy is the remedial medicine / modality of Essential oils used by many health practitioners, which works in many ways through the central nervous system, to balance the body naturally, without having to depend on toxic pharmaceutical drugs. Working on both the mental and emotional states, the healing properties of essential oils (pure botanical extracts)...directly effect the nerves, stimulating and relaxing both the mind and muscles. Lavender is just one of the many essential oils that provides relief from tension, stress and inflammation. 

Another leading roots causes of muscular aches, comes from a magnesium deficiency which is most often related to a lack of natural (sea/rock) salts in the diet. Other rich sources of magnesium include brown rice, whole grains, nuts, and green vegetables.  Epsom salts are a fantastic way of assisting the muscles to relax in a hot bath/ soak at the end of the day and for those without the luxury of a bath at home, either a hot shower or visit to the local leisure centre, spa or sauna will definitely do the trick. 

The most effective recovery element for aching muscles is heat, so if you are busy at work or feel muscles tightening during the day, make sure you have a wheat bag / heat pack handy to apply to tight areas. This is fantastic for the neck and shoulder area or even lower back when sitting at a desk all day long, as many do (to the detriment of their posture). The long term danger of this type of work will be a slow, gradual and almost unnoticed decline in correct posture, that causes you to suffer in all aspects of health.

The important and most vital factor for any type of work in the long term is to be aware of the influence of day to day, repetitive activity on the posture and body's muscular balance. Continuous slouching with computer use or any other type of repetitive physical or non-physical work holds the serious risk of poor health and spinal deterioration. 

Last but not least by far, when it comes to the top tension prevention principles is the need for flexibility which sustains musculo-skeletal / structural integrity, strength and vitality. These core foundations are essential for health, energy and productivity in life for anyone and everyone. Essential to maintaining these are regular Stretching & Yoga to help the release tight muscles and to restore overall body balance and physical intelligence. 

One of the fastest ways to relieve aching muscles is to spend time each day stretching, long enough to release each area of the body. This provides the release needed and enhances blood flow throughout the muscles, key to health and longevity in every sense. It is especially vital in Winter, as the cold tends to lock up the body in defence of the cold, to protect itself out of natural instinct. 

Remember, your body is the only one you have...and just like a car, needs regular tuning in order to last the longest it possibly can. We cannot stress enough, the importance of correct self care as the number one preventative factor in all health problems. Our philosophy is "Prevention" is the best medicine - and is far superior to any remedy one will find in maintaining good health. So take care this winter and stay warm. There are more ways to do this than just staying indoors. Your body needs movement to stay alive!


Click here to find out about how we can help you stay pain free this winter, and to see what people are saying about results we have helped them achieve. Want to know more about how we help? Visit our website by clicking here or visiting www.advanced-myotherapy.com

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Share your experience, results, recovery stories on our page and be rewarded with points towards a BONUS 30-minutes!

The Number 1 factor in Dis-ease Prevention

The most valuable investment you'll ever make...

People who look after themselves, know that the time invested in maintaining their health, is time saved from being in pain down the track. Self care is the number one factor in dis-ease prevention, and because we care about health we would like to encourage you to share the gift of wellbeing with your friends with a very special gift, the next time you tell a friend about Advanced Myotherapy! 

This Winter, we are rewarding our friends/clients who refer those they care about to us with a 90-minute treatment valued at $150 for just $100! And because we like to encourage those who take action & value their health most, we are giving the first 50 referrals (your friends) a bottle of our 100% Pure Lavender Essential Oil, valued at $17.95 for FREE. 

This is a beautiful essential oil, well known for it's healing properties that help sooth aching muscles, encourage restful sleep and calm nervous tension. So get in quick & your friends will love you for it! 

Below we have taken this opportunity to answer your top 3 questions, so that you can explain to your friends and family what "Myotherapy" is & what we do at Advanced Myotherapy... 

Our Top 3 FAQ's about Myotherapy... 

What do Myotherapists treat?

Myotherapists are highly sort after for the treatment of pain associated with musculo-skeletal conditions, as specialists who treat both the cause, as well as the symptoms of many conditions. Below are some of the conditions that Myotherapists are known to treat effectively: 

• Back & Neck pain 
• Headaches/Migraines 
• Sciatica & RSI 
• Chronic & Acute Pain 
• Tennis/Golfers elbow 
• Joint pain & tension 
• Numbness and tingling
• Pre & Post Natal stress 
• Carpal Tunnel 
• Knee, hip & ankle pain 
• Frozen shoulder 
• Herniated disk 
• Elbow & wrist pain 

How do Myotherapists treat pain? 

Myotherapists relieve pain using therapeutic techniques such as: trigger point therapy, dry needling, deep tissue manipulation, stretching, stimulation and corrective exercises which are also included in individualised self care plans, according to the unique muscle group affected. 

When should I see a Myotherapist? 

Most people seek Myotherapy when suffering from pain or when seeking help to recover from injury, prevent surgery, avoid pain medication dependence as well as prevent injury. People seek Myotherapists to help free restricted movement, release pain and speed up rehabilitation and recovery from injury, as well as to help strengthen muscles to prevent future vulnerability to injury and pain. Click here to read what people are saying about how Advanced Myotherapy have helped.

Also... 

For those of you who have experienced the health and freedom from better muscle balance and increased range of motion, and are yet to share your results with our online community, please join our fan page on facebook and post your experience. We would love to hear how we have helped, and look forward to keeping you up to date with all the latest research and tips on how to best sustain your health for long term vitality and energy!


And for those who  check in to Advanced Myotherapy - weare introducing a special monthly draw to WIN a 1-hour Treatment valued at $115. So be sure to remember next time your in to check in to be in the running! 


Last but not least, click HERE to read our very popular Vital Winter Self Care news from last season. This article is jam packed with valuable tips, insights & health facts that will help you through these next few months. We highly recommend this to those of you who seek to maintain strength this winter!