Category: Tennis

Finger, Wrist, and Elbow Strength

After finishing a set of dynamic stretches, Nestor, one of our personal training clients, mentioned, “The inner part of my elbow is flared up.  I think I have a case of tennis elbow from going crazy on the drums last night.  I’d like to take it easy on a few of the more rigorous strength …

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Why Strong Knees and Ankles Matter More Than You Think

The knee and ankle are commonly overlooked contributors to mobility, strength, balance, and coordination.  Walking, climbing stairs, hiking a trail, or participating in recreational athletic physical activities such as tennis, golf, or pickleball all depend on the seamless relationship between these two joints. When they move well together, life feels fluid. When they do not, …

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Core Strength Assists in Everyday Function

Sometimes, the gold standard of “a strong core” can be visualized as a picture of Brad Pitt’s abs in his appearance in the classic movie Thelma and Louise.  After taking his shirt off in a display that swooned viewers who were observing a specimen with the muscular body, structure, and proportions of a Greek god, …

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Maintaining Strength and Muscle with Age

Sarcopenia can be defined as the loss of muscle during the natural aging process.  As people age, there are usually changes in their psychological, emotional, and physical health.  Shifts in family life, interpersonal relationships, or career settings create stimuli that prompt people to adjust to various demands as we age.  Along with matching the pace …

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Consistent Exercise Helps Reduce Joint Pain

Recreational physical activities bring joy to our lives.  If we have kids or grandkids, sporty physical activities such as heading out to the field to play catch or getting down on the ground on the hands and knees to interact with a 6-month-old infant, require the confidence, coordination, and strength to bend the knees, move …

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Exercise and Enhancing the Journey as we Age

As the Earth circles the sun, it adds another year to its portfolio of time in its resume of existing in the universe.  Humans on Earth enjoy the ride, experiencing everyday interactions with friends, family, and co-workers.  Every year, we observe the weather becoming cooler or warmer, the sun rising earlier or setting later, and …

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Testing, Practicing, and Training Your Balance

Humans function in dynamic environments and rely on the body’s automated responses to adjust to imbalances.  The body’s internal wiring is equipped with a vast network of neuromuscular connections,  granting the ability to immediately adapt to even the slightest indication of imbalance.  The human body’s infrastructure functions as a central processing unit, with hard-wired connections …

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Tennis Elbow Rehab, Injury Prevention, and Pickleball Strength and Conditioning

Last Saturday, I capped off a productive work week with a ninety-minute pickleball practice session with my friend Nico.  After smashing a ball at each other, laughing, and exchanging light-hearted banter, we tapped paddles and commented on the amazing cardiovascular workout pickleball offers.  As two gentlemen entering our forties, it felt good to carve out …

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Staying Active During the Less Sunny Months

As the Napa Valley enters October, we see a few leaves on the trees beginning to transition to shades of amber, brown, and yellow, and fall to the ground.  Sounds of leaf blowers and rakes start to fill the air.  The hills begin to morph into a darker green and brownish hue as the trees …

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Shoulder Health and the SITS Muscles

The body’s connective tissue has structurally significant properties, enabling humans to function effectively throughout their everyday lives.  Ligaments hold bones together.  Tendons attach muscles to bones.  Muscles act as motor units to move bones closer or further away from each other.  Bones act as the internal framework that allows our body to move through various …

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