Hi Patrick,

I've just started playing stand up again after playing bass guitar and guitar most recently.

I've played a few gigs on stand up recently with no issues.

Yesterday when I began my practice period, after a long rehearsal the night before, I experienced a muscular pain in my forearm on my little finger side in my left arm.

I only feel the pain when I play with my complete hand, (i.e. little finger and the rest), I don't feel the pain when I'm playing with my first and second fingers.

I'm not sure whether this is just a muscular soreness from the heavy rehearsal the night before or the beginnings of tendinitis and I should get it checked out.

Thoughts?

Thank you!

Hi Patrick,

I've just started playing stand up again after playing bass guitar and guitar most recently.

I've played a few gigs on stand up recently with no issues.

Yesterday when I began my practice period, after a long rehearsal the night before, I experienced a muscular pain in my forearm on my little finger side in my left arm.

I only feel the pain when I play with my complete hand, (i.e. little finger and the rest), I don't feel the pain when I'm playing with my first and second fingers.

I'm not sure whether this is just a muscular soreness from the heavy rehearsal the night before or the beginnings of tendinitis and I should get it checked out.

Thoughts?

Thank you!

Hi,
Let's hope you have not seriously iinjured yourself to the point of tendonitis. It sounds as if you simply over-did it a bit. Take some time off and see if the pain subsides. Now: I have no students in, no do I have
pain from playing. One thing you must assess (find this in other threads) is the amount of energy you use, supporting what kind of form. Almost always, rounded forms (fingers, arms, wrists, elbows, shoulders, etc) are most efficient. So, be sure you are playing with rounded fingers, do not lift too far from the fingerboard, do not "open" the hand or straighten fingers when lifting from the fb, use as little "squeeze" as necessary to get the "forte" sound (whether the bow or pizz is pp or ff) - which, btw, is different on every string and note.
It sounds to me like you need to assess the forms you are using, the angles of approach to the instrument, and how much straightening or lifting you are doing.
Best to you!
PN

Hi Patrick,

Thanks very much for your response.

I realized that the issue was basically not warming up correctly for that rehearsal, as I have been pain and soreness free since.

I was running a little late and didn't do my usual stretching and warmup.

I also probably played a little too hard to boot.

An excellent lesson in warming up no matter what and to continue stretching throughout a long rehearsal.

Thanks againl