how do i avoid things like tendonitus,arthritus and carpul tunnell?

[Vacume]

im still young and my hands dont have these kinds of problems yet, but i plan on playing bass for a long time and i wanna keep my hands healthy. dose anywon have advice on things like stretches or anything else to avoide these things?

p.s I tried the search engine and couldnt find helpful information

thanks!

[Slax]

Any type of hand stretching is good. I usually stretch each one of my fingers individually, then my wrists and my hands as a whole.

Also, play completely relaxed (no tensing up) and play with "proper" technique. Play with a straight wrist and I try to use Simandl technique on the lower positions. Havic has a good video on Simandl method on lower positions vs 1 finger per fret.

[anonymous02282011]

Stay loose and relaxed; don't forget to breathe. You can do some simple stretches for your forearms, but 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. In other words, don't worry about a problem that doesn't exist. Your body will give you signals if you're doing something wrong, usually well before a serious problem.

[TFunkadelic]

Pay very close attention to playing with proper technique if you aren't already. Realize that just because your unique playing technique (if you have that) doesn't bother your hands right now, it might later on when you're practicing 4-5 hours a day (if you reach that point).

Secondly, listen to your body. Playing the bass (or any instrument) shouldn't hurt. If it does, you're stressing your body in a bad way, and it's only going to get worse. This can also be brought on by practicing too much when you don't have the strength built up to do it. For example, if you normally practice 5 hours a day and you take a week off for a vacation, don't immediately leap back in to playing 5 hours a day. You'll need to build your strength and endurance back gradually.

[JJBass30]

I got tendinitis after 3 years of playing. The primary cause was playing my schools upright which was improperly set up and was to short and had no end pin (not having a teacher didn't help much ethier). After I got it my electric started giving me problems as well. I went to physical therapy and everthing is under control now. Slax is right about being relaxed, people don't always notice when there tense so its important to be aware of it. The strech I learned was to put my arm out strait, bend the wrist down and hold it there with the other arm. It's meant to strech the tendons in your forearm. Hope this helps.

[TFunkadelic]

Originally Posted by Slax

Any type of hand stretching is good. I usually stretch each one of my fingers individually, then my wrists and my hands as a whole.

I disagree with this. Stretching is beneficial when it is done properly and with specific goals in mind. Any stretching plan should be carefully constructed, ideally with the help of the doctor or someone with much experience in this area.

Stretching the wrong way (and there are many wrong ways to stretch) can be harmful, and can decrease performance capacity. Also, studies have shown that stretching at all may cause more problems than it solves, or is at the very least extremely ineffective.

[Blueszilla]

Eat well, get proper exercise, stretch, participate in a variety of activities, practice but don't overdo it, get a good nights sleep, read more than you watch TV, do at least one positive thing for someone else everyday without expecting anything in return, respect yourself and above all, have fun doing it. As the man said, everything else is cream cheese!!

[Craig_S]

To add to what everyone else has said: Set your action so it's comfortable (not too high). Don't fret any harder than you need to. Don't pull too hard with your plucking fingers.

[kreider204]

stretch GENTLY. if your hands are cold, soak them in warm water for a minute or two before you begin. DON'T start off playing the fastest, hardest stuff you know -- start with simple stuff, then move to the harder stuff. if your hands start to hurt, tingle, go numb, or anything remotely like that, take a short break.

I had to drop out of music school thanks to tendonitis and carpel tunnel. that was 20 years ago, and I still struggle with it. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!!!

[Blueszilla]

Originally Posted by TFunkadelic

I disagree with this. Stretching is beneficial when it is done properly and with specific goals in mind. Any stretching plan should be carefully constructed, ideally with the help of the doctor or someone with much experience in this area.

Agreed, getting advice from a professional is a good idea.

Originally Posted by TFunkadelic

Stretching the wrong way (and there are many wrong ways to stretch) can be harmful, and can decrease performance capacity. Also, studies have shown that stretching at all may cause more problems than it solves, or is at the very least extremely ineffective.

I would be very interested in your source. I work for a company that makes health and wellness assessment software and any study that professes stretching to be detrimental would be information the exercise phys team would want to see.

ASFAIK, stretching to maintain or increase range of motion is indicated in numerous situations, from sports to injury rehab. If the source is credible, I would very much like to pass this on.

[kreider204]

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

Agreed, getting advice from a professional is a good idea.



I would be very interested in your source. I work for a company that makes health and wellness assessment software and any study that professes stretching to be detrimental would be information the exercise phys team would want to see.

ASFAIK, stretching to maintain or increase range of motion is indicated in numerous situations, from sports to injury rehab. If the source is credible, I would very much like to pass this on.

I do recall reading a blurb in Men's Health a few years ago about a study that showed that intense stretching before workouts increased injury rates. Gentle stretching, though, was safe and even beneficial.
That's from my memory, though -- which I admit isn't what it used to be.

[Blueszilla]

Originally Posted by kreider204

I do recall reading a blurb in Men's Health a few years ago about a study that showed that intense stretching before workouts increased injury rates. Gentle stretching, though, was safe and even beneficial.
That's from my memory, though -- which I admit isn't what it used to be.

I'll agree there.

As a former track athlete (back in the stone age ), we were taught some bad stretching techniques that were in vogue at the time. Extreme stretching is not what I was referring to, but more to the statement 'Also, studies have shown that stretching at all may cause more problems than it solves, or is at the very least extremely ineffective.'

I wasn't an Exercise Phys major, but I've read a lot about the topics our products cover and range of motion is one of them. I'm still active and I know if I don't stretch and warm up properly, especially in the winter, I'm just asking for trouble. I've pulled a ham from lack of warmup/exercise/overdoing it in the winter, and I am determined not to ever do it again.

[kreider204]

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

I'll agree there.

As a former track athlete (back in the stone age ), we were taught some bad stretching techniques that were in vogue at the time. Extreme stretching is not what I was referring to, but more to the statement 'Also, studies have shown that stretching at all may cause more problems than it solves, or is at the very least extremely ineffective.'

I wasn't an Exercise Phys major, but I've read a lot about the topics our products cover and range of motion is one of them. I'm still active and I know if I don't stretch and warm up properly, especially in the winter, I'm just asking for trouble. I've pulled a ham from lack of warmup/exercise/overdoing it in the winter, and I am determined not to ever do it again.

Agreed. My tendonitis typically flares up when I've gotten lazy about stretching and warming up.

[TFunkadelic]

Originally Posted by Blueszilla

Agreed, getting advice from a professional is a good idea.



I would be very interested in your source. I work for a company that makes health and wellness assessment software and any study that professes stretching to be detrimental would be information the exercise phys team would want to see.

ASFAIK, stretching to maintain or increase range of motion is indicated in numerous situations, from sports to injury rehab. If the source is credible, I would very much like to pass this on.

I don't like to cite wiki much, but their article on stretching is well referenced and detailed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretching

A few snippets...

In addition to genetics, some studies found that stretching does not increase range of motion. Instead it increases individual stretch tolerance and may become detrimental to athletic performance.

Results of the study found that it is very common in literature to suggest stretching as a possible mechanism to prevent onset of injury and muscle soreness. This idea, however, while very common, does not specifically explain how stretching affects muscle properties on individual performance. Their findings suggest that common stretching methods, like static and ballistic stretches, decrease muscle performance and have inconclusive evidence to support the notion of injury reduction. Their research questions whether flexibility will reduce incidence of injury. A large number of their sources claim flexibility does not reduce incidence of injury; therefore, increasing range of motion is not needed. Their conclusion states that more research is needed to find the best stretching techniques that improve performance and reduce risk of injury.

The gist of it would seem to be that research on the effectiveness of stretching has been inconclusive. For this reason, I think it unwise to recommend stretching on anything other than a case by case basis. Everyone is different, and we all play the bass differently, so it would stand to reason that a stretch that helps one person might do nothing (or potentially harm) another. There are also a wide variety of muscle, tendon, ligament and other tissue afflictions possible, especially in the hands and wrists, and stretching is not the cure or prevention for them all.

I once had a problem with a condition I later found out to be ulnar neuropathy, and from the get go I assumed stretching would help alleviate the soreness and pain I was feeling. To my surprise, it actually made the problem much worse, which drove me to research the problem in depth which is how I came to feel the way I do about stretching. In the end, the only cure was an extended break from playing at all, as well as cutting back heavily in to my computer use, biking, basketball, and everything else that involved the use of my hands.

I do agree that stretching may help sometimes, but because long term research yielding conclusive results does not exist stretching should only be done after carefully researched, and should be applied only after specific reasons for doing so can be established. If one must stretch, it should be done only after they have been properly instructed and informed in the practice by someone well versed in the subject.

[john c]

Regarding left hand conditioning and health, I can recommend a book by James M. Cass. He is a guitarist who developed left hand issues during his career and seeked professional advice from doctors. You may view portions of the book online at:
www.trafford.com/04-1022.html
The exercises and stretches he offers has helped me, "an older beginner."
"You play how you practice."
johnny c.

[Blueszilla]

Originally Posted by TFunkadelic

I don't like to cite wiki much, but their article on stretching is well referenced and detailed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretching

Thanks for that, I'm definitely passing this on.

There are lots of good points.

[TFunkadelic]

No problem.

[emblymouse]

It may never be a problem for you. It depends so much on your physiology. The one thing I can say after going through surgery for tendonitis is-
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If you feel stiffness or pain, check it out with a real doctor ASAP. Do not blow it off cause it seems to 'get better'.

[Thunderthumbs73]

If it hurts (or you get numbness/tingling, etc...), STOP PLAYING. Seek help.
"Playing through the pain" while perhaps good for a Superbowl, is ruinous as a musician. I'll leave it at that, and the thoughts of others.

[dreadheadbass]

are people seriously getting their facts from wiki and mens health magazine?

ok granted a lot of the stuff is fact but all too often the facts are infact made up or twisted or based on unfair or bias tests

my doctor recomeneded some stretching exercises after i developed tendonitus in my right hand i now proform them before and after a practice session or gig and it has never flared up since
the key to stretching is to do it gently untill you can feel the tendon pull slightly the problem a lot of people have is they stretch untill its borderline uncomfy this actually harms it more than helping it another common fault is to stretch right away instead of 1st warming up with a few basic exercises (in my case opening and closing my hands)