Right arm fatigue all of a sudden...

[pablomigraine]

So..... I play all fingerstyle and have always been a fast player ( I play primarily fast, technical metal and similar genres). Over the last couple of gigs, I've started to experience extreme fatigue and weakness in my right forearm.

I play with a healthy stance... I use a very light attack and used to be able to play at pretty crazy speeds without any fatigue at all.... and lately its all slipping....

As far as stretching is concerned, its easy stretch my gingers back towards the forearm... but I've never found a way really stretch the muscles on the top of the forearm, which is where Im experiencing most of the weakness, pain and discomfort.

Suggestions?

[afzoomie67]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

As far as stretching is concerned, its easy stretch my gingers back towards the forearm... but I've never found a way really stretch the muscles on the top of the forearm, which is where Im experiencing most of the weakness, pain and discomfort.

Suggestions?

Can I have some gingers to stretch?

[Jools4001]

Right arm fatigue? I'll stop myself making the obvious wisecrack.

Seriously, the muscles in your forearm that you are talking about are the ones that control finger movement, so if you are experiencing pain and stiffness in these muscles you are simply working them too hard - you could already have a degree of RSI

You can get all sorts of things to ease the pain. Ibuprofen rubs are OK for immediate pain relief and you can get ultrasonic massagers that will penetrate into the muscle tissue - they're very good.

BUT...these things are only for patching up the damage that is already done, the key is not to patch yourself up just to repeat the process.

Don't force the speed, trying harder will only make it worse. Take it easy, rest up and ease back into it

[Fergie Fulton]

A couple of questions,

Is there any pain with the fatigue?

if so where and be specific.

Fatigue is the result of lack of energy, one of the main causes in lack of water and carbohydrates. Increase this as a first step by drinking plenty of water and eating high carbohyrate food of suppliment what you do eat with energy bars, bananas etc before, during and after playing.

Forearm stretches you want are
1/ Keeping the arm straight, hold the fingers with the other hand putting the thumb in the palm of the one to be stretched, and gently pull the fingers in towards the forearm, allowing the wrist to bend and stop and hold at the point of tightness for about 30 secs. This point will be variable so pay attention to the fact that it will be different each time.

2/ Again same starting position, but this time the hand will be pulled back and held...the opposite action of the first stretch.
Again staight arm and hold the fingers with the other hand, but this time thumb on the back of the hand. Bend back to the point of tightness and hold for 30 secs. Again this point will be variable.

These are the two most effective stretches for the forearm, there are variations on them, but this is them at there basic.

If you search Youtube for tennis elbow stretch for a visual reference. Depending on the answer to the questions, your problem may be linked to this problem.

[Morkolo]

Just a thought, do you get enough sleep? I know when I don't my fingers never seem to react properly and my stamina goes way down.

[pablomigraine]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

A couple of questions,

Is there any pain with the fatigue?

if so where and be specific.

Fatigue is the result of lack of energy, one of the main causes in lack of water and carbohydrates. Increase this as a first step by drinking plenty of water and eating high carbohyrate food of suppliment what you do eat with energy bars, bananas etc before, during and after playing.

Forearm stretches you want are
1/ Keeping the arm straight, hold the fingers with the other hand putting the thumb in the palm of the one to be stretched, and gently pull the fingers in towards the forearm, allowing the wrist to bend and stop and hold at the point of tightness for about 30 secs. This point will be variable so pay attention to the fact that it will be different each time.

2/ Again same starting position, but this time the hand will be pulled back and held...the opposite action of the first stretch.
Again staight arm and hold the fingers with the other hand, but this time thumb on the back of the hand. Bend back to the point of tightness and hold for 30 secs. Again this point will be variable.

These are the two most effective stretches for the forearm, there are variations on them, but this is them at there basic.

If you search Youtube for tennis elbow stretch for a visual reference. Depending on the answer to the questions, your problem may be linked to this problem.

No pain.... just fatigue and lack of strength....

[cire113]

this was happeining to me for a while; but as time when on eventually my hands got stronger.. took a few yrs though...

No pain is a good sign... Maybe try some strengthening with really light weights 1 or 2 pounds ... for your wrist and forearm and extensor muscles... that always helped me

[cableguy]

Maybe try playing with a pick........








Seriously though where is your bass positioned. Sometimes I've found a minimun change in this can be helpful. Especially if you sling your bass really low.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

No pain.... just fatigue and lack of strength....

I would have to go with diet first, up your intake of water and eat better loaded carb and slow release energy foods.

It may be a viral fatigue so check in with a doctor if the diet does not show any improvement.

The fact you say it has just happened and you had no problems beforehand, no pain, suggests it may be one of these things. Exercise i think, would show no improvement, but warm ups and downs with stretches always shows results, so keep that in.

I would give it four weeks of warm ups and downs , better diet, stretches and see if it shows results. Unless you can pin point any other factor that has changed or concided with your problems. If not go and see a doctor and look down the viral route.

[pablomigraine]

So I pretty much superhydrated today and spent extra time stretching after a 10 min warmup.... problem solved! Guess age is starting to catch up with me and I have to start paying more attention to these sorts of thing... thanks TB!

[cableguy]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

So I pretty much superhydrated today and spent extra time stretching after a 10 min warmup.... problem solved! Guess age is starting to catch up with me and I have to start paying more attention to these sorts of thing... thanks TB!

Sucks getting old doesn't it.

[sayman]

I had a similar problem a couple years back...went to a lot of doctors and specialists. In the end I changed some of my wrist angles and lightened my attack. This seem to do the trick.

Not stating that it will work for you, of course.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by pablomigraine

So I pretty much superhydrated today and spent extra time stretching after a 10 min warmup.... problem solved! Guess age is starting to catch up with me and I have to start paying more attention to these sorts of thing... thanks TB!

Glad to hear you have resolved the issue, diet and hydration are an often over looked factor because it is something we do everyday, like breathing. But they can affect your performance in a variety of ways and yes breathing when it gets out of control can create tension, lead to panic, cramp, etc.
Muscles need fuel, so fuel them up before during and after playing. Same thing with warm ups,warm downs, if done as stretching then it saves time and incorporates all the benefits as one.

Originally Posted by sayman

I had a similar problem a couple years back...went to a lot of doctors and specialists. In the end I changed some of my wrist angles and lightened my attack. This seem to do the trick.

Not stating that it will work for you, of course.

And this is always good advice, remember as we age our abilities will change, so we have to be willing to change or re-learn certain aspects of our techniques as we go along.
Just checking out your fundamentals on a regular basis is always a great way of not letting things develop un-seen and catch things early.