thumb and index finger on pick hand locking up

[runmikeyrun]

Hey guys,

I've been playing quite a long time (20 years) and am having a problem that mystifies me. I wasn't playing regularly for the past two years until the last few months. I noticed the usual fatigue in my thumb and forefinger that comes from your picking hand being out of shape. After a while it passed though as my endurance got better.

Fast forward to last saturday. We played a short 30 min set. It's the first time i've played out in 2 years. We play really fast aggressive music with a pretty animated stage performance. I noticed about half way through that my thumb and index finger were almost locked together on the pick, yet the pick was still sliding around in my fingers. It was like a cramp had set in, but i wasn't able to grip the pick any tighter. It was also difficult to release my grip. There was no pain at all, just like it was numb or something. When i inevitably dropped my pick, it was difficult to get my index finger to move to pluck the strings. There were no pins and needles feeling.

I don't think it was nerves, i mean after 20 years and literally hundreds of shows i am just not nervous. I don't think it was fatigue either. Maybe i was just subconsciously gripping the pick too hard? I was just wondering if anyone else has had this sort of problem, and what you did to solve it. I use a 2.0mm, maybe a thinner pick with more give would help?

[Fergie Fulton]

What is happening is your forearms is a form of muscle strain that tightens the muscles so you feel it in your hands.
You say you have not played regular, now you do. Classic situation with the classic symptoms of a player of your playing years.
Yes it is from being out of shape but also it could also be about what your brain associates with what the task involves.
So for the out of shape part, exercise and warm the hands and forearms everyday with slow stretches and self massage ( see health links at top of the techniques page for link).

As for the other point i mentioned, the brain is a very accomodating organ. After your initial fatigue problem, if you did not address it and just played through it, your brain may think this is what you want from this technique now. So now your body is associating this fatigue/tightness as a part of playing and is accomodating what you want.

The answer is never practice when this happens, stop and do the stretches, and self massage and dis-associate this feeling from playing. Also keep well hydratred and eat lots of carbohydrate rich food before playing to give you the energy boost your body needs.

If it continues you need to see a medical profesional for a correct diagnosis of what is happening.