Health and playing the bass guitar

[Chris K]

At the moment I am working on a series of web pages on health issues brought on by playing the bass guitar. My aim is to bring together the sparse internet info on this topic and have it reviewed by medical experts.

I am interested to read stories of bass players, dealing with health problems due to or partly due to bass guitar playing, such as strain injuries, hearing loss and allergies. The info may contain:
- how they first noticed something was wrong
- what they tried to do about that on their own, like exercises, technique or posture changes etc.
- if they sought medical help and what treatment they received
- if they recovered or still have problems playing the bass or otherwise, due to their injury.

Contributions can be made by personal message. All info will be treated as confidential. Please, no laments here. Encouragment and tips, however, will be greatly appreciated.

[lbwdog]

This may be insightful;
After suffering from whiplash in '83, I was seeing a chiropractor for my back and neck pain. At the time, I was playing a regular Thurs, Fri, Sat gig at a local club. My doctor, who was a friend and fan, came out on night and I noticed him sketching on a pad while watching the band's set. At intermission, he came back to the dressing room and showed me what he had sketched, and said "This is one reason you're not getting better!"

He had drawn a picture of me playing (P Bass), and I was standing in a somewhat twisted position, cocking my body toward the right to compensate for the weight on my left shoulder.

To this day, playing a four hour gig leaves me in pain afterward, so on my more mellow, jazz type gigs, I use a stool about 85% of the time.

edit; Oh yeah....My hearing sucks too!!

[Crazyeelboy]

I would think that hearing loss is absolutely the most important issue, especially for younger players who are convinced that they are indestructable.

Second would probably be drug and alcohol abuse.

[hipo]

i dropped my bass on my foot once

[GreggBummer]

Pain from CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and other issues related to repetitive motion I would imagine would be issues for many bass and string instrument players.

I has having some pain in my wrists and forearms, especially after long jams or gigs. Sometimes the pain would be there the next morning. It wasn't my doctor who address the problem, it was my bass teacher.

I was holding, fretting, and plucking the bass very poorly. I had a death grip on the neck. My right hand technique was awful. I wore the bass too low. I made corrections. Some of things (fretting hand) are still a work in progress, even five years later. However, I am pain free. I play better. I sound better. I have more fun.


Also, in another lifetime it seems, I was a soldier. While on a deployment to Iraq I had my hearing damaged in an explosion. While my hearing in one ear is fine, my left ear rings like hell six years later. I protect my hearing now. I use ear plugs at gigs and jams. I even wear them at concerts. It takes some getting used to, but it works.

Well... that all. If you want to use this for some sort of project, feel free. Contact me by PM if you want more detail.

Regards,

Gregg

[MalcolmAmos]

Chris -- Everything I use when playing bass is 75 years old so I too carry a tall stool and help myself to a sit down when needed. Friend of mine sits on his amp. He's 78. With a little help here and there I look to keep going into my 80's - if I'm still around then.

I use a pick. Holding a pick - thumb & index fingers gets old fast. I switch between a thumb pick and the normal plectrum several times in a gig to give my hand a rest.

I wear my guitar - both rhythm and bass - high on my chest, this does seem to help. Back in my banjo days some of the fellows used a special strap that crossed in the back - they loved them.

Beyond the things I mentioned above, just common since and pacing keeps us old guys going. Hour gig, no problem, hour and a half, can do, two hours, that's tops. I laugh and say we no longer do honk-a-tonks because we fall asleep around 9:30...... and none of us like to drive after dark.

Good luck with your project.

[crucislancer]

Chris, kudos for working on this subject.

The two main issues I've had to deal with are hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome.

There isn't much I can do about the hearing loss, I was dumb in my youth and didn't use plugs when I should have. While it isn't so bad that I require hearing aids, my hearing acuity isn't nearly what it should be for someone who's 38.

I caught the cts in the early stages, and actually took time away from both playing bass and my job at the time, which was heavily computer oriented. It's possible that computer work aggravated the cts more then bass playing, but in the end it effects both.

Now, I take more breaks from the computer and bass playing, and perform exercises that my doctor gave me. Also, I've been more aware of how I play bass. I play with a lighter touch now, and don't grip the neck like I'm strangling someone. I raised the bass on the strap as well.

Also, I think it's important to point out proper lifting technique when dealing with heavy amps and cabinets during load-in/out. I've hurt my self a couple of times with poor lifting techniques.

[Billnc]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

This may be insightful;
After suffering from whiplash in '83, I was seeing a chiropractor for my back and neck pain. At the time, I was playing a regular Thurs, Fri, Sat gig at a local club. My doctor, who was a friend and fan, came out on night and I noticed him sketching on a pad while watching the band's set. At intermission, he came back to the dressing room and showed me what he had sketched, and said "This is one reason you're not getting better!"

He had drawn a picture of me playing (P Bass), and I was standing in a somewhat twisted position, cocking my body toward the right to compensate for the weight on my left shoulder.

To this day, playing a four hour gig leaves me in pain afterward, so on my more mellow, jazz type gigs, I use a stool about 85% of the time.

edit; Oh yeah....My hearing sucks too!!

Be careful on the stool, if it's barstool height and you put a leg up you can put a twist in your back, over the course of hours it can do something.

My only issue (from playing) has been shoulder problems, right shoulder locking up. Thoracic outlet syndrome. Probably caused by bass playing, but could have been other issues or an old injury. Being active over the course of 50 years I've busted myself up pretty well, but have managed to maintain a wide range of motion. The shoulder issue was about 5 years ago and I lost almost all movement PT brought it all back.

Here's a brief bit from wiki
There are many causes of TOS. It may be due to enlargement of scalene muscles.

One unusual cause of arterial compression is trauma, and a recent case involving fracture of the clavicle has been reported[5]

The two groups of people most likely to develop TOS are those suffering from neck injuries from traffic collisions and those who use computers in non-ergonomic postures for extended periods of time. Other groups which may develop TOS, but significantly less frequently, are athletes who frequently raise their arms above the head (such as swimmers, volleyball players, baseball pitchers, and weightlifters), and also some musicians.

[Chris K]

Thanks everyone for their posts so far. I shall not make comments on specific problems. Already one of those mentioned was new to me. Keep on posting!

[SurferJoe46]

I have progressive and untreatable osteoporosis (Agent Orange), a fractured (and unresolvable) pubis (pelvis) and spinal scoliosis and multiple degenerative spinal conditions.

I too was indestructible when young and even arrived twice, DOA at hospitals.

Motorcycles, air pylon racing 1920s aircraft and generally throwing my body into whatever fires I could find at the moment all took their toll on me. You WILL PAY for it later in life - if you live that long!

I've been shot - twice, once in VietNam, had my skull split open and got run over by about six cars on the San Diego freeway when I went down on my Kawasaki. I crashed at 230 MPH from about thirty feet altitude during a pylon turn and walked away (OK- I got carried, but it was about as good).

Now with arthritis in my neck, shoulders and back, peripheral neuropathy (loss of nerve connections to the spinal cord) and a repaired-from-previously-severed right thumb. That's my plucking thumb.

Currently my left leg can fall out of the hip socket if I take my weight off it (skin diving and surfing's out for me from now on) - so you can see that if I do anything that causes more pain I know about it pretty quickly if not instantly.

What I find is that if I sit on a stool that is the same height as my hip that I can play for hours. That height may be the answer if you are thinking about a stool to sit on while playing.

Bass playing is not a contact sport, but I get serious pain in my left elbow - I call it: 'Bass-Elbow', but it really is either golfer's or tennis elbow. I thought it was the ROTO 66s, but maybe not as I can get it at other times and other strings/basses.

Heat first, then cold to control the pain, but I try to not use the Vacadin or Tramadol since I feel indestructible when I use them and can actually cause more damage without knowing it.

[bassandbeyond]

That's a very commendable project, Chris. I will PM you with details of my own war stories, and I look forward to viewing the website when it's ready.

P.S. Perhaps the Technique forum on TB might be the best place for this topic.

[Already In Use]

I have pre existing carpal tunnel in both wrists. I aslo have pre existing neck and associated nerve damage. I'm starting 9 mos of playing. I had an awful time with my fretting hand in the begining and pain in my neck and upper back. My instructor turned me on to "proper" fretting hand position and techique which really saved the day for me. It took some work and initial soerness to get thru it. 1,2 4 finger technique. Thumb on the neck. As I am progressing not having to look down at the neck has helped with the neck/back pain issue. I play sitting down and prefer to be low to the ground for maximum relaxed comfort. One thing I did notice crop up is a click in the pinky on my fretting hand. I'm associating that with aging as I have other fingers that do the same thing. I have tinitus from operating a DJ gig(not bass related...but) and NOT wearing ear plugs all the time. I'm 51 years old.

You're on to doing some good work. I applaud your efforts.

[Chris K]

Surfer Joe, Already in Use, thank you for your contributions. Your mentioning the sitting issue after three previous post mentioning it indicates the importance of posture. I use an adjustable stool wth saddle seat allowing me to sit with my bass strapped, legs fairly streched and feet flat on the floor.

[cassanova]

Other than the usual musician woes of Tinnitus and Carpel Tunnel, I once got a case of heat exhaustion on an outdoor gig.

The heat exhaustion came from several factors. It was your typical Florida summer night (very hot and very humid), I wasn't drinking enough water, and the heat from the stage lighting pushed my overweight body over the edge.

Nothing they can do for tinnitus, was told to splint for the CTS which didn't do squat (am awaiting another test so they can decide to either give me a steroid injection or surgically fix it. For the heat exhaustion I was given IV fluids at the hospital to rehydrate.

[AMp'D.2play]

Dealing with a bit of tendinitis in my right (plucking) elbow. I've done various searches, and it seems that for righties it's usually the left elbow that gets sore.

Other than some extra stretching and the occasional Aleve/Advil, I'm not doing much. I tried lowering my bass so my right arm isn't as bent (I prefer holding my bass high-ish), but that didn't do anything other than cause me to play more sloppily. A doctor would either (1) tell me not to play, or (2) give me a cortisone shot. I've had plenty of those over the years to know that the relief is temporary.

It doesn't hurt while I play, only when my arm is in a certain position ... like toweling off my back with my elbow above my head reaching back.

I've been playing now for 8 months, but there were no issues for the first 4 months or so. I guess I could attribute it to getting a nicer bass and starting to play a lot more than my then-50 y.o. body could take.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by AMp'D.2play

Dealing with a bit of tendinitis in my right (plucking) elbow. I've done various searches, and it seems that for righties it's usually the left elbow that gets sore.

Other than some extra stretching and the occasional Aleve/Advil, I'm not doing much. I tried lowering my bass so my right arm isn't as bent (I prefer holding my bass high-ish), but that didn't do anything other than cause me to play more sloppily. A doctor would either (1) tell me not to play, or (2) give me a cortisone shot. I've had plenty of those over the years to know that the relief is temporary.

It doesn't hurt while I play, only when my arm is in a certain position ... like toweling off my back with my elbow above my head reaching back.

I've been playing now for 8 months, but there were no issues for the first 4 months or so. I guess I could attribute it to getting a nicer bass and starting to play a lot more than my then-50 y.o. body could take.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUyMNyrOHJQ

Worth a try...

[ster]

I have slight tinnitus and a bad shoulder. I believe the tinnitus is from me being too close tothe drummer's cymbals . Also band members screaming in your ear during a song doesn't help either.
To help alleviate the pain from my shoulder I have been using a padded strap, been standing more upright and trying to play without turning my neck and looking at the fretboard the entire gig.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by ster

To help alleviate the pain from my shoulder I have been using a padded strap, been standing more upright and trying to play without turning my neck and looking at the fretboard the entire gig.

You're on the right track, keep it going...

Originally Posted by ster

I have slight tinnitus and a bad shoulder. I believe the tinnitus is from me being too close tothe drummer's cymbals . Also band members screaming in your ear during a song doesn't help either..

Buy custom earplugs. BTW, the bass drum is far more dangerous to your ears.

[ster]

Custom earplugs sounds like a good idea, I hate regular earplugs. Could you recommend any? That would be great.

[devine]

I was diagnosed 3 years ago with Focal Dystonia. It's a condition caused by repetitive motions, but unlike tendonitis and carpel tunnel it's neurological. Basically the brain re-wires itself and sends electrical messages to the wrong places. Luckily i seem to have found a way to deal with it, but in many cases it's career ending. You can read about it here...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_dystonia

Scott.

http://www.scottsbasslessons.com

http://www.scottdevinemusic.com