Anyone ever played with a left thumb splint and/or wrist brace?

TheSuzie · #1 09-06-2006, 02:40 AM

Has anyone out there done something like this?

I think I may have to use some sort of brace/splint until things settle down for me and I train my left hand and arm for DB. For now I have pretty much stopped playing except for a few minutes here and there on BG which causes me much less trouble compared to DB.

I think that I have been unknowingly hyperextending my thumb on DB because I still am trying to adjust my physical technique to the radiused fingerboard etc. On a four string BG I rarely have to move my thumb far from the center of the neck while it seems to me that on DB I have to learn to move more from the shoulder and elbow to move across the strings without straining my left hand.

Someone please correct me if I am confused about this. Right now I am looking for a new instructor but it may take a while for me to find the right person.

Thanks,
S

WillBuckingham · #2 09-06-2006, 12:05 PM

Look into the Streicher method. I was having huge problems with my left-hand technique until my instructor showed me some of this method. The book we worked out of was called "My Way of Playing the Double Bass." I use a similar technique using a stool.

TheSuzie · #3 09-09-2006, 01:50 AM

Thanks, I will look into that. What I have done for now is to stop playing all instruments and I have been wearing a brace with a thumb splint most of the time. Figure I better not push it.

I did pull out a guitar for a few minutes and played very slowly to see if I could see what I have been doing to hurt myself. One thing I notice is that I have developed a habit of pulling my thumb away from the neck and that this is one thing that is causing tendon strain and pain - I can feel it for sure. I also tend to hyperextend my thumb during some shifts even though my thumb is not toucing the neck much if any.

I think I have to re-learn how to work with my thumb on the back of the neck. When I was playing mostly guitar, my thumb was in contact with the back of the neck more of the time. My guess is that in an effort to avoid the bad habbit of gripping too hard when playing bass, I have overcompensated and thrown my hand and forearm out of balance. I am having a general problem too because both of my hands and feet are hurting. Typing is not fun either.

Hopefully the pain will improve enough with rest that it will be worth scheduling a session with an expert in the near future.

Peace,
S

toman · #4 09-10-2006, 12:05 AM

Fractured/sprained left wrist from snowboarding, + re-injured wrist months later from skateboarding = Months playing in a big brace thing. Lame? Yes. Doable? Yes, definatley. Plus, playing solo competitions in a big brace = mad props, yo.

I highly reccomend learning to play on a low stool, with both feet on the ground. And yes, learn to play "over" the bass, instead of gripping with your left hand. Think like you're applying thumb position technique all over the bass; fingers arched, driving those strings into the fingerboard. And think about going, with your bass, to a body worker. He can help you evaluate how all your mechanical systems are working together, and straighten out your body so everything is absorbing stress equally and flowing together, without focusing pressure and stress on any one spot.

Dave Whitla · #5 09-11-2006, 04:27 AM

A good teacher should be able to sort out how you should best position your body/arms/hands to be able to play without hurting yourself. As with any new physical activity, you need to push yourself hard enough so your muscles will adjust and get stronger, but not so hard that you hurt yourself. A teacher should be able to look at your individual body shape as well as your hands and get you into a position that suits you. In the meantime, try practising in front of a mirror- it will give you a better overall view of yourself than trying to turn your head to see what's going on.

IMO, unless your action is really light, you need the thumb behind the neck so that your fingers have something to pull against. The important distinction you need to make is the difference between 'strong' or 'flexed' and 'tense'. No need to point out which one to avoid.