Avoiding hand cramps

[mntngrown]

+100 on hydration. I also catch myself trying too hard. I turn up and play lighter when I realize I am doing this. Played a 4 hour gig last night with more fuel in my senior citizen tank. I take magnesium and potassium most every night so I don't get yanked out of slumber by a leg cramp. Since I drink coffee in the morning and beer or wine at night, I try to slug down water all day!

 

[MrLenny1]

I use to get them when I first started gigging.
Lack of hydration and a slow warm up were the problem.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Most of the acts I see now-a-days the bass player has a big gallon size jug of something clear. And here all along thought it was 'shine.

 

[Modder]

A large banana has just over 400mg of potassium while one avocado has just over 1,000. And the latter is still under 1/3 of the daily recommended allowance. The coconut water has around 600 or so.

I would either eat an avocado or two, pound a few coconut waters, or be prepared to eat (literally) a bunch of bananas. 400 mg or so right before the gig probably won't get it done.

I had problems with this some years back when I would sometimes do three gigs in a day and often did two. Had to research it myself.

Fantastic: especially useful to hear from someone who had the same problem. Thanks !

 

[JRA]

all good advice, IMO. the advice is also good for 'recovery' after a gig.

i have 66 y.o. fingers, and while i love my mexican beer --- for medicinal value, i depend on stretching exercises (hands/body), fluids/foods for energy + potassium, all of it = feeling better after the gig. controlling one's sense of 'relaxed' but effective playing = a home run. and always practice enough + some kind of warmup = just to make sure!

 

[40Hz]

The cramping in conjuction with the numbness can be a warning you're getting carpal tunnel or there's a chance of a circulation or heart issue. I'd definitely have yourself looked at.

My cousin started getting a tingling sensation in both arms and some numbness in his right hand anytime he was playing guitar for more than an hour. Turned out he had a heart problem that could have gotten serious and likely required surgery if it was left unattended. Some medications and he was soon fine and continues to be so.

Don't screw around. It's probably nothing serious. But get yourself checked anyway just in case it is.

 

[Modder]

View attachment 1031197 Strap length, and position of the bass on the body can also fatigue the hand and cause cramping. This guy is going for "cool", and I doubt very much he actually plays.View attachment 1031198 While this gentleman is "cool", and actually plays! He wears his bass where he can play is correctly, not where people think it's cool looking.

Thanks to you and S

Am I the only one who thinks that reoccuring cramps while playing is reason enough to seek medical advice and perhaps even treatment?

About ten years ago I started to experience numbness in the fingers of my right hand (my playing hand) while playing. I tried everything from changing the strap height and playing angle of my hand to taking vitamin pills and so forth. When I eventually got to the doctor it turned out I had done permanent damage to one of the nerves in my right arm. After spending quite a big amount of money on expensive treatment and not being able to play bass at all for several months, my arm is better. I still (10 years later, mind you) have problems playing with my fingers, so now I mostly play with a pick to avoid discomfort.

Be smart. Be safe. Consult your doctor if you have a problem or experience discomfort. Hopefully it's nothing. But if it is, you will be glad you did.

Thanks; I don't have any numbness and this is very much an occasional thing, but I'll keep an eye: I'm married to a pharmacist who's very quick to suggest seeing a doctor if she thinks it's merited!

 

[Modder]

As a nurse, periodic cramping due to playing isn't that bad. But as you said you had numbness, and that points to a nerve issue above just a muscle cramp. Now if it is super serious cramping that doesn't resolve by resting the muscle, please get it seen about and don't continue to push the issue in a "well maybe it will get better". Muscle cramps in this situation that he has laid out just seem like that to me, a muscle cramp. I'm not a MD and I haven't seen his issue and what is going on, so I have to go with what he has stated.
Try the above mentioned things and if it doesn't resolve (or gets worse with numbness involved) in 1-2 gigs (stretching daily and before you play will help no matter) go get it seen about.

^^ I'm one for the positioning too. I hate people playing guitar or bass low (played in a band where guitarists had theirs below their knees and I kept my bass up in a decent playing position, got a lot of people commenting on that and how I stood out visually and was able to really play like that). Now what's right positioning for you may not be right for me, but when its in that sweet spot odd wrist angles don't exist (as much, can't always totally get rid of them). For me, and students I teach, I sit down with the bass in a comfortable position and adjust the strap so that when I stand, it doesn't change placement.

Positioning is a good point. I've not tried the 'cool look': I'm too old for that! But i have kind of just strapped the bass on based on having played 6 string back in the day and got on with it. I'll try some different positioning and see if I can get an improvement

 

[Modder]

Thanks, I'd cert

The cramping in conjuction with the numbness can be a warning you're getting carpal tunnel or there's a chance of a circulation or heart issue. I'd definitely have yourself looked at.

My cousin started getting a tingling sensation in both arms and some numbness in his right hand anytime he was playing guitar for more than an hour. Turned out he had a heart problem that could have gotten serious and likely required surgery if it was left unattended. Some medications and he was soon fine and continues to be so.

Don't screw around. It's probably nothing serious. But get yourself checked anyway just in case it is.

Thanks, I'd certainly get it checked if it got worse: there's no numbness or pins and needles, it's just been a couple of times I've been caught out. I suspect my poor hydration as i tend to live on coffee rather than water plus a poor positioning of the instrument are the prime culprits! And the potassium! Good point all!

 

[two fingers]

Also, the problem with beer is not just the dehydration but constricted blood flow (or so I'm told). I'm not saying stop drinking beer. That would be silly. But maybe try some cactus juice before and certainly after. It also is a great hangover cure.

 

[Ellery]

Old people problems.
Just kidding, actually I'm glad I read this thread, will probably do the coconut water thing.

 

[QweziRider]

Cheaper than a new guitar but less fun!!

Both!

 

[MattZilla]

A large banana has just over 400mg of potassium while one avocado has just over 1,000. And the latter is still under 1/3 of the daily recommended allowance. The coconut water has around 600 or so.

I would either eat an avocado or two, pound a few coconut waters, or be prepared to eat (literally) a bunch of bananas. 400 mg or so right before the gig probably won't get it done.

I had problems with this some years back when I would sometimes do three gigs in a day and often did two. Had to research it myself.

no sarc, do you just eat an avocado like it's an apple, or do you prepare it some way?

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

It's all about not overworking your hand (position, fretting too hard, etc), hydration and potassium. If you pay attention to those things you won't cramp.

 

[rwkeating]

I agree with what Chris 'Wighat' Jordan said about fretting too hard. I've seen people fret so hard they are pushing the strings into the fretboard (on a fretted instrument.) That isn't good for the bass or you. Hopefully you aren't doing that but if you are, you know what to work on.

 

[two fingers]

no sarc, do you just eat an avocado like it's an apple, or do you prepare it some way?

Fresh guacamole.
Or...
Half it. Remove the pit. A little salt and some black or cayenne pepper and eat out the good stuff with a spoon.
Or...
Sliced up on a turkey on wheat.

That's what I do.

 

[John B jr]

Some songs are better to play once you are warmed up. If I start with a six minute cut of Sweet Home Chicago, I'm hurting by the time the horns come in. Open notes would help provide a micro-break if they're used. I don't. It's just too much repetition 1/8ths or whatever with my left clamped to the neck until "Duck" time comes and the bass-line gets rolling.

An hour in and it's no problem at all so it seems like the warm-up suggestion is good advice. Like any endurance sport, you have to build up stamina over a period of time. Less is more until more is more.

 

[DavC]

yeh to potassium ... and magnesium helps muscles relax ... sodium will help retain fluids longer ( good and bad ) ..

more forearm exercises ... stretch , breathe ...

choke that chicken with the other hand ..!

 

[Johnny Crab]

@Modder : In addition to suggestions in many posts above, a touch of L-glutamine wouldn't hurt either.
The powdered form works best and you may notice an improvement in many other areas. Follow dosage suggestions of your wife and/or doc. Use Doc advise ONLY if he/she has enough nutritional education to be useful, many do not.

 

[Phalex]

I've only ever had my right hand. Cramp up into "the claw".

I can play fast with my right hand, or I can play hard with my right hand for an extended period, but not hard and fast. For me, fast right hand = a lighter touch.