Cramping fingers and caffeine - does it really affect people???

[CrashClint]

Eat a Banana or two before the gig.

 

[johnvic]

The only time I cramp up is if I'm not practicing or playing much and I start to play fast music. I think it's a combination of being out of practice and being nervous.

Too much caffeine affects me in a different way some times, I start to rush my time.

 

[catcauphonic]

I drink a liquid ton of coffee w/a metric ton of sugar a day ... and definitely not enough water. This is the first I'm ever hearing of a correlation between caffeine and cramping, though it wouldn't surprise me I guess.

 

[DocGeorge]

OP, you are lucky you aren't one of my Marines. They used to hear the word HYDRATE so often they would repeat it in their sleep. Take bottled water with you to every gig in a small cooler. As for caffeine causing this, I don't think so.

 

[adamsmatthewj]

Wow that's no good, awful to hear of being sidelined from hand cramps

I drink boatloads of coffee (although I don't drink soda, juice, sports drinks/etc at all, just a little water when the coffee runs out) and I can't say that I've ever experienced any of my fingers or limbs having any kind of dehydration cramps.

What had happened to me, though, are the effects of turning 30 lol! Gone are the days when I could just pick up my bass at any time of day, slung at my hip, and get at it. My hands and forearms move quite a bit slower without about 5 minutes of simple, gentle stretching. Oh, and the bass sits up by my ribs now too, raising my strap a little seemed to relieve a lot of the fatigue I might experience after playing.

My wife likes to make fun of me, seeing me stretch and raise my bass up, saying my youth has passed. But whatever!

 

[Fergie Fulton]

I drink a liquid ton of coffee w/a metric ton of sugar a day ... and definitely not enough water. This is the first I'm ever hearing of a correlation between caffeine and cramping, though it wouldn't surprise me I guess.

it not a direct cause, it is an contributing factor.
Take smoking, can it affect your technique?
Well over time the influence of smoking will impact your health, then that will impact your technique.
It will be so gradual you will not notice it, because you do not use the full range of your abilities so you will not notice the drip off until you "hit the wall". Then it becomes action time for change and radical changes in your life.
Those that do not smoke reduce the chances of having to make such radical changes, they can make small moderate changes throughout their lives to reduce the effect of physical wear and tear on their health.

Same thing applies to diet, exercise, practice etc. all the little things on their own do not make much difference in the short term, but combined they can help keep you fit, so maintain your technique.

When an instrument becomes the focus, other things blur because of that focus....like the player i meet last week, who in a brief chat asked about the best way to help prevent injuries to his hands and prevent him playing in the future.....all the time smoking a ciggarette. The idea of lung disease, mouth cancer, throat cancer, possible amputee of a limb, reduced blood circulation, less oxegenation to the blood etc.....does not seem to be a concern, but having sore or damaged hands is. Like i said contributing factors need partners, not always a problem on their on, and in some cases they can cancel each other out....when they apply.

 

[zomnius]

I just need coffee to uncramp

 

[Kmonk]

Caffeine is a diuretic so it stimulates your kidneys to make more urine. Since you are obviously expelling fluids from your body when you urinate, this can lead to dehydration and cramping. Low potassium levels can also contribute to cramping. When I was playing ice hockey, the trainers had us drink a lot of water and sometimes eat bananas in the locker room between periods in the game. Drink plenty of water as part of your daily routine, limit caffeine and alcohol. Sports drinks can help but many of these are very high in salt.

 

[catcauphonic]

it not a direct cause, it is an contributing factor.
Take smoking, can it affect your technique?
Well over time the influence of smoking will impact your health, then that will impact your technique.
It will be so gradual you will not notice it, because you do not use the full range of your abilities so you will not notice the drip off until you "hit the wall". Then it becomes action time for change and radical changes in your life.
Those that do not smoke reduce the chances of having to make such radical changes, they can make small moderate changes throughout their lives to reduce the effect of physical wear and tear on their health.

Same thing applies to diet, exercise, practice etc. all the little things on their own do not make much difference in the short term, but combined they can help keep you fit, so maintain your technique.

When an instrument becomes the focus, other things blur because of that focus....like the player i meet last week, who in a brief chat asked about the best way to help prevent injuries to his hands and prevent him playing in the future.....all the time smoking a ciggarette. The idea of lung disease, mouth cancer, throat cancer, possible amputee of a limb, reduced blood circulation, less oxegenation to the blood etc.....does not seem to be a concern, but having sore or damaged hands is. Like i said contributing factors need partners, not always a problem on their on, and in some cases they can cancel each other out....when they apply.it not a direct cause, it is an contributing factor.
Take smoking, can it affect your technique?
Well over time the influence of smoking will impact your health, then that will impact your technique.
It will be so gradual you will not notice it, because you do not use the full range of your abilities so you will not notice the drip off until you "hit the wall". Then it becomes action time for change and radical changes in your life.
Those that do not smoke reduce the chances of having to make such radical changes, they can make small moderate changes throughout their lives to reduce the effect of physical wear and tear on their health.

Same thing applies to diet, exercise, practice etc. all the little things on their own do not make much difference in the short term, but combined they can help keep you fit, so maintain your technique.

When an instrument becomes the focus, other things blur because of that focus....like the player i meet last week, who in a brief chat asked about the best way to help prevent injuries to his hands and prevent him playing in the future.....all the time smoking a ciggarette. The idea of lung disease, mouth cancer, throat cancer, possible amputee of a limb, reduced blood circulation, less oxegenation to the blood etc.....does not seem to be a concern, but having sore or damaged hands is. Like i said contributing factors need partners, not always a problem on their on, and in some cases they can cancel each other out....when they apply.

Damn. You wrote this like you personally know me Time again for some radical action around here!

 

[sowilson]

I've had bad hand cramps while playing - always dehydration related (Saudi load in 115F and muggy). Fixed that problem by drinking plenty of water before and during the gig. Besides a banana you should consider a bottle of Gatorade or Powerade before the gig and then plenty of water during the gig.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I have wicked bad advanced degenerative arthritis that has been a problem. Caffeine doesn't hurt me. Extra potassium during hot, sweaty weather really helps muscle cramps. I take good doses of the stuff a day or two before a gig, and continue for a day or two after. It's been a big help.

I'm getting arthritis pain in my right hand. I tried lots of stuff but have found a simple stretching exercise that really works. I'll spread my finger tips against a hard surface (or just the fingers on my other hand) and push my hand into the surface with my wrist raised. Like trying to push a wall with my fingertips. It brings me immediate relief that lasts for some time.

Meds, cremes, compression gloves, etc...none helped. The stretching does. Fortunately, the arthritis hasn't affected my right index finger or thumb or my left hand...yet.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Damn. You wrote this like you personally know me Time again for some radical action around here!

LOL sorry, but it is a very common situation, i also smoke, but in moderation.
It was the car smash in 2008, in which i broke my neck, that has had the biggest influencing factor on my playing ability....not any technique or diet related issue.
As such i have reasoned that the accident could have killed or severly crippled me, so life itself is the challenge, and i just advise others to enjoy life, act now not later, and have fun in whatever you do with it.
So again as usual, it is about context, judge what works for you, consider what works for others and act accordingly and take responsibility for what you do.

 

[IPYF]

Fresh fruit and vegetables, and plenty of water are the best way to keep yourself jiving in any scenario (band, work, recreation, anything...). Any kind of high caloric alcohol or soft drink with lots of processed sugar + too many carbs will dry you out and decrease physical performance across whatever activity you're engaging in.

A little bit of the right type of sugar can be good though. At home I keep an electrolyte drink on hand all the time. I also recommend Gastrolyte or a similar tablet/powder if you've had a long day or if you've overslept, had too much grog etc. Keep a bag of snakes or jelly beans in your cupboard for a fast sugar hit, but only if you can limit yourself to a small portion size.

Other things that will help are natural sugars (Bananas are fantastic sources of potassium and energy as other posters have helpfully pointed out), eat lots of spinach for the correct level of iron and make sure you get enough protein from eggs and good oils from fish. Red meat is also fantastic for energy levels.

I've heard the rumours that a tablespoon of salt is the way to reduce cramps, but I have experienced them and like most Australians I have too much sodium in my diet as it stands so I can't make that correlate. Your standard electrolyte drink like Gatorate, Powerade, Lucozade, 100plus will give you enough salts back without dehydrating you and making you crave water.

I have a very balanced and highly calculated diet, like most people who pride themselves on physical fitness, but I do have an 'intake problem' with coffee. Current science is still on the fence with caffeine, but unless you're very sensitive to it I don't think it would effect how you play unless you're ingesting more than 300mg in a short space of time in which case you've probably got bigger problems than cramps. Honestly I've never heard of caffeine cramping. You're more likely to get a pinching headache from caffeine overdose or dependency.

Magnesium is good too. I pop a magnesium tablet every gig day. Fish oil is also good for joints according to some studies but there is as big a movement that suggest that like glucosamine, it's simply a placebo reaction.

Sorry for the rant but once you get me started on diet and nutrition I tend to start carrying on.