- May 30, 2000
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A weight training program followed consistently will works wonders for your playing especially if you're older.
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Double Bass Injury Recovery Recommendations
- Thread starter Tyler L
- Start date
Apologies for being a couple days later than I had planned. I ran into some issues from, err, pushing my elbows too hard working on the weeds in the backyard. I really can be a good patient, I promise. They're settling back down now and, a wefter resting, picked it back up yesterday.
So fu22ba55 had a good point. My doctor didn't really know whether the injury is elbow or wrist (or both) and causing symptoms in the other. From the way I have been playing and maybe I have longer arms than my torso permits, but ¢it's either add curvature to the wrist and keep the elbow open or a tight-angled elbow and a straight wrist. Please someone interrupt me and tell me if I'm wrong there. I'm considered altering my thumb more around the neck, but met with a lot of limitations.
Chris Fitzpatrick, I found your video for sitting down very informative. Before he went out of state for the summer, my teacher really pushed hard to get me to sit and play, but I could not figure a way to keep my arm from being at an angle without completely throwing off my bowing arm. I tried leaning back as suggested in the video, but it still seems like my (French) bow arm is WAY off. I'll keep working at it and see if I can make it really work. As Chris, Louis, and a few others of you discussed angles, unfortunately trigonometry was not my strong suit in high school.
I'll try harder to regain the hand and back muscles in a healthy manner and try to find a more comfortable, steady posture, whether that be sitting or standing. As before, I'll let everyone know what I find out. For now, back to the bass.
So fu22ba55 had a good point. My doctor didn't really know whether the injury is elbow or wrist (or both) and causing symptoms in the other. From the way I have been playing and maybe I have longer arms than my torso permits, but ¢it's either add curvature to the wrist and keep the elbow open or a tight-angled elbow and a straight wrist. Please someone interrupt me and tell me if I'm wrong there. I'm considered altering my thumb more around the neck, but met with a lot of limitations.
Chris Fitzpatrick, I found your video for sitting down very informative. Before he went out of state for the summer, my teacher really pushed hard to get me to sit and play, but I could not figure a way to keep my arm from being at an angle without completely throwing off my bowing arm. I tried leaning back as suggested in the video, but it still seems like my (French) bow arm is WAY off. I'll keep working at it and see if I can make it really work. As Chris, Louis, and a few others of you discussed angles, unfortunately trigonometry was not my strong suit in high school.
I'll try harder to regain the hand and back muscles in a healthy manner and try to find a more comfortable, steady posture, whether that be sitting or standing. As before, I'll let everyone know what I find out. For now, back to the bass.
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I can't swim due to reconstructive surgery is I had to get on my right ear in college 
that made me kiss the music degree goodbye. But now that I think about it, maybe that was for the best considering my new current condition...
that made me kiss the music degree goodbye. But now that I think about it, maybe that was for the best considering my new current condition...
For arco work, that posture will not work. If anything you need to do the opposite and get over the bass. Even before he leans back, his right arm would be unable to use a bow properly. Now, it seems to work great for him for what he does, but it is not a good approach for arco.
This is why internet videos can be more of a problem than helpful. Please go take some lessons with a really good classical player. How you sit depends on your bow, your armlength, your bodysize, bass size and also to some extent repertoire.
Here is a close up video of a very Young Tim Gibbs in an absurdly high pressure situation, now 20 years later principal of Philharmonia in London.
He is one of the most natural sitting players I have worked with.
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Well everyone, I have been working on everything as recommended on this thread and I'd like to personally thank every one of you. I was almost so excited that I posted a video, and then I realized that I have a solid 2-4 weeks to get caught up (in both dexterity and confidence). My left pinky still has some minor tingling, oddly mostly when I'm sitting down watching a show or sitting at my desk, but my strength has been building up really well! Additionally, thanks to you all, it's almost entirely pain free! I'm avoiding some of the serious strength based playing, like lower string double stops, but I'm really making slow, but steady headway.
In case there is any curiosity for future bassists (or for my own review in the future), thus far I have really been taking all of your approaches. I've been using the Flexi-Bands and Theraband every other day and resting in between. I've been practicing two days, resting one (or two depending on pain levels). I've been logging my practice times to check my endurance and make sure I don't push it. And being sure to stretch, but not TOO much as advised.
For anyone who is reading this too, I HIGHLY recommend a wrist brace during the day and night (with breaks) and a Heelbow for the hurting arm at night to keep from flexing your arms at night. Those have really made a huge difference in the mornings.
I'll pop in once more in a week or so to this thread just for an update. But again, my most sincere thanks to everyone. Now back to bassing! ... Err, more post-practice rest
In case there is any curiosity for future bassists (or for my own review in the future), thus far I have really been taking all of your approaches. I've been using the Flexi-Bands and Theraband every other day and resting in between. I've been practicing two days, resting one (or two depending on pain levels). I've been logging my practice times to check my endurance and make sure I don't push it. And being sure to stretch, but not TOO much as advised.
For anyone who is reading this too, I HIGHLY recommend a wrist brace during the day and night (with breaks) and a Heelbow for the hurting arm at night to keep from flexing your arms at night. Those have really made a huge difference in the mornings.
I'll pop in once more in a week or so to this thread just for an update. But again, my most sincere thanks to everyone. Now back to bassing! ... Err, more post-practice rest
Glad to hear you're on the mend and playing again. Easy does it.
Yes to the wrist brace for sure. That helped me as well.
In my experience the "tingling" takes a LONG time to go away, depending upon the extent of the nerve damage. In the words of one of my doctors: "Nerves are weird." The FlexEx bands keep the nerve tingling at bay, but it never goes away 100%.
I used to have one or two days per month *without* nerve tingling. Now I only have the nerve tingling once every 6 weeks or so. But it took me about 18 months to get there.
