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Double Bass Locking finger syndrome - muscle cramps?

Chris Fitzgerald

Chris Fitzgerald

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Oct 19, 2000
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Louisville, KY
www.chrisfitzgeraldmusic.com
#1
I played a concert the other night and during the last song, a pretty intense and busy piece, the index finger on my right hand got stuck in the 90 degree position at the middle knuckle. I had to force it back open against my leg and fortunately was able to finish the piece plucking with the middle finger without too much difficulty. This has happened once before a few years ago to my left hand near the end of an intense performance.

In both cases it felt like a sort of forearm cramp that caused it, like the arm/hand version of a little miniature Charlie horse like people sometimes get when lying in bed. In both instances I was dealing with another more general physical ailment and suspect I was dehydrated. The first time it happened, it scared me to no end, but I went home and ate a bunch of bananas and drank a ton of water and was fine. This time, same thing.

I'm guessing it is muscle cramps triggered by repetitive use of the muscle in an intense way; this would make the most sense, and also be the best possible diagnosis. I'm wondering if any of you have experienced something similar, and if so what are the best ways to get electrolytes in your system both on a regular basis and especially leading up to performances? In case it matters, in athletic endeavors I was reasonably prone to leg cramps in intense usage situations and ended up drinking a lot of Gatorade for it. I'd rather find a healthier way now, since so much of that stuff is full of sugar and/or artificial sweeteners and the like. All thoughts appreciated
 
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#2
I'm battling the same issue but on electric bass. So far I haven't been able to eliminate it. I'll be following this thread with interest. I'm relatively old (62) and have worked with my hands most of my life. I'm also not real good at hydration, but I'm working on it. Here's a list of things I've tried with varying degrees of success.
bananas
magnesium
v-8 juice
anti-inflammatory's
tonic water
gatorade
 
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#6
Acupuncture! Or if you're crazy like me, stinging nettle. It sounds a little masochistic I know, but it's been known to alleviate arthritis, and I've used it to help treat tendonitis in my left hand and carpal tunnel in my right. Planted a few patches of it in the garden and I'll just pick a piece and whip my wrists and hands with it every now and again. Really intense and makes the hands throb numbly for an hour or two, but the idea is to stimulate bloodflow to the extremities. It's also a great plant to have around if you like gardening at all.
 
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#7
I have had this happen occasionally, perhaps too much playing in a given time space. Some good suggestions above. Pedialyte works well with less sugar than Gatorade, especially for hot weather gigs. With cello and d-bass, I reviewed my technique, especially whether I properly used the back and shoulder muscles so that the fingers were mainly an extension of the whole structure, not having the smaller forearm flexors take on too much of the action. Sometimes it just happens I suppose.
 
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#8
Magnesium tablets/powder are a must for cramping-types, plus regular stretching & getting rest. Oh... and drink more water, carry a water bottle & have another bottle at your desk.

Coconut water has many electrolytes. Add a banana and a handful of nuts are a healthy alternative.

Also half fruit juice/half water with a pinch of sea salt (but not bottled OJ, too acidic). A Nutritionist recommended that - works best for STAYING hydrated during activity (not the best on the stomach when you’re dehydrated and gulping it down).


Massage forearm with a tennis ball or roller - sit at desk, roll forearm over it (like rolling pastry).

I really like the hand held massage ball in cradle (like a roll-on deodorant). You can use it anywhere & fits in your pocket.
Manual Back Massage Roller Ball Self Massager Pain Relief Body Relax Therapy KA | eBay
 
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#10
i have arthritis, and i ordered nettle tea a few days ago. definitely worth a try. also have had good results from glucosamine, but i believe nettle is an effective anti-inflammatory; glucosamine may be arthritis-specific.

is it possible you're plucking very hard or using medium strings?
 
#12
pcake said:
i have arthritis, and i ordered nettle tea a few days ago. definitely worth a try. also have had good results from glucosamine, but i believe nettle is an effective anti-inflammatory; glucosamine may be arthritis-specific.

is it possible you're plucking very hard or using medium strings?
Click to expand...

Hi - in the past couple of months I had a luthier tweak my UB and he also installed Zyex light-tension string set on it. I did change back to the D'Addario E that was on it for the past year and some, it's a tiny bit stiffer but it's not a problem. The right hand is ok, plucking ok. It's the left lowest thumb joints that are the issue. I'm going to look into the nettle tea as well.
 
#13
I appreciate this thread, thanks for bringing it up Chris!

I've had this happen a few times over the last couple of years with playing various instruments, not a chronic situation, but always a little unsettling.

My goto solution for this and general stiffness (age related arthritis) is washing a bunch of dishes in very warm water. My wife loves that too. But, as has been discussed, this may be a more systemic issue. I'll try more bananas.
 
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#14
Rigomortis fingers...ugh

When I have this issue, I do an efficiency audit. Like going for a long jog, an exciting musical moment can kill your endurance. Often the conclusion I arrive at is to rethink my amp strategy. I don't like turning my amp up. I hate it. The small muscle groups in my fingers let me know that this is a bad strategy.

In situations where there isn't a PA, I bring a K10 for me and another for the opposite side of the stage. More sound sources (as transparent as possible) help reduce that feeling when all you get is amp sound and it's no longer organic. Getting them away from you helps too. As much as I want to use the sound of the bass, it's just not practical for the volumes people expect.

Just what I was thinking as I read the OP. Your a mother of a player and I love your teaching. The spiro stark is a mother of a string....
 
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#15
@Zimmy Jazz Thanks! The concert I was playing was all acoustic, which may have been part of the reason I was digging so hard, trying to match the piano and trumpet volume balance wise subconsciously. Playing acoustically is a glorious thing! I did discover this morning after PT for an unrelated injury that I was indeed pretty seriously dehydrated. On a whim, I bought and drank a bottle of BodyArmor Lyte with electrolytes on the way back from therapy and the leg cramps I had been dealing with for the last 10 days disappeared almost immediately! I can only assume that the cramps in my forearms were probably affected by the same root cause.

It's a funny thing, too, because come to think of it the other time this happened was also an acoustic show, and I was having leg cramps then as well. I think I eat a pretty healthy diet, but obviously I'm not getting enough electrolytes.
 
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#18
@Groove Doctor I'm drinking the BodyArmor Lyte every morning when I run, and it's like bottle of healing for my muscles. My wife bought me some electrolyte tablets to put in my water at school, brand is Nuun, and when i start to feel depleted I drink some of that. @two fingers the Body Armor has coconut water in it, and I also remember drinking a coconut water drink in St. Louis that had nothing to do with any medical issue that also seemed to have magic powers.

I need to research whether you can overload on potassium and electrolytes, or whether you just flush them out in the usual way.
 
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#20
Chris Fitzgerald said:
@Groove Doctor I'm drinking the BodyArmor Lyte every morning when I run, and it's like bottle healing for my muscles. My wife bought me some electrolyte tablets to put in my water at school, brand is Nuun, and when i start to feel depleted I drink some of that. @two fingers the Body Armor has coconut water in it, and I also remember drinking a coconut water drink in St. Louis that had nothing to do with any medical issue that also seemed to have magic powers.

I need to research whether you can overload on potassium and electrolytes, or whether you just flush them out in the usual way.
Click to expand...
Here’s some excellent articles on excess sodium (hypernatraemia) and excess potassium (hyperkalaemia)
Can you overdose on sports drink? | by Precision Hydration

Invalid Link Removed
 
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