My shoulder is killing me!!

[anonymous122511]

you guys with gigs where they don't care if you sit or stand...are they jazz or light music gigs? man, people sure care on my gigs.

Every time in the last 20 years I've gotten grief for sitting I explained the two cracked upper vertebrae and told them it wasn't negotiable. Got away with it every time too. That said those gigs were never my sole source of income so I could afford to be a little cavalier. And yeah, a lot of them (but not by any means all) were drummer-less bar/restaurant gigs.

A 4-1/2" Levy's MSS2-4 strap with a recently acquired sub-7lb bass makes it tolerable though and I've comfortably done whole nights standing in the last couple of months. My impulse to sit now is driven more by being an old f**k and most gigs going waaaay past my bedtime.

 

[sound of bass]

Don't sit on a stool - sit in a wheelchair. No one will say a thing

LMAO!

 

[sound of bass]

I have the same shoulder issues, and also dont like the look of sitting, and every suggestion here has merit, and I practice them all (try to) But let me make another small suggestion, which is another thing I do......sit during rehearsals. It will give your shoulder an extended rest time between gigs, also your back, hips, knees etc. It does make a difference.

 

[JimmyM]

Every time in the last 20 years I've gotten grief for sitting I explained the two cracked upper vertebrae and told them it wasn't negotiable. Got away with it every time too. That said those gigs were never my sole source of income so I could afford to be a little cavalier. And yeah, a lot of them (but not by any means all) were drummer-less bar/restaurant gigs.

A 4-1/2" Levy's MSS2-4 strap with a recently acquired sub-7lb bass makes it tolerable though and I've comfortably done whole nights standing in the last couple of months. My impulse to sit now is driven more by being an old f**k and most gigs going waaaay past my bedtime.

lol! well yeah, you crack your vertebrae and you SHOULD sit!

 

[lomo]

Try this. It will immediately completely eliminate all shoulder issues.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/how-do-i-spell-shoulder-back-relief-b-s-s-b-e-l-t-585996/

It sounds like you have chronic tendonitis and myositis. If that's the case, no excercise will eliminate it. It will remain a weakness to be carefully addressed.

 

[anonymous122511]

This would a great place for you to start your tread so you can arbitrarily make whatever comments you like. Why Willis well because it will HIS TREAD!

stalker

 

[anonymous122511]

Really! thats it? Let see what the mods have to say.....

rat

 

[darkstorm]

Hadnt realized the post was mostly oriented toward peeps with shoulder injury, arthritus, and other such ailments. Anyway the two best excercises Ive come across that give most real world benefit. To such folks for this kind of thing are:

1. Frequently pause with whatever your doing. And let your shoulders drop, sink, relaesing them from whatever level of hunched up their in. Doing this several times a day untill your everyday norm is shoulders relaxed yet strong, dropped instead of raised.

2. Stand with feet about shoulder width apart. Reach hands straight upward and face palms toward the ceiling. Do not raise/hunch your shoulders upward. Instead reach arms full length toward ceiling pamls facing ceiling and lightly pushing upward. As you do this imagine a string attached to the top of your head. Keeping your head pulled slightly upward. Then slowly lower your hands turning palm toward the ground as hands descend to lower chest to lower stomach area. As you complete hand lower raise up on your feet and stretch body upward. Keeping neck elongated, body straight, spine elongated, shoulders dropped, head raised rather then scrunched down.

Consult your doctor if your injury is such that some kinds of movements or activities are potentially further damaging rather then useful excercise. For example some types of wrist injuries make some types of hand curls and pullups detremental to the joint.

No I'm not a doctor, but am a long time internal kung fu & yoga practioner. A basic learned early on was that most peoples shoulder complaints are aggravated by their common habbit of either holder shoulders scrunched upward or head and neck scrunched downward. Or both. The two above excercises correct this quickly and permanently if applied.

For straps, wide 2 and half to 4 and half soft leather. With no mini strap running thru its length. Have been the most comfortable Ive used. Most of the fabric, nylon, and stiff leather type straps Ive foiund to be annoying to the shoulder thru neck side region.

Move as you play. Standing like a statue results in a type of muscle draining fatigue. You dont have to make big movements. But at least various little wiggles and little shiftings of your stance. Kinda like mini dance or more. Wear your instrument as low as you can comfortably with it pointing upward. Rather then positioning the bass more horizontal to the ground. Of course during movement you can vary its posiiton from horizontal to vertical. Point is, shoulder fatigue gets worse quicker if your not moving waist. torso, and upper body some.

Tiger balm available thru chinese stores is useful for shoulder and joint aches. Bengays other best one Ive used but its odor is a bit strong.

If you do meditation. Imagine a fave liked color permeating, flowing thru and around any sore shoulder or injury etc/ Like its glowing sparkling light that restores etc. Sure it sounds like magick but its a way to communicate with cells etc for healing, strengthening, posture correcting and so on thru the subconscious mind.

Should have mentioned something of this stuff originally. Been around to many peeps lately who are just badly out of shape thru sheer lazyness and arthritic people who just refuse to try and do something about it other then complain.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Found these on a google search. I don't have any person knowledge of them:

Link Removed

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Try before buying. I bought one and found that, no matter how I adjusted it, it positioned my instrument's neck and body in a way that I found uncomfortable and unnatural.

 

[mntngrown]

Well if your name suggests correctly as we get into our 40's, stretching becomes increasingly important. The old adage, use it or lose it seems to fit.

My whole arm was slowly seizing up last year and cramping up to where my fingers would stop moving. My pinky and the finger next to it would go numb and tingle all day. shoulder pain and forearm screaming.

I tried lots of things but it wasn't until i found a sliding scale community acupuncturist that thing started to turn around. I've also found an asian foot massage place that will do full body and these guys are absolutely brutal. fairly inexpensive and worth it. I've only been a couple times but plan to return.

You might also look into active relaxation. swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, walking. Keep moving.
+1000

Movement and specific targeted excercise are great. Often what we think is just playin a heavy bass can be our computer ergonomics plus our lack of exercise, plus our bass playing posture and poor whatever else and everyone should explore all reasonably priced alternative solutions.
These "Hey you woosie! get in the gym posts may be well intentioned, and in fact getting back in the gym worked for me when my excellent orthopedist showed me rubber band shoulder rehab moves I stepped em up to same motions with weights, and a well rounded program. I know a martial arts guru whose discipline incorporates serious ass kickin physical therapy. No injury is the same. No patient is the same. try many disciplines.

 

[mntngrown]

Well if your name suggests correctly as we get into our 40's, stretching becomes increasingly important. The old adage, use it or lose it seems to fit.

My whole arm was slowly seizing up last year and cramping up to where my fingers would stop moving. My pinky and the finger next to it would go numb and tingle all day. shoulder pain and forearm screaming.

I tried lots of things but it wasn't until i found a sliding scale community acupuncturist that thing started to turn around. I've also found an asian foot massage place that will do full body and these guys are absolutely brutal. fairly inexpensive and worth it. I've only been a couple times but plan to return.

You might also look into active relaxation. swimming, sauna, jacuzzi, walking. Keep moving.
+1000

Movement and specific targeted excercise are great. Often what we think is just playin a heavy bass can be our computer ergonomics plus our lack of exercise, plus our bass playing posture and poor whatever else and everyone should explore all reasonably priced alternative solutions.
These "Hey you woosie! get in the gym posts may be well intentioned, and in fact getting back in the gym worked for me when my excellent orthopedist showed me rubber band shoulder rehab moves I stepped em up to same motions with weights, and a well rounded program. I know a martial arts guru whose discipline incorporates serious ass kickin physical therapy. No injury is the same. No patient is the same. try many disciplines.

 

[dannster]

Here is another active relaxation, stretching program I have derived great benefit from.
Invalid Link Removed.
Although the DVD is a little spendy it is totally worth it.
You can watch one level on Youtube too. YouTube - Scott Sonnon Intuflow Joint Mobility Beginner Part 1

 

[anonymous122511]

Try before buying. I bought one and found that, no matter how I adjusted it, it positioned my instrument's neck and body in a way that I found uncomfortable and unnatural.

Years ago I made a similar rig and found the same thing.

 

[sturoc]

SIT DOWN !

 

[dannster]

Tiger balm ...

Mmmmm... Tiger balm.
That stuff is awesome!

 

[SactoBass]

Don't get older. It causes pains everywhere. I know from experience. Stay young ;-)

Now THIS is what I call good advice! After reading it, I decided to implement this recommendation. I even removed the battery from my wall clock to stop it from moving forward. There.......I feel better already!