I started back playing DB 4 years ago after a 35 year layoff. I started back very slowly. Open strings. Then scales. Then Simandl method book etudes. Careful about my ergonomics. I'm in my late 50's now. After a year or so and 15 or 20 minutes of playing I started to get tightening in the muscle between my thumb and index finger on my bow hand. I play French Bow. Once I joined a community orchestra it became apparent that very physical passages would be almost impossible as the muscle nearly froze up and had no flexibility after 15 minutes. So I looked up and then I went to a hand specialist who works with musicians in New York. She gave me mostly shoulder exercises that amount to stretching with low weights. She told me to do them every day. I do. after 4 weeks, I was playing nearly pain free and I asked for more exercises. All told, I spent $450 on her services. After three months I am a new musician and I can produce a big deep sound and play with no pain, with flexibility and power. I have amazing flexibility and can reach around my back and up to my shoulder blades with my hands--something that was unthinkable 3 months ago. I added in core exercises and now I can walk for miles like it's nobodies business and run up and down subway stairs. The shoulder exercises for my hands take about 20 minutes. The core exercises add another 20 minutes. I try to do them every day but have to miss every once in a while or do 10 reps instead of 15 or 20. If anyone would like more information please let me know. I was speaking with a Double Bass Player in a major orchestra, and he told me that most older bass players do not get PT for their injuries--they just let their playing go down hill if they are having problems and then retire. I was puzzled and asked him why and he said, sad to say, they are too macho to entertain the idea of physical therapy. I think and hope attitudes are changing.
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Double Bass Playing with Pain and how physical therapy solved my problem
- Thread starter Greg CEO
- Start date
Can you share the exercises she gave you?
I'm primarily an electric player, but have had shoulder problems my entire life. I had a SLAP repair 2 months ago on my right shoulder, and just found out I need my left repaired again (first repair on left was in 2016) in 2 weeks.
I'm in PT for my right shoulder, but would love to supplement what I'm doing if it'll help.
I'm primarily an electric player, but have had shoulder problems my entire life. I had a SLAP repair 2 months ago on my right shoulder, and just found out I need my left repaired again (first repair on left was in 2016) in 2 weeks.
I'm in PT for my right shoulder, but would love to supplement what I'm doing if it'll help.
She advertises as a hand therapist. So I would hesitate to give you exercises that she gave to me for my hands that may be detrimental to your shoulders. You can contact her to ask about your issues and see if she can treat you or she may recommend someone better suited to shoulder therapy:
www.musichandstherapy.com
Hand Therapy for Musicians - Dr. Aviva Wolff
Musician injury prevention and management. Onsite and remote consultations. Musicians, music groups, music schools. Educational presentations. Musician hand Injuries. Musician hand pain.
www.musichandstherapy.com
I applaud your efforts and sharing them here. I have chronic illness that jumps up and bites me in a lot of ways. There was a point that I actually quit playing all together due to health. However PT and the intervention of modern medicine got me back slowly.
In my 40's I took up yoga, which is about the least "macho" thing ever. It worked wonders for me physically. I also do a bunch of stretching every day at work before I get tied to the computer for hours. It gets some funny looks, but I want to be able to do the things I want to after work (and hopefully into old age).
In my 40's I took up yoga, which is about the least "macho" thing ever. It worked wonders for me physically. I also do a bunch of stretching every day at work before I get tied to the computer for hours. It gets some funny looks, but I want to be able to do the things I want to after work (and hopefully into old age).
I look at it as physical maintenance that I have to do to keep going. I hope to play and be able to enjoy myself as I age. Bravo for your work!
Very interesting to read this. I can share from my own experience, the treatment is not always what one might expect. I had some problems with one of my knees some time back, and went the pt route. The exercises that he assigned me were not what I expected - rather than focusing on my knee, they were all hip-related exercises. His point being that body parts that need support and strengthening are often dependent on other parts of the body. In my case, it worked quite well. I'm facing some problems with shoulder pain while playing, and the guy I'm working with on it has me focusing on core body exercises.
Yes, this now makes sense to me, but at the time I started the PT exercises I was skeptical. Glad it worked for you as well and I hope it works for your shoulder pain.
