has anyone had any issues with RSI due to playing guitar?
I'd been playing a lot of power chord stuff - greenday / sex pistols etc, my arm was sore after playing, but it usually eased off when I stopped, then last week it didn't and my elbow / wrist have been sore since :( So not played
I've arranged to see a physio in the morning, but wondered if anyone else had experienced this too?
Hopefully I will be back playing soon..
i spent a day running scales in addition to my usual practice and had to take about a month off. now i just try to let my hands go and play what they feel like and avoid forcing myself to do unnatural stuff. i doubt there's much point in beating things into the ground after i've got them down.
Which arm - strumming or fretting (or both)? Are you playing standing or sitting? If standing, how low is the body of the guitar? If sitting are you using a strap?
Usually when something like this occurs the problem can be traced back to posture and / or playing position. So having more details may be helpful.
Peace
it also helps to warm up, cool down. and stretch. you don't want to stretch too hard, though. just keep everything loose.
Thanks - its my strumming arm, I play sitting down, and don't use a strap.
I normally use 11's but have dug out my other guitar which has 9's for when my arm is feeling a bit better, in case that helps too.
ok, mine was in my fretting hand. it felt like it turned to water, and then every time afterwards it burned when i tried to play. what's the doctor's verdict?
I can't play sitting much cause it kills my shoulder. Too much baseball I think. I play standing up and keep the picking zone between my navel and my ummmm .... groin. I can play for hours without issue. I credit proper position.
Between groin and navel ... that would be the belt buckle area wouldn't it? :lol:
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
Thanks - had an appointment with a physio yesterday, whose verdict was I'd given myself tennis elbow by playing guitar..
Quite ironic after a lifetime of riding horses I get an injury from my new sedentary hobby!
My arm feels much better today after the physio session, and I've been told I can play gently tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll be back hammering on the power chords soon :-)
The only time I've had anything like RSI was an ache I used to get at the base of my left (fretting hand) thumb when I'd been playing barre chords for a couple of hours. DO NOT do what I did - thought, "ah, the hell with it, I'll persevere - what doesn't kill me will make me stronger, right?" - WRONG!!!! It'll weaken you, is what it'll do, and leave you unable to play for days, weeks, and I don't even want to think further than that.
Think of an athlete - say, a fast bowler (cricket) or a pitcher (baseball) trying to bowl/throw at full pace with a minor shoulder, elbow or wrist strain... All he's going to do is exacerbate the injury. Painkillers won't help - they'll only take away the pain, not the strain. Don't, whatever you do, try to play through the pain - it will only make it worse.
Try and play a few chords in the morning - but DO take it easy. The minute you feel any pain put it down. Small steps. It's NOT like building up callouses, where a little pain won't matter - you can't take any chances with muscle strains, they really can only get worse.
All the best, and DON'T RUSH IT!
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
The only time I've had anything like RSI was an ache I used to get at the base of my left (fretting hand) thumb when I'd been playing barre chords for a couple of hours. DO NOT do what I did - thought, "ah, the hell with it, I'll persevere - what doesn't kill me will make me stronger, right?" - WRONG!!!! It'll weaken you, is what it'll do, and leave you unable to play for days, weeks, and I don't even want to think further than that.
DON'T RUSH IT!
:D :D :D
Vic
Very good advice from Vic. Timely too, as I did exactly the same yesterday and now have a niggling pain at the base of my left thumb. I'm sitting here surrounded by attractive gear, trying very hard to heed Dr Lewis' very sound advice.
Years ago I wrenched a shoulder doing something stupid, and then had 18 months of unnecessary pain because I didn't give it a chance to heal properly. :( In that case it was too many daily hours of poor posture at the computer, and a better designed chair allowed it to heal in under two weeks.
Posture Patience and Practice - the three Big Ps of guitar. :D
Hope your arm gets better quickly. It should, because it sounds like you're a whole lot smarter than I was!
Chris
Thanks Vic & Chris,
I took it easy with the guitar on Friday, and then coz my arm felt fine rode Apache - bad mistake, so got off after 15 mins (Apache was happy he got his feed!) been sore since, its been a bit easier the last day or so, so played gently yesterday & today (and stayed off Apache!)
Back at the physio on Thurs...
PS - just incase anyone doesn't know - Apache is my horse :D
