How to stop joints from aching from playing?
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Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
It's not that I'm putting my hands through undue contortions, I was just describing playing positions as far beyond anything your hands experience in regular life. I've got naturally flexible hands big enough to palm a basketball, so stretching too far isn't the issue.
It's not that I'm putting my hands through undue contortions, I was just describing playing positions as far beyond anything your hands experience in regular life. I've got naturally flexible hands big enough to palm a basketball, so stretching too far isn't the issue.
O
OLDERBUDWISER
Guest
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPQ1LQGZf3A Go to 3rd section
Not to thread highjack but I started playing guitar last year and practice 2-3 hours a day. They didn't hurt for the first 3 months or so, but now, the joints of my fingers on my left hand really start to hurt. If you were to extend your finger, coming back from the nail, the second "joint" or "knuckle" or whatever. If I try to make a fist with the fingers they hurt a ton lol.
If I take a 2-3 day break the pain goes away but once I start playing again it just comes back. I'm 29 too I don't feel that old!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPQ1LQGZf3A Go to 3rd section
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
Well perhaps contort was the wrong word. Just use your intuition and use posture that will allow you to go through the motions of playing guitar without causing excess tension. If you're unable to find a posture that will allow you to do this, you could always go to a guitar teacher. An analogy would be cycling. Nothing about the motion of cycling is biomechanically threatening and so people can ride 50 to 100 miles a day if they have the will without injuring themselves.
Well perhaps contort was the wrong word. Just use your intuition and use posture that will allow you to go through the motions of playing guitar without causing excess tension. If you're unable to find a posture that will allow you to do this, you could always go to a guitar teacher. An analogy would be cycling. Nothing about the motion of cycling is biomechanically threatening and so people can ride 50 to 100 miles a day if they have the will without injuring themselves.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
yeah, good one - everyone's hands are different -for me if I play really skinny shallow neck my thumb and palm gets really achey versus more wood in the hand.
yeah, good one - everyone's hands are different -for me if I play really skinny shallow neck my thumb and palm gets really achey versus more wood in the hand.
rammer69
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
I have been playing for over 40 yrs& never had problems like I have now, in 2016 may 5th I had a stroke & when I hit the floor, I must have bent my left thimb (fret hand) backwards, I thought that I had sprained it, but I also ripped my already torn rotator cuff, I can barely play chords , * can not play any leads at all ( which was my main playing) last year I went to PT 2 times a week 1 for my hand & 1 for my shoulder, they gave my hand massagers after being dipped in hot wax , dry needled my hand , & it still doesn't work. I have purchased a glove that shock /stimulates , finger stretchers , exercisers, therapy balls , my therapist says I have arthritis in my thumb & says I should get a thumb replacement,i eat 100 mg of cbd candy every nite to help me sleep , I will try the cbd oil next, Btw PT did help my shoulder , at least I can use my left arm some now..
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NegativeEase
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
Damn, take care of yourself Knievel!
I'd definitely try the topical CBD! and report back how you do!
Damn, take care of yourself Knievel!
I'd definitely try the topical CBD! and report back how you do!
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
Works on backs and knees too....
Plus it makes me sound better
Works on backs and knees too....
Plus it makes me sound better
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
I love it! 29 posts and not one wahoo bothers to ask even one critical question!!! Idiots. Take no advice from any of these dolts.
#1 What joints hurt? Mostly my knees and hips hurt after a show, but that is 4 hrs long, I'm wearing cowboy boots, doing high kicks, jumping up and down etc.
#2 How badly do they hurt? Standard pain doc 1-10 scale.
#3 How old are you and do you have any medical conditions/predisposing factor (example: You run a jack hammer as your day job; I am 52 and have Psoriatic Arthritis. Look it up.)
#4 What sort of playing schedule do you have? 10 minutes of light noodling here and there, or the aforementioned four hour rock show?
#5 What is your guitar, what style of playing, and in what position?
Tell me all that and maybe we'll have some GOOD suggestions for you.
Other than that, the only sensible advice is, given what we know, that would never be out of place:
A) Stretch/Warm up/Cool down. Applies to any physical activity where muscles/tendons/joints are involved
B) Ease into extended length playing sessions gradually over time
C) Relax when you play. That's often harder to do than people think, and they don't know how much they are stressing physically.
D) Proper body alignment etc.
Here is THE TRICK: There are no tricks. Identify the cause of the problem and act accordingly. Or mask symptoms with excessive drugs to the point of self-destruction. Understand that is way easier than doing the right thing. Not that anybody her has any idea what that is based on the original post.
I love it! 29 posts and not one wahoo bothers to ask even one critical question!!! Idiots. Take no advice from any of these dolts.
#1 What joints hurt? Mostly my knees and hips hurt after a show, but that is 4 hrs long, I'm wearing cowboy boots, doing high kicks, jumping up and down etc.
#2 How badly do they hurt? Standard pain doc 1-10 scale.
#3 How old are you and do you have any medical conditions/predisposing factor (example: You run a jack hammer as your day job; I am 52 and have Psoriatic Arthritis. Look it up.)
#4 What sort of playing schedule do you have? 10 minutes of light noodling here and there, or the aforementioned four hour rock show?
#5 What is your guitar, what style of playing, and in what position?
Tell me all that and maybe we'll have some GOOD suggestions for you.
Other than that, the only sensible advice is, given what we know, that would never be out of place:
A) Stretch/Warm up/Cool down. Applies to any physical activity where muscles/tendons/joints are involved
B) Ease into extended length playing sessions gradually over time
C) Relax when you play. That's often harder to do than people think, and they don't know how much they are stressing physically.
D) Proper body alignment etc.
Here is THE TRICK: There are no tricks. Identify the cause of the problem and act accordingly. Or mask symptoms with excessive drugs to the point of self-destruction. Understand that is way easier than doing the right thing. Not that anybody her has any idea what that is based on the original post.
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Boogie Bill
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
After I'm done playing, I'll use Aspercream on my hands. Just don't apply it before you play, as it could damage the finish.
Bill
After I'm done playing, I'll use Aspercream on my hands. Just don't apply it before you play, as it could damage the finish.
Bill
Dave Locher
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
You gotta learn to stop hiding your thoughts and just open up, Aceman!
You gotta learn to stop hiding your thoughts and just open up, Aceman!
Dave Locher
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
And shy, too! Don't forget shy...
And shy, too! Don't forget shy...
nexion218
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
We havr this cream over here in Hungary called Nicoflex. It is intended to be a warm up cream for athletes, propagating blood flow at the treated area. Main ingredient? CAPSAICIN!
Although as I recall it was more regularly used to play vicious jokes on teammates than anything else...
We havr this cream over here in Hungary called Nicoflex. It is intended to be a warm up cream for athletes, propagating blood flow at the treated area. Main ingredient? CAPSAICIN!
Although as I recall it was more regularly used to play vicious jokes on teammates than anything else...
NecroPolo
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
Do you mean, their gulyásleves tastes molten lava suddenly, on the level of hínyebazmeg, poroltót? And when you replace their síkosító with Nicoflex, instead of megrakni their cuncimókus nyuszimuszi, they will spend the hour with their bögyörő in an ice bucket instead? It is definitely the right substance for the purpose.
On a serious note, active arthritis and these warming-up creams may not gel well. If the inflation is on, a blood flow boost may increase the pain. There are cold (passive) phases and hot (inflated) phases. Something like Nicoflex can have good effect during the cold phase, before excercising, cycling or the like. The hot phase needs the opposite: cooling.
We havr this cream over here in Hungary called Nicoflex. It is intended to be a warm up cream for athletes, propagating blood flow at the treated area. Main ingredient? CAPSAICIN!
Do you mean, their gulyásleves tastes molten lava suddenly, on the level of hínyebazmeg, poroltót? And when you replace their síkosító with Nicoflex, instead of megrakni their cuncimókus nyuszimuszi, they will spend the hour with their bögyörő in an ice bucket instead? It is definitely the right substance for the purpose.
On a serious note, active arthritis and these warming-up creams may not gel well. If the inflation is on, a blood flow boost may increase the pain. There are cold (passive) phases and hot (inflated) phases. Something like Nicoflex can have good effect during the cold phase, before excercising, cycling or the like. The hot phase needs the opposite: cooling.
nexion218
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
Yeah, something like that.
Dark Lord Sauron himself had created that stuff.
Also on a serious note, if there is a medical condition, then one should simply seek professional help. If there's no such problem, then a great prophylactic measure is to establish a proper warmup routine. There is really no need for magic ointments, one just needs to ease the muscles into doing what they're ordered to do. As has been said above: it's just like any other physical excercise. Heavy load on cold muscles and joints spells injury. I am particularly prone to injury when not warming up properly, I learned it the hard way when doing sports as a youngster, and it shows in my playing too. And it isn't beneficial only for my muscles/joints, but my ears too: without warming up, I have a hard time listening to my own playing, but when I warm up properly, it suddely becomes borderline listenable. Also, the power and benefits or resting cannot be overstated. Its all cool and well to play 6-8 hours a day and then repeating it every day, but that again will spell injury in the long run. I used to do that, I kept telling myself that if I don't practice every day and that if I don't play through the pain then I'm a miserable wuss and will never play like I want to, but when I once strained my picking hand forearm/wrist I put it into perspective and now I tell myself that its either a 2 day rest and 363 days of playing, or one more practice session and 363 days of resting and rehab... I keep chosing the former.
Yeah, something like that.
Dark Lord Sauron himself had created that stuff. Also on a serious note, if there is a medical condition, then one should simply seek professional help. If there's no such problem, then a great prophylactic measure is to establish a proper warmup routine. There is really no need for magic ointments, one just needs to ease the muscles into doing what they're ordered to do. As has been said above: it's just like any other physical excercise. Heavy load on cold muscles and joints spells injury. I am particularly prone to injury when not warming up properly, I learned it the hard way when doing sports as a youngster, and it shows in my playing too. And it isn't beneficial only for my muscles/joints, but my ears too: without warming up, I have a hard time listening to my own playing, but when I warm up properly, it suddely becomes borderline listenable. Also, the power and benefits or resting cannot be overstated. Its all cool and well to play 6-8 hours a day and then repeating it every day, but that again will spell injury in the long run. I used to do that, I kept telling myself that if I don't practice every day and that if I don't play through the pain then I'm a miserable wuss and will never play like I want to, but when I once strained my picking hand forearm/wrist I put it into perspective and now I tell myself that its either a 2 day rest and 363 days of playing, or one more practice session and 363 days of resting and rehab... I keep chosing the former.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
But as with pickup selection - that doesn't prevent the peanut gallery from chiming in with foolish advice based on nothing about the guitar, the amp, or the style of music let alone the current rig's actual tonal issues.
Same here except you are recommending treatments for a symptom with an unknown cause. Stop that.
But as with pickup selection - that doesn't prevent the peanut gallery from chiming in with foolish advice based on nothing about the guitar, the amp, or the style of music let alone the current rig's actual tonal issues.
Same here except you are recommending treatments for a symptom with an unknown cause. Stop that.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
People were responding with their own experience with stoping aching in joints -which is what was asked, NOT playing doctor or giving specific medical advice to someone on a forum.
People were responding with their own experience with stoping aching in joints -which is what was asked, NOT playing doctor or giving specific medical advice to someone on a forum.
Dave Locher
New member
Re: How to stop joints from aching from playing?
"None of the comments posted in this thread are intended to treat or cure any medical condition. Always seek the help of America professional for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If this is an emergency please hang up and dial 9-1-1."
Feel better?
TLDR: depending on what hurts, and assuming no underlying medical condition other than age and/or being out of shape, anyone experiencing joint pain during or after playing should consider trying:
-different guitars, because the ergonomics can be wildly different
-different playing positions and/or strap heights
-lighter strings and/or tune down to E flat or D
-warming up before playing
-being careful to not overdo it and giving the joints in question rest after playing a while
Those recommendations were all based on the assumption that the aching joints are finger/hand/wrist, elbow, or shoulder. Even if there IS an underlying issue such as mild arthritis anything that eases tension and improves ergonomics helps.
Little changes can make a big difference. I had shoulder pain for a few months until I figured out it was the position of my computer mouse at work. Changed that and the pain disappeared. Likewise, my wife had a car that made my left knee hurt if I drove it on a long trip. I am sure age (53) and maybe some very mild arthritis contribute, but in both cases doctors said nothing serious and in both cases the pain went away completely after minor changes (different mouse pad location and different car). The guitar with the neck that made my hand and wrist hurt was when I was still in my 20s!
I feel confident that a different guitar and/or strap position and/or playing routine will help regardless of any other factors.
"None of the comments posted in this thread are intended to treat or cure any medical condition. Always seek the help of America professional for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. If this is an emergency please hang up and dial 9-1-1."
Feel better?
TLDR: depending on what hurts, and assuming no underlying medical condition other than age and/or being out of shape, anyone experiencing joint pain during or after playing should consider trying:
-different guitars, because the ergonomics can be wildly different
-different playing positions and/or strap heights
-lighter strings and/or tune down to E flat or D
-warming up before playing
-being careful to not overdo it and giving the joints in question rest after playing a while
Those recommendations were all based on the assumption that the aching joints are finger/hand/wrist, elbow, or shoulder. Even if there IS an underlying issue such as mild arthritis anything that eases tension and improves ergonomics helps.
Little changes can make a big difference. I had shoulder pain for a few months until I figured out it was the position of my computer mouse at work. Changed that and the pain disappeared. Likewise, my wife had a car that made my left knee hurt if I drove it on a long trip. I am sure age (53) and maybe some very mild arthritis contribute, but in both cases doctors said nothing serious and in both cases the pain went away completely after minor changes (different mouse pad location and different car). The guitar with the neck that made my hand and wrist hurt was when I was still in my 20s!
I feel confident that a different guitar and/or strap position and/or playing routine will help regardless of any other factors.
