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Post by bleatoid on Nov 7, 2018 22:56:27 GMT
Got a problem with arm pain at the minute which seems to be getting worse, and the culprit seems to be guitar playing - I don't know if it's the playing that triggered it initially (been around for about 3 months now) or if playing is aggravating something else I've done - but it's definitely worse after playing.
I've done a few online searches because I've seen several threads on this general topic on various forums but they all seem to refer either to shoulder pain on the picking hand side (answer seems to be a bevel or smaller bodied guitar) or fretting hand problems causing muscle / tendon issues on that side (answers various including capo, scale length, string tension etc).
My problem is a kind of tendonitis in my right elbow (= picking hand side). After playing for a while it is quite painful and I have trouble straightening my arm.
I've tried relaxing more (I'm aware I'm quite tense when fingerpicking) and also tried moving my arm slightly off the guitar body - neither seems to help. I'm not playing anything bigger than a 000 - and nothing new of late.
Before I sought out a physio I thought I'd canvas any useful experience / insights here.
Any legal and physically plausible suggestions would be welcome, other than "stop playing".
Peter
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Post by oustudent on Nov 8, 2018 7:11:51 GMT
Do you have your little finger on the fretboard or off it when picking?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 7:36:50 GMT
Try doing the full classical music warm up exercises at least once a day, before you play guitar. This got rid of any and all pains I used to get, after doing it for a couple of weeks. I wouldn’t play guitar without doing them now. It takes about ten minutes. I posted a link in another thread here, will dig it up when I get home.
The other thing that has improved the overall comfort and relaxation I feel when playing, has been a daily yoga practice. It’s actually quite amazing the difference now, way less tension. About half an hour a day, you can follow Yoga With Adriane online for free, she has loads of 30 day courses etc.
But yes, for sure also seek medical advice. Just listing what has worked for me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 7:45:16 GMT
Here are the hand stretches I do every day, I defy anyone to do it daily for a couple of weeks and not see an improvement in their ease of playing.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 8:50:34 GMT
This is the text breakdown I used to remind me what to every time, although it's stuck in my brain now!
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 8, 2018 9:55:28 GMT
Do you have your little finger on the fretboard or off it when picking? I have my little finger planted on the soundboard about 10% of the time John - usually for slow, deliberate pieces - most of the time it’s floating (I never pick with it).
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 8, 2018 10:00:38 GMT
Wow - thanks for all that information Gregg Hermetech - I’ll definitely give the hand stretches a try out. I’ll also look at the yoga - a bit of tension release would be no bad thing more generally speaking! You’re thinking picking hand tension leads to picking arm elbow tendonitis? Have you experienced the same thing? Peter
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2018 10:06:45 GMT
No worries. Sometimes if I play for a long time I get a sore right wrist/arm/elbow but I think it's more from the shape of the guitar/position, than the actual picking. But these stretches should hopefully alleviate it, if not make it go away entirely. I use an OM size guitar, but when I buy my first "good" acoustic I will be probably be looking at comfort/slighter shallower body depth as one of the deciding factors.
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Post by oustudent on Nov 8, 2018 10:07:48 GMT
Do you have your little finger on the fretboard or off it when picking? I have my little finger planted on the soundboard about 10% of the time John - usually for slow, deliberate pieces - most of the time it’s floating (I never pick with it). I am finding that finger of the soundboard increases tension which can move up the arm, I am trying my best to not do it at the moment.
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Post by jangarrack on Nov 8, 2018 11:22:29 GMT
I am definitely one of those people who has suffered from tension when playing, particularly in front of anyone or even sometimes when just making a conscious effort to play better. This not only put me off playing at times, but often resulted in discomfort and significant pain in my fingers, arms and shoulders. In my case it was mostly caused by my poor technique and playing posture both of which I feel I am making good progress to overcome through my lessons with jonnymosco. He was able to identify and correct me on so many of the bad playing habits I have accumulated over the years. The post is here if you want to read it. My guitar lessons and how they have helpedI agree with oustudent's comment, so never play with the little finger on the soundboard as for me it is very restrictive. There is already some really good advice and information provided by Gregg Hermetech, but hope my experience my be helpful as well.
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 8, 2018 12:00:56 GMT
I'll try keeping the pinky clear of the soundboard - I can see that that unnatural position would increase muscle / tendon / ligament tension - good point guys. The pain I'm getting is purely "inner elbow" if that makes sense - no hand or wrist pain, and the tension I'm alluding to is not audience related (unless you count my cactus). This is just an involuntary increased body tension brought about by some combination of concentration and "anticipation". I'm pretty certain too jangarrack that posture and technique are playing their part - in an axis of evil with old age....never had a lesson so I'll take a look at your thread with interest. Thanks for chipping in everyone - much appreciated. Peter
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Nov 8, 2018 12:06:45 GMT
It sounds like you may have tennis elbow. I got it I think due to excessive roller painting. It effected everything I used my right arm for. Exercises and heat treatment etc had no effect. It took over a year to get rid of and only then by injections. It came back after the first one but the second sorted it.
Phil
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 8, 2018 12:22:00 GMT
It sounds like you may have tennis elbow. I got it I think due to excessive roller painting. It effected everything I used my right arm for. Exercises and heat treatment etc had no effect. It took over a year to get rid of and only then by injections. It came back after the first one but the second sorted it. Phil Tennis elbow is exactly the sensation I'm thinking of Phil. I'll be trying out some of the stretches and hints suggested above but also need to get to a physio - hopefully it will be sorted quicker than yours was.
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Arm Pain
Nov 8, 2018 21:43:12 GMT
via mobile
Post by thejamsinger on Nov 8, 2018 21:43:12 GMT
Bleatoid I have suffered from pain in the elbow from time to time. I found lifting light weights helped. Providing I exercise with the weights regularly I don’t get the pain.
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 8, 2018 22:01:22 GMT
Thanks thejamsinger - that's interesting - I'm starting to wonder if this is an exercise / age thing. I tried Gregg Hermetech 's stretching exercises earlier today before playing, exactly as per the video, and I'm certain it helped - I was playing better, quicker, if you see what I mean (ie by warming up before playing rather than with the first couple of tunes), and was definitely less sore afterwards - I could straighten my arm without the usual amount of effort pretty quickly. It was interesting Gregg, when I did the extended arm upward finger stretches, I could feel the muscles / ligaments or whatever they are up my forearm, right to the point of the pain. Will keep it up and see how we get on - thanks again for the suggestions everyone. Peter
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