Hey Kris!
Just Read somewhere in the forum that you've struggled with tendonitis?
I'm a bit worried now because I started to feel pain in my shoulder for about two days ago after an hour long alternatepicking exercise, and the pain just keeps getting worse. But the only time I feel the pain is when i play guitar. How did your tendonitis heal? was it by relaxing the arm or was it with medicine?
Maybe it's time for me to actually see an orthopedic specialist.

I think this is a topic that we need stickied or something, because it's something EVERYONE needs to know about.
I've had a ganglion cyst on my left wrist, RSI, and tendonitis and I'm only 19....all small cases, but painful and limiting none the less.
I was able to recognize what I was doing wrong in time and I haven't had to problem recently. (used to happen ever couple of months).
The ABSOLUTE KEY to playing ANY instrument (to doing anything, actually) is to relax, take it slow, and DO NOT STRAIN.
I didn't know Kris had a tendonitis problem at some stage....if you did, what did you do to recognize and fix it?
Cheers

Stickied!

To everyone - the following things can hurt you badly:

* Having bad posture

* Not warming up

* Playing without interruption for a very long time

If you are lucky your tendonitis heal (it took me 6 months without playing and treatment with a chiropractor). If you are unlucky you won't be able to play guitar again. EVER!!

As soon as you feel symptoms of pain - STOP PLAYING until the pain is gone. This can take weeks or even months but is definitely worth it if you compare to not ever being able to play again.

Also read this wiki article by Owen.

thanks for sticking this!
By the way, have you got any tips for improving posture?
Cheers

whilst I'm here....on the subject.
I HIGHLY recommend John Petrucci's warm-up routine in the Rock Discipline DVD, the stretches and massages are VERY effective...oh, and I also recommend carrying around some Deep Heat in your gig bag, in case of loooong jam sessions, recording sessions, or such

Some proper lessons on how to warm up would be cool. i tend to not warm up. i just jump into scales. slowly to start but i dont do many warm up exersices

Yes, definitely. When I think about it, I actually find it very surprising that Kris haven't already made a 101 lesson on this. He probably knows better than most people what it's all about.
I think it would be great if you did a lesson on this Kris, and it should be on the front page at all times imo!

man all this talk about tendonitis is kinda freaking me out

That's why we are speaking about it - to scare people so they won't hurt themselves!

So what is a good posture for sitting and one for standing..

As a learner we all know that looking at the fretboard is bad but its reality, its got to be looked at to learn to play the guitar..right?

Great topic!
My left hand was completely paralized for 24 hours just before a show...
Shots of cortizone helped and it healed, but be careful!

I've posted some useful links here:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_fo...amp;#entry85967


Still fighting with it 4 months later...

Man I'm really sorry to hear that....

Hope you heal up fast so you can get back to playing.

Thanks...
I am much better now but have to be VERY careful when playing, because it can get pretty painful. The good thing is I did so much research and tried so many things (treatments, supplements, etc.), that I managed to find what works for me.

Good! You should be fine in awhile, then
Good luck!
By the way, a note on health, seeing as this is what where talking about. Almost EVERY detriment to health can be related back to STRESS.
Stress is like the killer. It can enhance ANY sickness. Think to why buddhists and all those people are so healthy....because they know how to quiet their mind and just relax. Relaxing is so important to our health. Especially nowadays where we live in a world that doesn't stop nor sleep. Take time out often, and just chill.

Hey guys,

Playing for hours is great fun for sure and GMC get you hooked with loads of cool new lessons... this is all well and good but guitarists commonly have shoulder or forarm problems. As Kris said exercise is very important and I would reccomend that everyone try and do some basic shoulder exercises or streches at home or in a gym.

I am a big believer in personal fitness and i bodybuild. Even with low weight, you will notice a bid differance in your playing stamina and general fitness. Shoulder injuries are my biggest nightmare but good warm ups before playing and a small weekly regime will really bring great benefits. Here would be my reccomendation for low weight training,

shoulder press with 2 x 2.5 - 7.5 KG dumbells, 3 sets of 12 reps
deltroid plate raise 5 - 10 KG plate , for 12 reps
Tricep push downs, 12.5 KG, for 12 reps
bicep hammer curls, 2 x 5 KG dumbells, 3 sets of 12 reps

That once a week well really help build muscle in your arms and shoulders and hopefully prevent major and minor injuries.

Keep on Rockin Dudes

XX Jamesito XX

I'm the same way. Warm ups are definitely a priority for me now and to also take care of the slight pain/weakness in my wrist and very slightely in my elbow.

Well, when i play alternate picking i can play relaxed but only to a certain degree, then i start tensing my arm. I guess that's a bad thing. What can i do to get rid of that bad habit !

Sorry I know it's long but figured I'd share this.

My elbow started hurting me back in January of this year. I never knew I needed to warm up slowly. Being a self taught musician I listen and read alot but there is alot of knowledge I lack. From October until the beginning of January I played alot in a short period, more than I ever have. I started playing piano again after about 10 years of stopping and started collaberating with multiple musicians on the upper east coast. I worked between the hours of 12am-4 or 5am straight for those months writing and recording every night both guitar and piano parts. Needless to say I overworked my arms way too much. I will tell you all listen to Kris' advice about warming up and learn from my foolishness, tendonitis hurts. I was unable to pick up even paper holding my arm at certain angles, never mind play my guitar.........and that sucked! I finally took the shot in April after two months of useless therapy. There was immediate relief the following afternoon but I can tell my arm is not the same and I now have an airsoft brace to wear.

I started working my arm back slowly using Steve Vai's 10hr workout but obviosly I wont play it for 10hrs......he's a god I am a novice. It does has some great excersises though. Anyone interested should it check out

http://www.911tabs.com/link/?2337225

My issue is a few things - one is that I don't know the exact-correct guitar position for my wrist and how to sit when playing the guitar (I'm kind of new, forgive me if this is common knowledge).

I have a stool with no back, which may be the main reason - but when i'm looking at the frets as I play, I notice my back starts to feel like it's pulling and and neck gets pretty sore after just 30 minutes of playing. Additionally, I have had a broken rist in the past (non-guitar related) that did fully recover but I do not want to risk having it get torn up or constrict any bloodflow in the future due to improper positioning. Another reason why I'm concerned is that I am left handed (in writing) and have played one-handed Tennis for several years (shoulder, elbow, and wrist strain). So, in saying all of that I am wondering if anyone can provide me with the information I need to ensure that my wrist does not receive any more tension than it can take. I did read the Wiki but that didn't seem to address my concern.


Thanks!


PS: I'm sorry if this information was posted elsewhere.

Pretty scary how you can hurt yourself with anything, even a guitar! You can, after all, choke and die because of a teddy bear, or get rabies because of a little hamster. I'm afraid now.

I wonder if I might have some kind of injury, nothing severe, but still after I read this topic a couple of days ago, I've been a little cautious. I can feel a little pain sometimes in my left wrist (If that's what it's called in English), but if it is real or just placebo playing with me, I don't know Though I'll try to get to a doctor or something to be sure, haven't been playing guitar at all today just to be sure.

Allright, so yesterday my arm started cramping up from my elbow to my pinky. I think I've been exhausting the little man a bit too much lately. I feel better now, it doesn't hurt anymore when I type, but I'm still too scared to play the guitar! I really hate this. It's like every second I play counts and now I'm going to be out for a week.

How many days of rest would you recommend?

Until you don't feel any pain at all. This is serious stuff so be true to yourself!

I think this come a bit late, but could this happen with your both arms. When I say both arms I mean left and right, not both at the same time. Is it normal to get it in your swing arm or the other. Why I ask is because I got pain in my swing arm

I have a question about this subject. I easily get tired in my hands, and then I get a bit of pain in the muscles just like I would if I had been working out in a gym, I can see that it's perfectly normal. But my problem is, that happens like once a week for 3 days, so I can play for 4 days, then I feel pain for 3, etc. Can it have something to do with some injury, and what can I do to prevent that? I want to be able to play guitar professionally at some point in my life, so it feels like the way things are now won't work in the long run.

Any tips or thoughts or anything?