Hey guys, been having some issues with my left hand a while now. Went to the doctor today and it isn't too bad just need to rest my arm a short while. (the problem apparently isn't really my hand but probably a muscle in the arm has become swollen and is pinching a nerve).

Anyhoo, was freaking out about feeling weird in my hand and read some posts here and on other places about injuries, stretching the hands, warming up etc.

I do always stretch and warm up when picking up the guitar, however quite a few people seemed to think "cooling down" was a good idea. How do I do that on guitar? I mean should I end with playing easier stuff? stretch when I put the guitar down?

What's your thoughts?

Cool-downs are good for physical sports because your muscles build up acid from all the physical exersion faster than your system can get rid of it. That's one cause of sore muscles after a hard workout. The idea is to keep the circulation going without exerting the kind of rigor that builds up the acid in the first place. I would ask your doctor for actual "advice" on methods for guitar. As a volleyball player, part of the cool down process was a light jog for 15 minutes, and if our practice spanned a day (day off), the day off was a 15 minute walk just to break a light sweat.

Another thing to consider would be making sure your warm-up exercises don't involve string bends, and actually doing swift and light chromatic scales (1/2 step) so you're not spanning frets and stretching your hand prior to being warmed up. Warm up for 5 or so minutes doing very light work, then step away for 5 minutes before starting up again - that gives your hand a chance to relax while the chemicals sent thru your circulatory system telling your heart and muscles to gear up for a workout have a chance to respond. My father had a heart transplant so I learned a bit how the heart gets its signals to speed up or slow down from the chemicals in the blood since there are no nerve attachments to the heart anylonger.

But disclaimer as always: consult your physician and take his/her advice so I don't sued for malpractice

-- edit -- oh, and eat a banana a day-they're potassium rich muscle food! ask any monkey, he'll agree.

Thanks for the input Jamsalot!
And ofcourse we should all eat a banana a day!

it's always good to do stretches after you play, pulling back your fingers GENTLY, and then forwards, and a little massage in the palm,

I saw that exercise for type writers and they said it was great for musicians too

Great post!

You can also check Petrucci's warm-up exercises from Rock Discipline where he stretches his hands and does little massages

Yeah as I said, I already do this stuff _before_ I start playing, wasn't sure if it did any good doing the exercises after playing but i'll try it out!

I eat a banana after the gym, they are good muscle food to pervent lost after extreme exercising. I would agree with that too if your been shreding your heart out of the guitar!

I would do as the doctor ordered? Rest my arm a short while, take it easy on the overall playing till it comes right, then go hard again till something breaks!

I'm very fond of bananas, but okay. Never thought about this stuff.

Maybe you're straining when you play, it is good to get proper playing habits.
Like, from time to time tell to your self(during fast passage) "Can this be played with less tension?"
I always do it, and usually I am surprised that I don't need to put lot effort into fast passages, just to play more intelligently.

Have you heard about the Alexander Technique? If not, I really recommend to check it out. I haven´t tried it out myself yet, but it looks interesting and is being taught at the ICMP in London.
http://www.icmp.uk.com/alexandertechnique-...ar&bass.pdf

Yeah, Alexandar technique, I read book about that. Apparently it isn't about finger, arms, it's about how we use are whole body, posture etc.