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Posted by: sigma7 Mar 10 2009, 10:11 PM

Here we go again GMC, i have tendonitis again haha ... you guys are probably sick of my questions...neway, i got it again so obviously, i have problems practicing right. I dont know how, i sit up right, i drink water etc. I recently picked up a book and it said imuscle tension is a probable cause of most rsi. This leads to my question. How do you fix muscle tension in the fretting hand? I mean really, I dont know how it is possible. It is in the fretting arm, i.e. wrist, the fingers, behind the lbow, the tricep, the shoulder, and the neck. Can someone give me pointers or maybe pictures of exactly how to diminish (guitar lingo ) some muscle tension because now it is just ridiculous?

Again, what are some ways to relieve fretting arm muscle tension?

Im gonna go sulk, peace

Alex

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 10 2009, 11:11 PM

Alex I never had tendonaitis problems but if I got it continuously (like in your case) I would definitely go see doctor about it !

How long do you practice every day? How often do you take brakes ? What kind of things do you practice?

If you play technical things and go for speed, there is always a boarder until which you can go. If you keep pushing and pushing your muscles won't be able to take it !

I was taught at London Guitar Institute following thing - it might help you , I hope it will !

45 to 60 minute practice requires 10 to 15 minute brake ! During that brake drink water, walk around, stretch your body etc.

If you are practicing technique for hour or more, it is very important to start very slow with metronome and gradually build speed. In other words, you don't just start your practice session with 160bpm 16th notes and you do that for hour ! No way, your hands are not used to that it will burn up muscles in your left hand.


I always followed those advices and never had problem with muscles. I hope they will help you as well man !

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 12:19 AM

i already did see a doctor and he just dismissed it really, no physical therapist or anything...

i do a lot of stretches and always warm up before i play, i use a slow metrenome and take things very slow and patiently

that is why i am not doing something right when i play, i am building up tension in my arm which irritatyes the msucle which leads to tendonitis, but i have no idea how to shift my arm or hand to fix the problem of tension. Like say if i need to spread my fingers from 12 to 16 on the high e string. I would feel tension inmy left arm muscles but i dont know how to relieve those muscles.

BTW, this analysis is from a book call a guide to correct practice

i might have to quit if this persists

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 11 2009, 12:24 AM

It sounds like you are not playing right.

How are you sitting when you are playing ? Is your back arched , are you resting elbow of your left hand on your left leg ?
Those are also not good things to do !

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 12:54 AM

no i changed all that the first time i got it, i play classical position now so my left elbow cant be rested on my leg, for the most part my back is straight, not exactly arched, but i cant fix the muscle tension

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 11 2009, 12:56 AM

Thats really weird !

I keep my left hand under 90 degree angle almost all the time and it works for me.

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 12:58 AM

im gonna go shoot myself haha i just read if you get a fever and vomiting from tendonitis, you have an infection and need to go to the hospital, great i had that thursday, coincidence? haha... o well thanx for the help Pedja see you around in a while

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Mar 11 2009, 01:02 AM

Could you take a picture of your posture somehow?

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 11 2009, 01:04 AM

You welcome Alex just don't shoot yourself man !

Posted by: jer Mar 11 2009, 01:14 AM

maybe some video of your posture?

play standing for a while...

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 01:28 AM

QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Mar 10 2009, 07:02 PM)

Could you take a picture of your posture somehow?

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 11 2009, 01:33 AM

Ok I see what you are doing !
Try to put your left foot down on the floor to be same level like your right foot.
Put your guitar on your right foot lap. Your hand should now be straight angle and your wrist should not feel weird. Try it

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 01:45 AM

thats how i got tendonitis in the first place ahah, when i lay it flat, my elbow pushes against my ribs and makes it uncomfortable and irritated

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 11 2009, 01:46 AM

QUOTE (sigma7 @ Mar 11 2009, 01:45 AM)

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 01:48 AM

ughhhh poop im cursed

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 11 2009, 01:56 AM

Try to lower down the left leg a bit mate, I think you hold the fretting hand a bit to high. Just put it a bit more down, and focus on playing really really slow and without tension. Don't do wide stretches if you have tendonitis - it will only make your condition worse.

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 11 2009, 01:58 AM

ok, i better write all this down, do you think maybe i should try to switch style of music too because mainly all i pay are metal solos which are demanding, should i switch styles to light blues or rythym?

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Mar 11 2009, 03:03 AM

The only thing that I could add is that maybe you're putting too much strenght and press really hard the neck. I had a fried who had tendonitis because he pressed really really hard his thumb against the neck.
The solution to that problem could be this: when you practice put the volume really really high and put some headphones; you're gonna avoid playing really hard because other way it will bother your ears. I know is a drastic solution but I've got this advice from a teacher I use to have, a nice bebop player.
Find your balance and all will be allright.

I hope this helps a little

Posted by: vampire18 Mar 11 2009, 08:57 PM

i just got tendinitis and it sucks.
i play same posture as you. after trying everything from ibuprofen to changing posture to playing only chords i decided to just put the guitar in the garage for at least a week and not do anything too stressful with my arm. i think maybe you have tendinitis again because you maybe didn't let it completely heal.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 11 2009, 11:04 PM

QUOTE (sigma7 @ Mar 11 2009, 01:58 AM)

Posted by: sted Mar 12 2009, 10:15 AM

I would recommend two things mate, first if you are not already doing so, get some lessons from a qualified tutor who will (If they are any good) advise you on correct posture and exercises for playing correctly, this is the first thing my tutor looked at before he would teach me anything!
Secondly I would consult a specialist such as an osteopath, if you have a recurring problem chances are it cannot be cured but with correct treatment and advice (Dependant on the severity of the condition) you can reduce the effects on your playing dramatically, I had problems with my neck muscles going into spasm for no reason and the doctors just gave me anti-inflammatory medication, I had 4-5 visits to an osteopath and the symptoms have all but gone, just bear in mind this is treatment and prevention, not a cure, and you would need to follow their advice and probably need to keep up a treatment programme.
I know it sucks mate but it depends how serious you take your playing, the worse thing you can do is nothing as I assure you it will get worse! The guys on here all mean well but this is a guitar forum not a medical site and you need to get the proper advice mate.

Posted by: TheOldOnes Mar 23 2009, 01:11 PM

Just saw this post - I had some problems with tendonitis last fall and taking off 3 weeks helped a bit but as much as I liked. I ended up changing some of the limits I set for myself and the tendinitis just went away soon after.

What I found myself doing when trying to learn a lesson was to reach speeds I was not ready for. For instance, if some lesson was 100bpm, I could, without many problems, reach 70% or 70bpm but if I really concentrated, I could reach 85 bpm. The problem with the extra speed was that I was really tensing up especially in difficult spots. That is why I developed the tendinitis (well pretty sure anyways). So what I decided to do was to play as fast as I could while still staying relaxed and anytime I started tensing too much, I would drop the bpm by 5 or more. I have recently gone back to see how I do many of those lessons I was working on last fall and voila! I play them now much faster than I ever could relaxed!

Remember, patience is a virtue.

Hope that helps!

Posted by: besip Mar 26 2009, 04:02 AM

you are lucky you know what you have i'm almsot 3 month out of guitar and i'm don't start resting yet becouse lot of doctor giving me diferent opinion what i'm have and everybody recomendet me diferent expensive tests