Double Bass Health Related Issues To Playing

Fergie Fulton

Fergie Fulton

Nov 22, 2008
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#1
2014 Up-date.
This is a thread about health aspects that could arise out of playing bass.
Because of the complex nature of such a thread it has be categorised in to main groups.
Under each heading you will find relevant information. Under some there are multiple links to provide a balanced view point of information.

If you are suffering any kind of health problems only a qualified medical professional after a face to face consultation and examination can give you a correct and beneficial diagnosis. This is merely a guide to those looking for information, its use and interpretation is the responsibility of the person using it.

It is presented in sections dealing with areas of the body and/related problems for ease of use.
The links, and the terminologies used, can be be used to help do a wider search on the web for other searching for more specific information.

This post is just a guide to information in the form of links.
These links may have links to other material, so please feel free to use them, but they are not endorsed, or reflect the views of myself or Talkbass.

If you want to discuss certain points that may be raised please start a new thread for more information.
If you need help to find a link or information please start a thread and an answer will be provided if available.

These links will be updated as more information becomes available as they are ever developing subjects.
If any links fail, or the information is not relevent anymore, please inform, so it can be modified or removed.

Some facts about hands, a quick introduction
www.eatonhand.com/hw/facts.htm
www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.12/mccarthy.html
http://youtu.be/6qG5Q2Zr1W4

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ( CTS )
www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/carpaltunnelsyndrome.htm
www.drlamb.com/ulnar_neuritis.htm
http://turner-white.com/pdf/hp_jul00_tinel.pdf
And in case you missed it the TB thread of Carpal Tunnel
www.talkbass.com/forum/f21/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-cts-info-922789/

Pinched nerve symptoms
www.spine-health.com/conditions/back-pain/spinal-cord-and-spinal-nerve-roots

The radial nerve explained
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_nerve
www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Radial-Nerve-Lesion-(C5-8).htm

The ulnar nerve explained
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulnar_nerve

Sciatic Pain
http://www.medicinenet.com/sciatica/article.htm

Nerve Flossing
http://youtu.be/7xi_yAWCqhI
http://spineinmind.com/nerveflossing/

Cubital Tunnel syndrome, sometimes mistaken for CTS as symptoms appear to be similar
http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/CubitalTunnelSyndrome.aspx

Tendonitis complaints
www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/tendon_disorders.html#_1_4

Trigger finger
www.mayoclinic.com/health/trigger-finger/DS00155

Dupuytrens Contracture
www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw009.htm

Swollen hands
www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/hand_swelling.htm
http://walking.about.com/cs/med/a/swollenhands.htm

Cold Hands/Poor Circulation
www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/cold-hands/basics/definition/sym-20050648
www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/raynauds.html

Rheumatism & Arthritis
www.avogel.co.uk/health/muscles-joints/rheumatism/
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
www.medicinenet.com/arthritis/article.htm
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/22/health/webmd/main5410401.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8310792.stm

Bony lumps on the fingers (nodes)
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/...your-joints/why-do-joints-become-damaged.aspx

Neck pain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiplash_(medicine)
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Neck-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Neck Stretches.
http://tranquilitycs.wordpress.com/...ck-stretches-to-relieve-neck-pain-and-stress/

Shoulder area
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001474/
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/impingement-syndrome
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00032

Back pain
www.backpainadvice.co.uk/
www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/upper_back_pain.php
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Back-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Back Stretches
www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/Backstretches.aspx

Varicose veins
www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/directory/v/varicose-veins

Hearing conditions.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hearing-impairment/Pages/Introduction.aspx
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tinnitus/Pages/Introduction.aspx
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Menieres-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/What-is-it.aspx
http://m.wikihow.com/Cure-Tinnitus

Problems with the eyes
www.webmd.boots.com/eye-health/guide/common-eye-problems
www.medicinenet.com/eye_strain/article.htm
http://vision.about.com/od/sportsvision/

In this section below some basic anatomical information needed to understand and make decisions about your health.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprioception
www.thomasjwestmusic.com/apps/blog/...ed-proprioception-to-learn-and-memorize-music

Pain.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Pain/Pages/Longtermpain.aspx
http://www.britishpainsociety.org/patient_faq.htm#q1

Blisters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blister
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calluses
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Blisters/Pages/Treatment.aspx


Basic motor skills examination as a reference to what should happen in one.
edinfo.med.nyu.edu/courseware/neurosurgery/motor.html

Bones of the hand
www.infovisual.info/03/027_en.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpus

Muscle groups of the hand and arm
http://youtu.be/BTEjO6F1-vI

In this link you will find details of many Specialist Companies and Medical Facilities, please feel free to browse. None of these services are endorsed by TB or myself.
http://ww2.handuniversity.com
http://youtu.be/bbwV974mlJA
http://littleguitarworks.com
 
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#2
I've copied this extremely informative links thread to both the Jazz and Orchestral technique forums, so please don't report the double posting. I'll stick both, as they could potentially help a lot of people understand the mechanisms which enable us all to play and some common things that can go wrong with them.
 
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#4
I have shied away from upright for decades because of all my injuries to left elbow and hand as a child and young adult, even having a custom fanned-fret electric bass built to ease the elbow, wrist, dislocated thumb and cracked fingers. As I'm approaching the half-century mark, I'm going to digest these carefully to see if an upright may be in the cards after all. Thanks.
 
#5
25xTR.jpg


I have a gig in two days. Any ideas? Thanks.

Jeremy
 
#7
God this is a pain in the ass! I had a lot of blisters on my hands from drumming and the only real thing that cures this is time. But what i did was bandaging them and play. But im sure this wont worl for a base player but sou should get yourself a plaster on both of them.
If it doesnt work you habe to play with a plectrum...

Greets mike
 
#8
mitra said:
God this is a pain in the ass! I had a lot of blisters on my hands from drumming and the only real thing that cures this is time. But what i did was bandaging them and play. But im sure this wont worl for a base player but sou should get yourself a plaster on both of them.
If it doesnt work you habe to play with a plectrum...

Greets mike
Click to expand...
Doesn't work with Double Bass.
 
#10
Please forgive me if am posting in the wrong place, and if the mods want to move this it's okay.

I have read everything on the site I could find about arthritis and my question is whether switching from a 3/4 to a 1/2 size UB would help.

I have arthritis in the basal joint of my left thumb and my doctor recommends surgery, but he says it would leave me with less than 50% strength in that joint. That's about the strength I have now, but only with great pain.

Does anyone think that switching to a 1/2 size bass would alleviate, even temporarily, some of the pain?

I don't have access to a 1/2 size bass.

I have always played a 3/4, I play orchestral and jazz, and jazz was to be the bulk of my playing after I retire in 4 years.

Sorry for rambling like this, and if I asked in the wrong forum.
 
#12
Let me just say that a good preventative practice is to go to the new Reflexology/foot massage places. In the NY area for an hour massage you pay an average $28. They do the head/neck/shoulders/hands/arm/back also. I do this after a bunch of Upright gigs and feel that I am correcting the stress from playing the bass.
 
#13
sankey said:
Please forgive me if am posting in the wrong place, and if the mods want to move this it's okay.

I have read everything on the site I could find about arthritis and my question is whether switching from a 3/4 to a 1/2 size UB would help.

I have arthritis in the basal joint of my left thumb and my doctor recommends surgery, but he says it would leave me with less than 50% strength in that joint. That's about the strength I have now, but only with great pain.

Does anyone think that switching to a 1/2 size bass would alleviate, even temporarily, some of the pain?

I don't have access to a 1/2 size bass.

I have always played a 3/4, I play orchestral and jazz, and jazz was to be the bulk of my playing after I retire in 4 years.

Sorry for rambling like this, and if I asked in the wrong forum.
Click to expand...

First off, try playing with as little thumb pressure as possible. Use your arm to pull back strings into the fingerboard. A Laborie angled endpin helps with this.

A small bass with a shorter scale will mean that notes will be closer together. Experiment with the concept on your current bass (yes, you will sound out of tune but the idea is to see if you have less pain this way).

Make sure your strings are as low as possible and your fingerboard has little scoop. Also get some light strings such as solos tuned down. These adjustments should make your bass easier to play.
 
#15
A few months ago, I developed a pinched nerve in my neck. It seems to be especially aggravated by the motions of my right arm while playing the bass (I am right-handed). For the moment, I've had to retreat to the EBG. I'm curious to know if anyone else has faced a similar issue.
 
#16
Dr. Jake said:
A few months ago, I developed a pinched nerve in my neck. It seems to be especially aggravated by the motions of my right arm while playing the bass (I am right-handed). For the moment, I've had to retreat to the EBG. I'm curious to know if anyone else has faced a similar issue.
Click to expand...

Hi Dr.--

I think that one of the most important lines in Fergie's comprehensive and helpful post is this:
Fergie Fulton said:
If you are suffering any kind of health problems only a qualified medical professional after a face to face consultation and examination can give you a correct and beneficial diagnosis.
Click to expand...

No one here in internet land can really advise you properly beyond Fergie's statement. Please, for your own sake, seek medical advice and therapy if that's what's prescribed. Best not to mess with cervical issues, such as the one you describe.
 
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#17
I probably should have made clear that I was not really seeking medical advice. I've already been through diagnosis and treatment with my MD (I'm a Doctor of Philosophy, not Medicine). I'm simply curious to know how unique my situation is. Some complaints are common for bass players: carpal tunnel, rotator cuff, etc. I haven't heard another bass player discuss anything like what has happened to me, but thought it might be worth a shout to the forum.
 
#18
Dr. Jake said:
I probably should have made clear that I was not really seeking medical advice. I've already been through diagnosis and treatment with my MD (I'm a Doctor of Philosophy, not Medicine). I'm simply curious to know how unique my situation is. Some complaints are common for bass players: carpal tunnel, rotator cuff, etc. I haven't heard another bass player discuss anything like what has happened to me, but thought it might be worth a shout to the forum.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying. Perhaps others with more information will chime in about whether they've heard of your condition being associated with playing. Some injuries are easily tied to playing the instrument (mine sure was!)-- some not so much. Do you believe that playing contributed in any substantial way to the development of your condition? You are wise not to provoke the pain by continuing. I wish you the best and hope that it all resolves quickly for you.
 
#19
I have neck issues like yours. Mine is a consequence of joint degeneration /arthritis. I know you aren't asking, but I'll tell you anyway - regular doses of glucosamine and monthly visits to my chiropractor have made a huge difference. Most days it's a non issue anymore.
 
#20
David Jayne said:
I have neck issues like yours. Mine is a consequence of joint degeneration /arthritis. I know you aren't asking, but I'll tell you anyway - regular doses of glucosamine and monthly visits to my chiropractor have made a huge difference. Most days it's a non issue anymore.
Click to expand...
Dr. Jake reports having a "pinched nerve." That's quite different, of course, than what you report as the cause of your difficulty. The treatment approaches can be vastly different. Thank goodness he's already been through diagnosis and treatment. Best wishes to both of you! May you be pain-free.
 
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