Wrist injury friendly basses

C

CircleOfCrows

Mar 28, 2013
187
34
4,531
Australia
#1
Recently I've broken my wrist.
Have lost approximately 40% movement back and forth. And approximately 60% side to side. Not currently able to play, nor trying to while the healing process takes effect. It's my left (fretting) hand.

So I'm looking at what options I have if things dont recover.
I'm aware of the Torzel twist bass + fanned fret options like Dingwell. Even short scale being a possible avenue to explore. Any experience with these in the context of loss of movement? Any thoughts on solutions or recommendations?

I'm about 2 months in. It may come right. It may improve. It may need surgery. Really just looking at the "what if" outside a full recovery at this stage.
 
#4
CircleOfCrows said:
Recently I've broken my wrist.
Have lost approximately 40% movement back and forth. And approximately 60% side to side. Not currently able to play, nor trying to while the healing process takes effect. It's my left (fretting) hand.

So I'm looking at what options I have if things dont recover.
I'm aware of the Torzel twist bass + fanned fret options like Dingwell. Even short scale being a possible avenue to explore. Any experience with these in the context of loss of movement? Any thoughts on solutions or recommendations?

I'm about 2 months in. It may come right. It may improve. It may need surgery. Really just looking at the "what if" outside a full recovery at this stage.
Click to expand...

Hello. In addition to changing ergonomics (the bass and how you wear it or play it seated), review and improve your technique. Though not for the reason you want, now is the perfect time to get and keep your fretting wrist and hand straight and relaxed, with a gentle curve in the fretting fingers. It's an ideal, but the closer you get to achieving it, the less wrist motion range you will need anyway.

Almost 20 years ago, I broke my left wrist in a minor motorcycle accident. When they removed the cast after three months(?), I cried because my wrist and hand were atrophied. And there I was ready to get right back on the horse! But eventually I did get back on, until years later the only lasting effect of the break is a "trick wrist" that pops occasionally or when I make it. Hang in there and do what the doctors tell you to. Good luck with your recovery!
 
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#7
Torzal basses... maybe ?
Torzal Natural Twist Bass | Facebook

13710615_10153551889347331_4846114480276314871_o.jpg
 
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#8
CircleOfCrows said:
Recently I've broken my wrist.
Have lost approximately 40% movement back and forth. And approximately 60% side to side. Not currently able to play, nor trying to while the healing process takes effect. It's my left (fretting) hand.

So I'm looking at what options I have if things dont recover.
I'm aware of the Torzel twist bass + fanned fret options like Dingwell. Even short scale being a possible avenue to explore. Any experience with these in the context of loss of movement? Any thoughts on solutions or recommendations?

I'm about 2 months in. It may come right. It may improve. It may need surgery. Really just looking at the "what if" outside a full recovery at this stage.
Click to expand...

I may not have a bass to recommend, but as someone who works in the massage and soft-tissues field (specializing in neuromuscular therapy and pain management), I'm hoping you have a good relationship with a decent physical therapist. It may be antagonistic at times, what with the occasionally painful exercises they can put one through, but it's their job to "re-break" your body into proper function…kinda like how an improperly healed fracture will have to be re-broken and re-set.

Chart your progress to see if you're getting any tangible results. It's also possible you might need follow-up care by someone in my field to deal with lingering pain/trigger points and soft tissue rehabilitation. I'm probably half-a-world-away, but feel free to hit me up with questions or advice.

One last thing…if you do need surgery, don't have someone like me work on your wrist for a minimum of six to eight weeks and then only with your doctor's approval. It's important for a therapist to know what kind of hardware has been added so they don't injure you further and set back your recovery and rehabilitation.

peace-sign-smiley-emoticon_zpspdcsbvya.gif
 
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#10
Snaxster said:
Hello. In addition to changing ergonomics (the bass and how you wear it or play it seated), review and improve your technique. Though not for the reason you want, now is the perfect time to get and keep your fretting wrist and hand straight and relaxed, with a gentle curve in the fretting fingers. It's an ideal, but the closer you get to achieving it, the less wrist motion range you will need anyway.

Almost 20 years ago, I broke my left wrist in a minor motorcycle accident. When they removed the cast after three months(?), I cried because my wrist and hand were atrophied. And there I was ready to get right back on the horse! But eventually I did get back on, until years later the only lasting effect of the break is a "trick wrist" that pops occasionally or when I make it. Hang in there and do what the doctors tell you to. Good luck with your recovery!
Click to expand...

To be fair technique wise I'm relatively comfortable with where I am (read was) at. Been hyper concious of it for a long time. If anything I am going to have to adjust my technique and maybe style to newer limitations. Hopefully these are temporary.
 
#11
gebass6 said:
Have you treid playing with the neck pointed at 45 degrees?
This way your wrist will stay staight.Elbow up and out.
(I'm assuming it's your fretting hand wrist)
Click to expand...
Yes fretting hand. Essentially this is doable. But limiting. Lost a lot of strength on my little finger + independence in general. Adjustment in technique is going to be part of it moving forward. Choice of instrument will play into it.
 
#12
Malak the Mad said:
I may not have a bass to recommend, but as someone who works in the massage and soft-tissues field (specializing in neuromuscular therapy and pain management), I'm hoping you have a good relationship with a decent physical therapist. It may be antagonistic at times, what with the occasionally painful exercises they can put one through, but it's their job to "re-break" your body into proper function…kinda like how an improperly healed fracture will have to be re-broken and re-set.

Chart your progress to see if you're getting any tangible results. It's also possible you might need follow-up care by someone in my field to deal with lingering pain/trigger points and soft tissue rehabilitation. I'm probably half-a-world-away, but feel free to hit me up with questions or advice.

One last thing…if you do need surgery, don't have someone like me work on your wrist for a minimum of six to eight weeks and then only with your doctor's approval. It's important for a therapist to know what kind of hardware has been added so they don't injure you further and set back your recovery and rehabilitation.

peace-sign-smiley-emoticon_zpspdcsbvya.gif
Click to expand...
I have no issue with the pain. If i can get to the calibre I was at as a player I am happy. If that means working with pain or having pain as I play I have no issue. Motion and long term lack of damage is my greater concern. If you are okay with me messaging directly, I'd be keen to get some pointers on what I should be looking at. Be it motions to do (or avoid). Diet. Dos/don'ts. What ever aspect I need to look at to get out of this situation. As to half a world away, I am currently in Australia.

Dexterity is a massive part of my current projects. Death metal. Death/doom. Black metal. As far as musical projects. Scope of playing on a personal level os far broader.
 
#13
I've broken my left wrist (ulnar bone) three times. The last time, it was a hairline fracture, and I gigged EB and EUB on it for several weeks before realizing it wasn't just a sprain. Luckily, nothing came out of place, so I dropped the EUB gig and played EB with a splint on the wrist for about 5-6 months, because of the extra recovery time due to continuing to play. Still, my metacarpal area on that hand looks like a rock garden in X-rays, but the only adjustment I had to make for that was on DB, going in and out of heel position.

I didn't change from 34" scale, but I did give up the 40" scale for a time. ;)
 
#14
i've had wrist and shoulder issues, and i started off playing again when i could with a kala ubass due to it's ridiculously short scale, but those thick rubbery strings could be an issue; luckily for me they weren't.
short scales have served me well, not only because i didn't have to reach as far with my left arm but also because the right short scale bass can let you move the bass left or right on your lap if you play sitting down. i find the ibanez mikro with its 28.6" scale bass to be very comfortable to play, although the traveler TB-4P with its 32" scale is the most comfortable bass for me for my shoulders, elbows and wrists. YMMV.
 
#15
CircleOfCrows said:
I have no issue with the pain. If i can get to the calibre I was at as a player I am happy. If that means working with pain or having pain as I play I have no issue. Motion and long term lack of damage is my greater concern. If you are okay with me messaging directly, I'd be keen to get some pointers on what I should be looking at. Be it motions to do (or avoid). Diet. Dos/don'ts. What ever aspect I need to look at to get out of this situation. As to half a world away, I am currently in Australia.
Click to expand...

Please feel free to message me any time you like. All I hope is to be able to give some sound advice.

I'm glad to hear your particular issue isn't all about "pain". Instead, it sounds like a lot more focus would be towards "range of motion". But as far as living with and working through continuous, low-level pain goes, there's a bit of common sense I frequently direct towards my clients…"There is no sense carrying around that pain if you don't have to." ;)

Dexterity is a massive part of my current projects. Death metal. Death/doom. Black metal. As far as musical projects. Scope of playing on a personal level os far broader.
Click to expand...

Wow! Talk about "repetitive stress"!! :facepalm: :D
 
#16
I fractured my left scaphoid and badly sprained my right wrist almost exactly a year ago. What I did was:
* took a week or so off
* started re-learning my bass parts on keyboard (Trilogy plug-in), for the challenge and to keep active. At this point it was painful to move most fingers in most directions, but i could gently play single note lines with the sustain pedal. Played a few very bad sounding practices with that set-up. Interesting experiment. Kept me busy.
* Two or three weeks post injury I found that I could play a 5 string with a narrow neck. I could reach the E and B strings (to a certain extent) with most fingers except my pinky. This was on a Dingwall AB-II. I normally play a six string Dingwall but the width of the neck was too much with the cast. Several songs had to be taken out of our set I had to rework my parts on a few others. A short scale bass with a narrow neck probably would have been easier, but I didn't want to buy a bass.
* Six weeks post injury I actually played a gig with the cast on, a few days before getting it off. Not my best performance, but one I won't forget.

Whatever you do, be careful, listen to your body, stop if you hurt, and take the time to recover. Good luck!
 
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