View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
jadickson Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 1294 Location: Raleigh, NC
|
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Matthew Anklan wrote: | Justin,
Is your posture, especially neck position, different when playing trumpet vs. euphonium? Many of us tend to lower our heads to the trumpet rather than keep our head aligned over our bodies and bring the trumpet up to it. I look forward to hearing back!
Best,
M |
I think this is a big part of it. I tend to have my head forward and down a lot, whether I’m playing trumpet or not. I’m trying to be a lot more conscious about it now. The pain doesn’t seem to occur so much when I remember to keep my head over my shoulders. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Matthew Anklan Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 1085 Location: Cincinnati
|
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
jadickson wrote: | Matthew Anklan wrote: | Justin,
Is your posture, especially neck position, different when playing trumpet vs. euphonium? Many of us tend to lower our heads to the trumpet rather than keep our head aligned over our bodies and bring the trumpet up to it. I look forward to hearing back!
Best,
M |
I think this is a big part of it. I tend to have my head forward and down a lot, whether I’m playing trumpet or not. I’m trying to be a lot more conscious about it now. The pain doesn’t seem to occur so much when I remember to keep my head over my shoulders. |
Interesting! Obviously some more healing is needed, but you have a place to start from on the trumpet. There are some seat cushions available that allow your spine to align more naturally; they have a cut out for your tail bone. This can help keep better upper body alignment. Without getting unnatural looking for feeling, keep your ears over your shoulders as you play.
Hope this helps some. Best of luck, and keep us in the loop with your progress as this is something many of us deal with. _________________ Matthew Anklan
www.matthewanklan.com |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Harry Hilgers Heavyweight Member
Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 637
|
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 9:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
jadickson wrote: |
I tend to have my head forward and down a lot, whether I’m playing trumpet or not. I’m trying to be a lot more conscious about it now. The pain doesn’t seem to occur so much when I remember to keep my head over my shoulders. |
BINGO!
That's exactly what my therapist said. He put me on specific neck and shoulder therapy exercises that I do daily and they are in fact working.
As has been said by other posters and as I suggested earlier SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
The neck and shoulder specialist that I saw and took the X-rays told me that if I had waited too much longer, the use of my left arm would be severely handicapped for the remainder of my born days and possibly loose the arm all together.
AGAIN SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
Then afterwards, when you are back in full business again, maybe you can do other TH forum users a favor and report back.
Good luck with it.
Harry.
PS Did I suggest that you should seek MEDICAL ATTENTION |
|
Back to top |
|
|
JWG Veteran Member
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 255
|
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 9:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have suffered from the pain of spinal degeneration for decades. I would have become severely disabled had I not made the decision over a dozen years ago to seek a great chiropractor and see him weekly.
So, here are my $0.02:
I recommend that you go through a dedicated process with a great chiropractor to (1) reduce the inflammation and pain that comes from nerves getting pinched between misaligned vertebrae (or other bones), then (2) do physical therapy to re-mold ligaments (i.e., soft tissue that connects bone to bone) to help align those vertebrae more permanently throughout the day, and, finally, (3) correct the misalignment that builds during each week to prevent pain flare-ups.
Presently, I pay $50 per week to live pain free without medication, and it requires about 1 hour per week of my time.
Pain flare-ups still occur occasionally, but my chiropractor allows me to go in ASAP after a flare-up to get realigned to take pressure of the affected nerve and to get pain management (whether cold, heat, massage, or lasers).
If nothing else, working with a chiropractor for over a dozen years has really helped me understand my body's limits, how to generally avoid pain flare-ups, and what to do when pain prevention fails.
Good Luck! _________________ Flip Oakes Wild Thing Bb and C with 1.5 TCC, XT, C, C-O, O, & L mouthpieces
Bach 183S (undersprung valves & straight taper pipe) with 1.5 Flip Oakes XF |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rothman Veteran Member
Joined: 23 Jan 2014 Posts: 326
|
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 1:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
One thing that's gotten some attention and more affordable the last few years are Inversion tables. Nice thing about having at home is that they enable mild traction, as a treatment for some types of back pain.
Not everyone cares to be inverted, but I've found that the neck tends to benefit from the action as well. Tables are in the range of $100 - $400 shipped. One or two hours to bolt and fasten. (Folding type = space saver). |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jadickson Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 1294 Location: Raleigh, NC
|
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just wanted to give an update in case anyone is reading this thread looking for help. Things have improved a lot, after making a few adjustments and starting some new habits.
I think the biggest thing is addressing posture issues. I really have the bad habit of playing with my head forward and down. I’m now trying really hard to play with my ears back over my shoulders instead of in front of my shoulders. Doing this makes everything immediately feel less physically stressful while I’m playing, so I know that’s at least a big part of the solution .
I’ve also done a lot of methodical stretching. And started on a light weight lifting routine. I mean really light, like 5 pound free weights.
But the posture correction seems like it has had the most impact. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2610 Location: Anacortes, WA
|
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 6:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
jadickson wrote: | Just wanted to give an update in case anyone is reading this thread looking for help. Things have improved a lot, after making a few adjustments and starting some new habits.
I think the biggest thing is addressing posture issues. I really have the bad habit of playing with my head forward and down. I’m now trying really hard to play with my ears back over my shoulders instead of in front of my shoulders. Doing this makes everything immediately feel less physically stressful while I’m playing, so I know that’s at least a big part of the solution .
I’ve also done a lot of methodical stretching. And started on a light weight lifting routine. I mean really light, like 5 pound free weights.
But the posture correction seems like it has had the most impact. |
That's fabulous news. Make sure you are doing a back rowing exercise to strengthen the muscles between the shoulder blades. Posture correction takes strength and getting the head and shoulders back is very important. Well done. _________________ Richard
Conn 22B Trumpet
York Eminence Model 4028 Cornet
1903 Conn The Wonder Cornet |
|
Back to top |
|
|
mafields627 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2001 Posts: 3774 Location: AL
|
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
The posture issue reminds me of what my previous chiropractor called "cell phone neck." The downward posture we use when looking at electronic devices straightens out the natural curve in our neck. _________________ --Matt--
No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|