Too many musicians “push through the pain” leading to chronic pain. There are solutions, do not sabotage your playing because of this!
When
you read that athletes get injured, do you question their talent? No!
But unfortunately, talking about injuries or pain in classical music is
still a taboo... See yourself as an athlete, take care of your posture, movement, and diet. Reach out for help! Injuries primarily have a mechanical
cause. PREVENTION IS THE ANSWER, for yourself but also for your students
if you are a teacher.
During their studies/careers, most cellists have to deal with pain, injuries, or overuse syndrome. Cello playing requires a good use of muscles and joints in order to transmit of weight without too much effort.
5 most common pains encountered by cellists
Yes, you surely can! (and should...)
See yourself as an athlete. BIOMECHANICS is very much used and developed in sports.
Serratus anterior and triceps muscles are the most important muscles of your technique...
Advice to keep the tissue as healthy as possible:
Biomechanics
is a key area in the development of a cellist because all strokes, left
hand, and finger movements have a fundamental mechanical structure and
injuries primarily have a mechanical cause. OPTIMAL MOVEMENT = OPTIMAL TECHNIQUE & SOUND
You can take the biomechanics course with individual coachings.
Elbow
The tendons on the outside of the elbow used to make a fist with your hand. (too much grip!)
Injury of the tendons on the inside of the elbow used to rotate your arm and to flex your wrist
Shoulder
Tendons surrounding the muscles in your shoulder become inflamed or injured.
Wrist
De Quervain's tenosynovitis (overuse of the thumb and wrist)
If you do not find the cause of the pain, yes. And from the experience I have with cellists dealing with pain, the longer you wait, the longer it takes to recover.
When tendinitis becomes chronic, there may be restriction of motion of the joint due to scarring or narrowing of the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon (see tendinosis below).
There is no "easy fix" but do not think you will lose time, it is the opposite! You will get a stronger technique and better sound after the healing a rehab process.
Why biomechanics will improve my sound and technique?
Because you will learn:
It will improve:
Register now, choose a biomechanics course :)
Overuse syndrome or fatigue?
Overuse syndrome happens to professional cellists after an intensive and very demanding practice, recordings, competitions, or performance activity. In the best case, it will go away with rest, a lot of water, sometimes a diet, and good sleep. If your muscles are tired, listen to your pain, do not push... And be careful with pain killers! (anti-inflammatory drugs may inhibit the repair of collagen.)
What is a tendinosis?
Tendinosis is caused by chronic overuse of a tendon. The most common overuse tendinopathies in cellists involve the rotator cuff (shoulder joint), medial and lateral elbow epicondyles.
It can occur in cellists:
Unlike tendinitis, anti-inflammatory drugs are not recommended for treatment. They may inhibit the repair of collagen.
Most patients with overuse tendinopathies (about 80 percent) fully recover within three to six months, and outpatient treatment should consist of relative rest of the affected area, icing, and eccentric strengthening exercises. Although topical and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective for acute pain relief, these cannot be recommended in favor of other analgesics. *
References:
Categories: : biomechanics, posture