Playing too much?

[Obelisk]

Little backgroud info... I play everyday, good few hours at least. Drums are always set up the same way, for the most part I never notice any difference.

Last couple of weeks, I've started to notice some specific muscles are sore the moring after playing, specifically on my back side, deep within my right cheek. It's kinda obvious that it's linked to my right leg (kick drum). In addition to this, my lower back will tighten up on occasion as well.

I haven't moved anything on the kit, nor added anything new recently (at least as recently as this started happening).

Anyone else experiance such ailments? Is it just that my body is getting older and can't take the abuse of playing as much as I do? The thing that stumps me is that I've been doing this routine of playing as much as I do for prolly a year and a half, and I'm only noticing this recently. Really I should be in awesome physical condition for playing drums. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Chrysler]

Have you hurt it doing something else by any chance? You might of hurt it not so long ago and not resting/lots of playing could making slow when its trying to heal.

[weed_makes_me_faster]

AGE... :lol: dunno... never happened to me...

[Obelisk]

No injuries as far as I know (except for busting the occasional nut).

[DxRocker]

Chrysler makes a valid point I believe.

Have you done some heavy lifting or something right before this started? Helped someone move? Painted some rooms? Work-related efforts maybe?

This could be cause by anything really and playing the drums could have made it just worse.

Another option is you not sitting up straight and after all this time, the back is starting to rebel and telling you to stop... It's not uncommon for back "injuries" (although this might not qualify for an injury) to slowly build up and only manifest itself after long periods of time.

I've had the same back in the days when I was playing tennis. My service totally screwed up my back and I was playing for more then 7 years VERY intensly (read: 2-3h a day next to intense physical training). After all those years, my back simply said: go lie down now for 3 weeks please... PRETTY PLEASE??? :lol:
So I did... Rested a lot and worked on new technique afterwards that was less stressing for my back and never had it again.

For starters, I'ld take a few days of if I was you.

[Josiah]

Getting lazy in posture, technique or both would be my guess. Do you have an instructor?

[Obelisk]

For starters, I'ld take a few days of if I was you.

lol - not an option. But you may be right regarding these things slowly building up. I'll consider, but my skeddy doesn't really allow me to take the time off. Good points though, thanks.


Getting lazy in posture, technique or both would be my guess. Do you have an instructor?

I'd have to say they are both getting better, I sit quite straight when I play, my technique (although not perfect), hasn't changed in 10 years or so - I can't see how it would cause discomfort in the past couple weeks. No, don't have an instructor - but I guess I f I had someone evaluate my playing, posture, technique - it may point in one direction or the other.

Thanks guys, gives me something to think about - maybe I'll let 'er go a couple more weeks and see if it doesn't subside.

[Talos]

I kind of have a problem similar but it might not be drum related, sometimes when I wake up in the mornings, if I press a certain part on my arm it really hurts.

Its like a weird pain, its in the top of arm, the bicep ( ? ) this happens quite often.

[ThugsRook]

maybe you need a better throne?


...you could sit on a PorkPie all day and never feel uncomfortable :thumb:

[440561]

I kind of have a problem similar but it might not be drum related, sometimes when I wake up in the mornings, if I press a certain part on my arm it really hurts.

Its like a weird pain, its in the top of arm, the bicep ( ? ) this happens quite often.

You sleep awkwardly. That happens to me sometimes whenever I wake up and my arm is twisted underneath me.

[MeaninglessPhoto]

I dont really have that pain but I sometimes get one in my hand by my thumb. But thats because I dont warm up or strech. Im stupid.

[Hoofer]

The physiotherapist I see occasionally says poor posture - particularly when sitting - is the cause of the vast majority of the "injuries" he deals with. He's also the regular physio for the local police force and he says they get most of their trouble from sitting - at a desk or in the car. It is something that can come out after many years of incorrect posture especially if you are , as you say "getting older". When I had neck trouble recently I got him to come to my office and check out how I sit at my desk and so on. Cost £30 for the consultation and no trouble since (although I had to work a bit on maintaining correct posture - still do). So perhaps an evaluation by a physio might be a better idea than a drum instructor ?? Just a thought.

[Josiah]

I'd have to say they are both getting better, I sit quite straight when I play, my technique (although not perfect), hasn't changed in 10 years or so - I can't see how it would cause discomfort in the past couple weeks. No, don't have an instructor - but I guess I f I had someone evaluate my playing, posture, technique - it may point in one direction or the other.

Thanks guys, gives me something to think about - maybe I'll let 'er go a couple more weeks and see if it doesn't subside.


I assure you, your technique has changed greatly over the last decade of you playing. That's just a given.

Mirrors are a HUGE help with these kind of things. It's often hard to watch yourself play. Head over to walmart and grab a couple larger cheap mirrors to put around so you can watch yourself while you play.

This is one of the best things a person can do when developing foot techniques or working on posture.

[santi3hg]

Mirrors are a HUGE help with these kind of things. It's often hard to watch yourself play. Head over to walmart and grab a couple larger cheap mirrors to put around so you can watch yourself while you play.

This is one of the best things a person can do when developing foot techniques or working on posture.

looking forward to trying that out

as for the pains you have, i can only really say it must do between posture and your daily activities in a day. with proper support your back muscles will start to give under the build ups of knots and acids. so id recomend stretching, and otehr back relieving exercises. or a massage thats always good!

[some jive turkey]

[QUOTE=Josiah]Head over to walmart and grab a couple larger cheap mirrors to put around so you can watch yourself while you play.
QUOTE]

You can get mirrors cheaply at a glass shop.
Walmart is evil.
*steps off soapbox*

but yeah, mirrors do help, it's strange, but they do.

[Obelisk]

The physiotherapist I see occasionally says poor posture - particularly when sitting - is the cause of the vast majority of the "injuries" he deals with. He's also the regular physio for the local police force and he says they get most of their trouble from sitting - at a desk or in the car. It is something that can come out after many years of incorrect posture especially if you are , as you say "getting older". When I had neck trouble recently I got him to come to my office and check out how I sit at my desk and so on. Cost £30 for the consultation and no trouble since (although I had to work a bit on maintaining correct posture - still do). So perhaps an evaluation by a physio might be a better idea than a drum instructor ?? Just a thought.

Hmm.. I sit at a computer almost all day, I can feel my wrist tightening from mousing around, maybe my posture here has something to do with what I've been feeling after playing.

Anyone have any experiance with thrones with back rests? I've kinda been opposed to them, as I can see myself using it while playing, and I think I'd prefer to let my body do the balancing. But maybe something to help?

Thanks again for your input. (everyone).

[motleydrummer]

id say check ur posture, ive gotten lazy at times and hunched and it starts to hurt that may be linked to it, if not idk

[ThisMustBeHeaven]

Mirrors are a HUGE help with these kind of things. It's often hard to watch yourself play. Head over to walmart and grab a couple larger cheap mirrors to put around so you can watch yourself while you play.

This is one of the best things a person can do when developing foot techniques or working on posture.

That's one of the best things you can do when you are working on anything technique-wise.

[Tillmon]

The thing that stumps me is that I've been doing this routine of playing as much as I do for prolly a year and a half, and I'm only noticing this recently.

Might be some type of CTS, although I've never heard of it anywhere besides the digits. Go to a doctor.

[Caleb_Pickering]

dont play as much for a few weeks. Also I've heard that acepuncture (sp?) does wonders for sore muscles and that it doesnt hurt at all.

[Mental Disorder]

I'm with tillman on this one...i'd say go to a doctor and hear it from an expert.

[Ellx]

Well, usually when you excercise you have to stretch, and since drumming is basically excercise, maybe stretching after playing could help.

[pyro1990]

happens to me all the time, all you have to do is go outside and jog every second day or so. your back problems should disappear in no time. as an added bonus, running is also really good double bass training if you have one.

[Zildjian]

consider a knee braise when playing...It will prevent alot of bad knee posture and he pain will stop

[Obelisk]

Well, I watched some video (I'll post when I can get it small enough) - my back looks pretty straight. So I dunno. When I get the video online I'll ring back here for an opinion.

Note, my back has been feeling a little better recently...

[Det_Nosnip]

Hmm...maybe it was something outside of drumming, then. Back problems are a bitch...that could come from anywhere, including the way you sleep at night.

[Obelisk]

Ya know Det, after load in and out at a gig last night (and my guitarist "dropping" a cabinet while I was holding the other side), I began to think that I may be associating back trouble with drumming, when I should be considering the abuse I put my body through carring around gear...

Maybe the jogging / exercise suggestion is something I should give more thought.

[styler]

your not managing your practice time efficiently, your dawdling around on your kit not taking care of your technique and posture.


just practice more efficiently.

[Chippy569]

stretch before and after playing... allow your muscles to warm up and cool down effectively. drumming is hard work, especially on your right leg and arms. A good stretching routine will do you good not just for your butt there, but also for your hands and wrists. google some good stretches :)

[Obelisk]

your dawdling around on your kit not taking care of your technique and posture.


just practice more efficiently.

Let me clarify, when I'm "practising", I'm doing it with a band. No dawdling - all business.

Can't wait to get the video from the weekend up, see how everyone thinks the posture / technique is.

[donteatpieontuesday]

your not managing your practice time efficiently, your dawdling around on your kit not taking care of your technique and posture.


just practice more efficiently.






i agree, that is the second most important thing apart from getting the beats right

[Sabian4015]

You should try getting a throne with a back on it. And a comfy one too. Pork Pie or Rock-n-sock. My youth pastor is 32 and he had back problems like you and he got a throne with a back on it and it helped him alot because it feels much more natural to sit up when you have a back on your throne than when you don't.

[Tyler3295]

You should try getting a throne with a back on it. And a comfy one too. Pork Pie or Rock-n-sock. My youth pastor is 32 and he had back problems like you and he got a throne with a back on it and it helped him alot because it feels much more natural to sit up when you have a back on your throne than when you don't.

Great idea, Roc-n-Soc thrones are great.

[jalel]

The majority of back problems are a result of weak abdominal muscles. Try training those muscles and see if that helps out.

[Tyler3295]

The majority of back problems are a result of weak abdominal muscles. Try training those muscles and see if that helps out.

Might be true b/c my back problem went away when i coincidencily started working my abs.

Btw...when i seen the thread title i was saying to myself..."You cant play too much."

[MatthewMeredith]

Great idea, Roc-n-Soc thrones are great.



Wow Tyler... That's quite the bump... Nearly a month.... I mean, wow


And yes, Roc-n-Socs are awesome :thumb:

[Tyler3295]

Whats quite a bump? A month for what?

[MatthewMeredith]

This thread was a month old and waaay back in the forum pages.... then you posted, and BAM!


bumped...


Not insulting or trying to be mean, I just found it funny :P

[Tyler3295]

oh, lol, i thought you were being a smart a$$

[Cocaberry]

What a fool.

You bumped it again. Just let this thread die and quit digging up old threads.

[Tyler3295]

fool? Is 3 days a bump?

[Obelisk]

The first post was in February.

I've been feeling good these days, really watching when I'm moving gear. Paying attention to try to strech / warm up before I play.

I actually played at an open jam the other day (really nice Ayotte 4-piece), the guy had a throne with a back rest - I tried to sit back, but really felt unnatural, the way I'm used to balancing myself on the pedals was way outta whack, no money for a new throne right now, but will consider one with a back rest when that day comes...