physical problems involved with drumming

filth and fury · 12-01-2004, 08:20 PM

hi, i've been hearing that there are many bad things that can happen to drummers if they dont take certain precautions. can someone tell me what i can do to keep myself from getting any physical problems from my drumming?

ex) sit up straight, get ear protection

Music rockS · 12-01-2004, 08:54 PM

MAKE SURE you are using proper technic. Not only will your playin suffer, but you bad tehcnic could lead to CTS. Something you dont want to get.

Win A Rabbit · 12-01-2004, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filth and fury

can someone tell me what i can do to keep myself from getting any physical problems from my drumming?

wrap yourself in foam. use soft sticks (preferrably foam) in the event of a flying stick. and for ear protection, you guessed it. foam.

l3n · 12-01-2004, 09:31 PM

Wear armour while playing. You'll definitely be 100% protected from flying sticks and flailing arms. Don't forget the astronaut's helmet too.

no. just be careful while playing. there is no set way. look out for yourself and hold your sticks properly.

sublimeisnice · 12-01-2004, 09:35 PM

sometimes when trying to play fast i get a sort of locked up feeling in my elbow(tennis elbow?) im assuming bad technique...using too much arm and being tense...anyone agree?

DruMMeR_BoY14 · 12-01-2004, 09:47 PM

use proper techinque, sit up straight, protect your eyes (something I don't do) espically at gigs.

RichHunt · 12-01-2004, 09:47 PM

Am I the only one who has never had muscle problems with his arms? I could play drums for hours.

filth and fury · 12-01-2004, 10:25 PM

i only get muscle problems in my right arm when im playing really hard.
so just...
1. sit up straight
2. wear ear protection
3. protect eyes
4.proper technique
5. foam

= happiness?

DruMMeR_BoY14 · 12-01-2004, 11:37 PM

and streching, can't beleive Iforgot that one. do soem arm streches before you play for long periods of time so you don't pull muscles.

to RichHunt: I hardly ever get joint or muscle problems with drumming, the worst thing I've done is cut my fingers on the hihat, but I've sorted that out.

Frankie-C! · 12-01-2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichHunt

Am I the only one who has never had muscle problems with his arms? I could play drums for hours.

What arms?

Drumming is a painful instrument. You're gonna get hurt, especially on cold days.

Ear protection is probably the most important precaution to take. You should wear earplugs/earmuffs at ALL times, whether practicing or gigging. Anybody who's in a band and doesn't wear ear protection is a fool.

CTS can also be an issue, but I don't know much about it.

DruMMeR_BoY14 · 12-02-2004, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Anybody who's in a band and doesn't wear ear protection is a fool.

Frankie-C! · 12-02-2004, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DruMMeR_BoY14

It's true.

Double Bass Jim · 12-02-2004, 12:24 AM

Actually you shouldnt be hurting yourself in anyway shape or form, If you've just picked up drums you may get "slightly" sore for working new muscle groups, Other then that there should be no physical pain whatsoever.

~~Josiah~~ · 12-02-2004, 12:27 AM

That's true.. it takes a rather lengthy amount of time to cause any amount of actual injury to yourself.

Hearing is important, you know when it's loud. If it's loud.. put ear plugs in.

The best bet is to get an instructor. Nothing will help you more then that, and you will learn 1,000 times faster with a good one.

~~Stalin~~ · 12-02-2004, 12:40 AM

I once got a cyst from a sudden increase in my playing. I had it lanced.

DruMMeR_BoY14 · 12-02-2004, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankie-C!

It's true.

I know it is, my drum teachers hearing has amost gone cus he didn;t wear any hearing protection, the thing I don't, I should invest in soem ear plugs or somehting.

Iron Turtle · 12-02-2004, 03:18 PM

Good question. As someone who has suffered Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from playing guitar and Tendonitis from drumming, I can tell you that it is much easier to avoid injury than to recover from it. You have already taken the first step to avoid injury - being aware that there are risks and being willing to learn what you need to do to minimize those risks. Here are some general tips that will reduce the probability of you sustaining an injury:

Warm up - drumming can be a very demanding physical activity. Like any such activity, you should give your body a chance to warm up and get the blood flowing to the muscles you will be using. You should learn techniques to stretch the muscles you will be using and also develop a warm-up routine involving relatively slow movements of those muscles. You should warm up for at least 15 minutes and I would recommend 30. This is a good opportunity to really hone your technique at the same time (I like to pick one rudiment and play very slowly for half an hour alternating between pairs of limbs, really focusing on technique.) Just as you see professional athletes warming up before a game, you should too.

Stay relaxed - this will allow blood to supply working tissues with needed nutrients. It is also a necessary condition for developing good technique. If you find yourself tensing up to play a particular part, it means that you have not yet developed the conditioning and/or control to play it. Stop. Slow it down. Practice it in a relaxed manner and gradually build up speed over time. I find it helpful to focus on breathing easily and naturally while playing as that ensures that I will stay relaxed.

Have patience - it can take a long time to gain control of and condition all of the muscles involved in a complex physical activity. Rest assured that you will get there - don't try to force it (doing so may yield more noticeable short-term results but will actually delay your long-term progress.) Also, build up to practicing for long periods - you wouldn't start a weight-lifting regimen by trying to press 500 lbs for 8 hours and you shouldn't start off trying to practice for extended periods either.

Take breaks - practicing for hours on end without break can lead to injury. Stop and take a break to get up and walk around, stretch and so forth for a few minutes every half hour or so.

Concentrate - pay attention to what you are doing. Actively focus on staying relaxed and maintaining good form. If your mind starts wandering, you should probably stop and take a break.

Develop your technique - developing strength is good, developing technique is better. Learn to use the most efficient motions to achieve results. This will drastically reduce the probability of injury.

Cool down - you wouldn't run a marathon and immediately stop and take a nap. Same deal here. A reverse of your warm up routine will work well. Don't forget to stretch.

Pay attention to what your body tells you - use your best judgement as to how often and how long you practice and how hard you push yourself. Allow yourself time to recover after intense practice sessions. Fatigue is good. Pain is not. If it hurts, you are doing something wrong. Stop. Assess the situation. Fix the problem before continuing.

Drink plenty of water - one of the reasons people sustain Repetitive Stress Injuries is due to high physical demands being placed on dehydrated tissues. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics (they will dehydrate you.) Drink water or gatorade-type drinks.

Use hearing protection - OK, I know it doesn't sound as good when you have plugs in your ear (or are wearing isolation phones.) But once you suffer hearing loss, it's gonna sound that crappy all the time. There are a number of organizations that have websites detailing the specifics of hearing loss (how long and how loud causes permanent loss and so forth.) Check these out and wear protection if you are going to exceed these limits. Don't forget that this applies to *all* situations where you are subjected to loud sounds (work, practice, rehearsal, gigs, concerts, etc.)

Now realistically, there will be times when you cannot adhere to some of these rules (you might not be able to warm up for an unexpected audition, you're not gonna get up and walk around every half hour during a gig, sometimes you want to down a few beers while jamming, etc.), but following them as much as possible will keep you healthy so that when you can't follow them you won't get injured.

Also, many people will tell you that such precautions are unnecessary and they play without observing any of them and it has never harmed them. These people most likely fall into one of the following categories:
- they are playing very simple, non-demanding material
- they never play for extended periods of time
- they haven't been playing very long
- they are freaks of nature who have an extraordinary ability to resist injury
- they have been very lucky so far but are on their way to sustaining a career-threatening injury
- they are unaware that they are following some of these rules.
- they are complete idiots
Don't count on being a freak of nature (even if you are, you'll get better results by following these tips.)

Oh yeah, don't forget that a good diet and regular cardiovascular activity (outside of drumming) will make you much healthier and able to recover from intense practice more quickly and will reduce the overall probability of sustaining injury.

I could go on all day long about this because I can tell you from personal experience that sustaining permanent loss of capabilty really, really, sucks. Don't risk it. Let me know if you have any questions. Later.

Fimbulwinter · 12-02-2004, 03:25 PM

^- Great post mate! Thanks for the info.

~~Josiah~~ · 12-02-2004, 03:43 PM

That was good info..

Iron Turtle.. have you under gone any of the sugical treatments for CTS?

Iron Turtle · 12-02-2004, 03:57 PM

If I remember correctly, surgical treatment of CTS consists of severing the transcarpal ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. This can result in complications which are worse than the original problem. And it is irreversible. So, no, I chose not to undergo surgical treatment. I've found that by following the guidelines I mentioned, I can manage the problem. I just can't really push myself like I used to.

Oh yeah, another tip that I use when playing guitar is to warm up by soaking my arms/hands in hot (but not too hot) water for a couple of minutes before regular warm up routine. It works great!! I also soak in ice water after long practice sessions to reduce swelling.

12-01-2004, 08:20 PM	#1
filth and fury Liberi is a sex god Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 775	physical problems involved with drumming hi, i've been hearing that there are many bad things that can happen to drummers if they dont take certain precautions. can someone tell me what i can do to keep myself from getting any physical problems from my drumming? ex) sit up straight, get ear protection

12-02-2004, 12:24 AM	#13
Double Bass Jim Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 7,698	Actually you shouldnt be hurting yourself in anyway shape or form, If you've just picked up drums you may get "slightly" sore for working new muscle groups, Other then that there should be no physical pain whatsoever.
	Digging: Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame

12-02-2004, 03:18 PM	#17
Iron Turtle Turtalitarian Regime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gainesville, Florida; USA Posts: 510	Good question. As someone who has suffered Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from playing guitar and Tendonitis from drumming, I can tell you that it is much easier to avoid injury than to recover from it. You have already taken the first step to avoid injury - being aware that there are risks and being willing to learn what you need to do to minimize those risks. Here are some general tips that will reduce the probability of you sustaining an injury: Warm up - drumming can be a very demanding physical activity. Like any such activity, you should give your body a chance to warm up and get the blood flowing to the muscles you will be using. You should learn techniques to stretch the muscles you will be using and also develop a warm-up routine involving relatively slow movements of those muscles. You should warm up for at least 15 minutes and I would recommend 30. This is a good opportunity to really hone your technique at the same time (I like to pick one rudiment and play very slowly for half an hour alternating between pairs of limbs, really focusing on technique.) Just as you see professional athletes warming up before a game, you should too. Stay relaxed - this will allow blood to supply working tissues with needed nutrients. It is also a necessary condition for developing good technique. If you find yourself tensing up to play a particular part, it means that you have not yet developed the conditioning and/or control to play it. Stop. Slow it down. Practice it in a relaxed manner and gradually build up speed over time. I find it helpful to focus on breathing easily and naturally while playing as that ensures that I will stay relaxed. Have patience - it can take a long time to gain control of and condition all of the muscles involved in a complex physical activity. Rest assured that you will get there - don't try to force it (doing so may yield more noticeable short-term results but will actually delay your long-term progress.) Also, build up to practicing for long periods - you wouldn't start a weight-lifting regimen by trying to press 500 lbs for 8 hours and you shouldn't start off trying to practice for extended periods either. Take breaks - practicing for hours on end without break can lead to injury. Stop and take a break to get up and walk around, stretch and so forth for a few minutes every half hour or so. Concentrate - pay attention to what you are doing. Actively focus on staying relaxed and maintaining good form. If your mind starts wandering, you should probably stop and take a break. Develop your technique - developing strength is good, developing technique is better. Learn to use the most efficient motions to achieve results. This will drastically reduce the probability of injury. Cool down - you wouldn't run a marathon and immediately stop and take a nap. Same deal here. A reverse of your warm up routine will work well. Don't forget to stretch. Pay attention to what your body tells you - use your best judgement as to how often and how long you practice and how hard you push yourself. Allow yourself time to recover after intense practice sessions. Fatigue is good. Pain is not. If it hurts, you are doing something wrong. Stop. Assess the situation. Fix the problem before continuing. Drink plenty of water - one of the reasons people sustain Repetitive Stress Injuries is due to high physical demands being placed on dehydrated tissues. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics (they will dehydrate you.) Drink water or gatorade-type drinks. Use hearing protection - OK, I know it doesn't sound as good when you have plugs in your ear (or are wearing isolation phones.) But once you suffer hearing loss, it's gonna sound that crappy all the time. There are a number of organizations that have websites detailing the specifics of hearing loss (how long and how loud causes permanent loss and so forth.) Check these out and wear protection if you are going to exceed these limits. Don't forget that this applies to all situations where you are subjected to loud sounds (work, practice, rehearsal, gigs, concerts, etc.) Now realistically, there will be times when you cannot adhere to some of these rules (you might not be able to warm up for an unexpected audition, you're not gonna get up and walk around every half hour during a gig, sometimes you want to down a few beers while jamming, etc.), but following them as much as possible will keep you healthy so that when you can't follow them you won't get injured. Also, many people will tell you that such precautions are unnecessary and they play without observing any of them and it has never harmed them. These people most likely fall into one of the following categories: - they are playing very simple, non-demanding material - they never play for extended periods of time - they haven't been playing very long - they are freaks of nature who have an extraordinary ability to resist injury - they have been very lucky so far but are on their way to sustaining a career-threatening injury - they are unaware that they are following some of these rules. - they are complete idiots Don't count on being a freak of nature (even if you are, you'll get better results by following these tips.) Oh yeah, don't forget that a good diet and regular cardiovascular activity (outside of drumming) will make you much healthier and able to recover from intense practice more quickly and will reduce the overall probability of sustaining injury. I could go on all day long about this because I can tell you from personal experience that sustaining permanent loss of capabilty really, really, sucks. Don't risk it. Let me know if you have any questions. Later. Last edited by Iron Turtle; 12-02-2004 at 03:22 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

12-01-2004, 08:54 PM	#2
Music rockS Stone Magnet Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,090	MAKE SURE you are using proper technic. Not only will your playin suffer, but you bad tehcnic could lead to CTS. Something you dont want to get.

12-01-2004, 09:31 PM	#4
l3n I'm back! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,565	Wear armour while playing. You'll definitely be 100% protected from flying sticks and flailing arms. Don't forget the astronaut's helmet too. no. just be careful while playing. there is no set way. look out for yourself and hold your sticks properly.

12-01-2004, 09:35 PM	#5
sublimeisnice Tell me that you love me. Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 975	sometimes when trying to play fast i get a sort of locked up feeling in my elbow(tennis elbow?) im assuming bad technique...using too much arm and being tense...anyone agree?

12-01-2004, 09:47 PM	#6
DruMMeR_BoY14 Can you kill the Devil? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 1,604	use proper techinque, sit up straight, protect your eyes (something I don't do) espically at gigs.

12-01-2004, 09:47 PM	#7
RichHunt Hmm.. Nice brushes. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Melbourne. Posts: 4,465	Am I the only one who has never had muscle problems with his arms? I could play drums for hours.

12-01-2004, 10:25 PM	#8
filth and fury Liberi is a sex god Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 775	i only get muscle problems in my right arm when im playing really hard. so just... 1. sit up straight 2. wear ear protection 3. protect eyes 4.proper technique 5. foam = happiness?

12-01-2004, 11:37 PM	#9
DruMMeR_BoY14 Can you kill the Devil? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 1,604	and streching, can't beleive Iforgot that one. do soem arm streches before you play for long periods of time so you don't pull muscles. to RichHunt: I hardly ever get joint or muscle problems with drumming, the worst thing I've done is cut my fingers on the hihat, but I've sorted that out.

12-02-2004, 12:27 AM	#14
~~Josiah~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: - The world of super advanced drumming. Posts: 19,914	That's true.. it takes a rather lengthy amount of time to cause any amount of actual injury to yourself. Hearing is important, you know when it's loud. If it's loud.. put ear plugs in. The best bet is to get an instructor. Nothing will help you more then that, and you will learn 1,000 times faster with a good one.

12-02-2004, 12:40 AM	#15
~~Stalin~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Where You Smell Fried Jew, I'm There Eating! Posts: 29	I once got a cyst from a sudden increase in my playing. I had it lanced.

12-02-2004, 03:25 PM	#18
Fimbulwinter Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 328	^- Great post mate! Thanks for the info.

12-02-2004, 03:43 PM	#19
~~Josiah~~ Banned Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: - The world of super advanced drumming. Posts: 19,914	That was good info.. Iron Turtle.. have you under gone any of the sugical treatments for CTS?

12-02-2004, 03:57 PM	#20
Iron Turtle Turtalitarian Regime Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gainesville, Florida; USA Posts: 510	If I remember correctly, surgical treatment of CTS consists of severing the transcarpal ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. This can result in complications which are worse than the original problem. And it is irreversible. So, no, I chose not to undergo surgical treatment. I've found that by following the guidelines I mentioned, I can manage the problem. I just can't really push myself like I used to. Oh yeah, another tip that I use when playing guitar is to warm up by soaking my arms/hands in hot (but not too hot) water for a couple of minutes before regular warm up routine. It works great!! I also soak in ice water after long practice sessions to reduce swelling.