Any video tutorials on how to play to avoid injuring yourself?

[ginsambo]

I've got tennis elbow at the moment, think its something to do with the ligaments and playing guitar is killing me. I think the problem is I do these injuries at work shifting 500kg rocks about for waterfeatures and other heavy or worse still, repetitive landscaping stuff from which I get alot of repetitive strain injuries and the guitar seems to make them worse, well stretchy finger stuff like Hot for Teacher intros etc. does on my elbow and fast right hand picking causes my bicep to ache where it attaches at the bone for some reason, even though my arm is loose and I'm using my wrist.

I put far too much effort into my playing style and I know that technique is not suited to this faster, stretchy stuff. I can play it OK, just I burn out with aches and pains and cry mummy after about a half hour so my technique is crap I guess, my fingers are fine, like I said its currently just my left elbow or my right bicep, right on the ligaments and I am keeping my right arm loose and my left elbow close in.

I'm using Fender 1.14mm 352 Delrin picks at the moment, which are thin for me, but they cut above their weight and I like quite a high action.

Can anyone recommend any videos or guitarists out there that teach you efficient technique cause my elbow really hurts. I looked at a few and they really didn't suit me at all.

I know there is a secret because I see these skinny 10 year olds pulling off Malmsteen stuff. Should I get a few lessons to see what I am doing wrong? I know it sounds soft compared to these guys out there with terminal arthritis or teaching themselves to walk again

[Grim]

John Petrucci's Rock Discipline is perfect for this sorta thing

[ginsambo]

Cool Thanks.

[levantin]

[Argos]

Yo ginsambo:

You should look into the Alexander Technique. I have a degree in Guitar Performance, and my university actually employed an Alexander Technique teacher full time to be available for conservatory students. There are also quite a few book and websites that focus on musicians injuries and how to prevent them.

Best advice I can give to you right now is STOP PLAYING. Rest your arm for a few weeks while you do some reading. You don't want to end up with irreversible damage.

[Argos]

Oh and, if you'd like, post some video of you playing and I can help to diagnose your problem. Try and record from both a front angle, and from both sides.

[ginsambo]

Oh and, if you'd like, post some video of you playing and I can help to diagnose your problem. Try and record from both a front angle, and from both sides.

I might try and do something with a camera hooked up to the computer as I haven't got a camera phone. Might also do a Floyd Tom tonality comparison too if I can work out how to rig something up....why not Might put the matter to rest..as everyone throws poo at me

I appreciate that, thanks man!

[emperor_black]

I had severe tennis elbow pain as well a few months ago. Now its all but gone. THE best stretching a colleague at work (who is a gigging guitarist) taught me was to stretch your complete arm/shoulder and not just one part like finger or wrist. Its called the doorway stretch. Do these before and AFTER playing for maximum benefit. Also wear the tennis elbow brace. That helped me a lot as well.






Like Argos said, stop playing. Literally. That's what I did for a couple of months. And start again slowly. I used to play everyday at least an hour to two hours. Now, its an hour once every two days. I can see myself slowing getting back to my routine.

[mark123]

I got tennis elbow last year and the only thing that helped was one of those straps with the air bubble in it (the strap without the air bladder didn't work at all). It took the pain completely away but you really have to put it on tightly. It sort of adjusts the tension on the tendon or ligament or whatever tears away from the elbow toward the pressure point under the air bubble. It took about 6 months of wearing it but it eventually healed up.

[emperor_black]

I got tennis elbow last year and the only thing that helped was one of those straps with the air bubble in it (the strap without the air bladder didn't work at all). It took the pain completely away but you really have to put it on tightly. It sort of adjusts the tension on the tendon or ligament or whatever tears away from the elbow toward the pressure point under the air bubble. It took about 6 months of wearing it but it eventually healed up.

True. I still remember..I had got the wrong one, the elbow wrap and was wearing it for couple of weeks with no effect. Then I read about this on amazon and could not wait to try it out. I bought one in CVS pharmacy and when I put it on, immediately I felt free from the pain. From that day, healing truly started. I could not even lift a glass of water before then.

Get the one that looks like this

[horns666]

You could always wear gloves like George Lynch so you can look cool while you suck!

But I do 45 minutes of yoga ..then 4-5 minutes of playing.

[Iivari]

Try Powerball! It's a wrist excercise tool, I find it to be very good for warming up !