 with Dana Spellman |
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It's no secret that playing drums could possibly be the most physically taxing
of all the instruments. Because of this, drummers are predisposed to certain
injuries. Some drummers can play for decades with no pain. Unfortunately, this
does not hold true for everyone. Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tenosynovitis,
and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are just a few of the conditions some drummers are
faced with. Whether you are a novice or a professional, anyone can fall
victim to an injury at one time or another.
Today I'd like to talk a little about a condition called. Lateral Epicondylitis (or Tennis Elbow). This is probably the most common injury among drummers that I have treated in my eight years of working in physical therapy. What is Lateral Epicondylitis and what causes it?
For example: If someone continually hits a drum too hard, usually the first thing that can happen is the muscles responsible for fine motor skill in the hand and fingers have a hard time controlling the stick which can sometimes result in cramping in the palm or thumb. Sometimes this can change good technique to not so good technique. Next, because the stick cannot be properly controlled, sometimes the force of each hit on the drum is translated up the arm into the elbow, and sometimes even up to the shoulder. What is one to do? Well, the first thing to do is to recognize what is going on with your body while you are playing. If you start to feel cramping in the hand or tightness/pain in the elbows and forearms, change the velocity with which you are attacking the drumset or modify your technique. How to modify the technique is dependant on the technique you are using. If you do not have any residual symptoms when you stop playing, you may be alright. If you do have symptoms address them ASAP. How do I get rid of this injury? Usually the first step to treating the injury is to decrease the inflammation in the tendon. This can be done with anti-inflammatory medication and the application of ice to the affected area. Once the inflammation has subsided, therapeutic intervention such as massage, and a series of stretching and therapeutic exercises can be initiated. Although every case is different, on the average, it should not take more than a few weeks to remedy the problem (as long as you're a compliant patient) As with all injuries, I don't feel it's a wise move to self-diagnose yourself, so I would suggest contacting qualified personnel to address any injury. The best way to treat an injury is to prevent it. Muscles and tendons that are flexible and strong have less of a chance of being injured. Below are a couple of stretches and exercises that I have found useful in the prevention and treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis.
When exercising with weights, it is always wise to start with very light weight and gradually work up to heavier resistance.
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It is a condition that occurs in the proximal attachments of the wrist extensor muscle
group usually caused by a repetitive stress resulting in pain in the "outer" elbow
region. So what the heck does that mean. The repetitive nature of
"upstroke/downstroke" involves not only the wrist extensor and flexor muscle groups,
but also many other smaller muscles in the hand that are responsible for fine motor
movements of the hand and fingers. Things such as grip and technique used, how hard
or soft you play, posture and ergonomic set up of your kit are factors that should
be addressed to avoid or alleviate "Tennis Elbow".
