Conquer Guitar Playing Injuries Once and for All ★ Acoustic Tuesday 277

Imagine a world where carpal tunnel, aching shoulders, and back pain from playing simply vanished. Turns out you can make that world a reality with a few tweaks to your playing routine!

On today's episode, we're scaring off the pain gremlins with some tips, tricks, and pointers on preventing use injuries while playing guitar. Before I go any further, though, you need to know that I am not a doctor. If you want to try any of these physical exercises or stretches, please check with your physician first.

Poor posture, tension, and repetition are the trifecta of any overuse injury. Any combination of these causes can result in an injury that can set you back on your acoustic guitar journey. This episode will focus on injury prevention. Rather than diagnose any pain you may feel, I'll outline some basic steps to improve posture, reduce tension, and decrease overuse injury.

One of the easiest things you can do is incorporate stretching into your playing routine. Before you start playing, try taking a deep breath, rolling your shoulders back, stretching your neck, and trying one of the stretches I demonstrate for forearms — after you talk to your physician, of course.

We hold so much tension throughout the day. Let guitar playing be a moment you can check in with yourself. Deep breaths, light stretching, and relaxing can change how you play and improve your playing longevity.

Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!

Featured on this episode...

#acousticguitar #stretching
00:00 - Intro
04:47 - Stretching and posture 101
11:39 - Massaging Hacks
15:13 - TAC Stretching Course
15:33 - Acoustic Guitar News pt. 1
21:50 - Creative Catalysts
28:00 - TAC Guitar Lick Challenge
33:39 - Acoustic Guitar News pt. 2

[MichaelWatts]

Thanks for the shout out Tony! All the best from the U.K.!

[TommySG]

Hey Tony,
I’ve been lucky enough here to be able to practice so much more since I was able to retire @ the end of 2021 here and I found this to work for me. If and when I’m trying to learn something which is going to take me hours instead of minutes to learn I grab my electric guitar. I have two Martin acoustics and I love both of them, however it’s just so much easier playing a well set up electric guitar with nice low action and of course a neck profile which you prefer. Once I’ve learned the riff or the song or whatever it is I’m learning, then I will grab my acoustic at that point and perfect it on that.
Really dig your acoustic Tuesdays man, they’re always a lot of fun and thanks 🤟

[MashaT]

Thanks for a useful episode about avoiding guitar injuries, Tony! What you’re describing is not overkill whatsoever. Playing guitar requires flexibility, strength, and endurance. Injuries can and do happen to guitar players. I am glad you are addressing this important topic. Many people don’t consider this topic until they get Thunderstruck by an injury. Others ignore those nagging signs like discomfort, pain, swelling, and all that.

As a follow up to this topic, can you also make an episode that features exercises and equipment guitar players can use for building muscles? For instance, I am personally interested in beefing up the the drumstick area of my hand, fingers, and forearms. I find it tough to hold power chords through an entire song (more so on acoustic guitar, not surprisingly). That “drumstick” attached to my thumb, the fingers being used to hold the chord, and my forearm just seem to give out halfway through a song with a healthy dose of power chords. I also am starting to work on soloing, and it’s clear bending strings also require the use of the same muscles and strength. I usually stop to rest and stretch, but I haven’t seen drastic improvement since I’ve been playing power chords. I believe it’s just a matter of building the muscles in addition to stretching and taking breaks, but I don’t know what’s appropriate to beef up my thumb. What exercises are good for guitar players to build hand and arm muscles beyond stretching? Would you also say back and core exercises are useful? I know you’re not a medical professional— just asking guitar geek to guitar geek, of course.

By the way, it’s worth checking into using TENS AND NMES devices for home use, which are used for pain and activating muscles (sometimes passively, but usually in conjunction with exercise m. There are inexpensive devices sold in pharmacies and online, but anyone wanting to try these devices should consult with a doctor or physical therapist to learn how to place the electrodes and set them. Just another idea for people looking to investigate in some useful solutions to be the fittest guitar player out there while avoiding injuries!

Thanks so much, Tony . . . and everyone who chimes in with useful suggestions on the subject of avoiding guitar injuries and equipment to purchase.

[brendajeannewyche]

Yes. This is helpful. I will do the stretches. Thanks a lot.

[sunflowerhaze]

Thank you for addressing these things! As a massage therapist, I've had to do a lot of self care for my back, shoulders, arms, and hands. Already doing self care has made it easier to learn guitar. I'm not in pain from work, so I'm able to focus and enjoy playing. The Roleo is a cheaper version for arm massagers. And there is another one that looks like the dual handed one shown in the video, but much cheaper on amazon. Also I recommend getting the silicone hand strength training bands and circles/"donuts" (it's a set). Love the Theragun, but don't pay for the name brands. Those are great for building hand strength and flexibility. Love the Theragun, but don't pay for the name brands. My $70 amazon one works just as well as the $400 "theragun" we have at work.

We spend a lot of time on our phones and computers, we don't really work out our (back, forearm and hand) muscles much more than they are used to. But if we out train what we normally do, we'll have less injuries.
Just trying to help you save money for more gear. <3 "Play guitar and have fun".... Remember to stretch and move (walking is enough if that's all you can do) your body for life, not just for work or guitar, you'll feel better.

[heidih]

Appreciated the refresher on stretches and so on, and the new stuff that's been added (vs. the older TAC stretching mini-course) I'll add that sometimes a person needs to "take a break mid-session", or even "take a day or two off", when discomfort, stiffness or other issues start to develop. Awareness of the START of issues, and dealing with them through a short break or day or few off sure beats having to quit LONG TERM! :D Yes, I'm looking in the mirror when I say that! :D

[pieterharmse]

Thankyou. Stretch exercise are important to me. Never realised that one should apply it to prior to practicing. Thankyou for all the info. Also thankyou for including Brian from active melody

[jimiwills]

Hey Tony,

Always love the show!!! One of my favorite segments is always "Acoustic News you can use." I've discovered so many wonderful artists and albums from watching your show!!! Ariel Posen's new album is wonderful... Thanks for the tip!!!!

This week, I've got one for you. After reading an article in "Vintage Guitars" magazine, I decided to check out "Adventure-Us" by Mike Pachelli and Phil Keaggy. The back story of their friendship adds to the collaboration, but even without it, it's a truly brilliant and beautiful acoustic record. Hope you get the chance to give it a listen.. and maybe even review it!! 😀

Thanks for the 277! Keep 'em coming!!!

[gregsanders]

The streches help alot.
Great info, I try to stretch my fingers, hands, wrists every 30 minutes of playing guitar

[texhaines]

Great stretching exercises. I can add that to my group of attendees (average age 88+).

[thenumber]

Had problems with my "Drumstick" (thumb) muscle in the past. Fretting hand really hurt! Found that the problem went away when I switched to a modified V neck. Amazing how a small shape change made such a difference.

[texhaines]

The best advice I heard was to use a strap and stand up at times. It keeps the guitar neck at a good angle for barre chords My fretting hand had injuries before I started playing including broken fingers, knuckles, and webbing between fingers. Keyboards for work added trigger fingers, getting run over by a car added other issues. Stretching helps.

[ThonybeThony]

All of your Martin guitar honorable mentions made me pick up a few martins at the guitar center today and fell in love with the tone of a martin Koa GPC definitely would be a for sure buy but it was too big for me.

[myexperience_is]

A bit off topic but on the why you use a capo video I would like to know what brand capo you were using. I have just decided (67 years old) I love the sound of capos.

[johndill]

I encountered tricep pain just above the elbow when I was trying to learn how to strum fingerstyle with the hand (i.e. not with a pick), but with my thumb and hand nails. A downward strum uses the backs of your nails on the hand, and the up strum using your thumb nail in the reverse direction. You can add some wrist bumps on the guitar in between for some extra rhythm.

If I practice this repetitive motion for too long (in a section of a song for example), say 5-10 minutes, I get this sore upper elbow muscle sensitivity with the extra side effect that if I rest weight on my elbow, I get sharp pain. The pain eventually goes away if I don't practice the technique for a while (several days), so it's not permanent, but trying to learn some of the right hand modern fingerstyle strumming techniques and they don't always come with a warning label.

Can you build up endurance for this, or should I get off the train of using this technique?

[richardbudd]

Tony, you must be some kind of psychic - I've been playing a new song which is all barre and power chords, and it gives me thumb cramp in the 'drumstick' after about 30 seconds. This helps!!

[easelroberts]

I took the stretching course a week or 2 ago. Awareness seems to ge the key and, while not automatic, I think about stretching and so some before I play.

[paulherzog]

What type of seat or chair do you recommend sitting on? Thanks!

[ndoc]

Tony I would like to see an update on your guitarsenal .

[brendajeannewyche]

Yeah. I get pain in that thumb area on my fretting hand & my right shoulder.