Comments on: Living with Finger Joint Pain: Guitar & Osteoarthritis http://www.22frets.com/2010/01/living-with-finger-joint-pain-guitar-osteoarthritis/ My Life in Six Strings Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:07:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: frets http://www.22frets.com/2010/01/living-with-finger-joint-pain-guitar-osteoarthritis/comment-page-1/#comment-382 frets Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:19:12 +0000 http://www.22frets.com/?p=79#comment-382 Thanks, JP! This is all great advice. I was just thinking about a follow-up post, so this is very timely. Thanks, JP! This is all great advice. I was just thinking about a follow-up post, so this is very timely.

]]> By: Stratoblogster http://www.22frets.com/2010/01/living-with-finger-joint-pain-guitar-osteoarthritis/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Stratoblogster Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:11:09 +0000 http://www.22frets.com/?p=79#comment-380 I strongly recommend the cal-mag products produced by Peter Gilham, and available in many health supplement stores or online. Gilham's formula is designed to be assimilated, whereas many cal-mag products are not absorbed very well. Also check out the homeopathic formula Rhus Toxicodendron produced by any maker of homeopathic products. Boiron is a good brand. Here's a good resource site for guitar players: http://www.elutherie.org/repetitive-strain-injury/ Shorten that strap if you're playing it slung low. And say no to drugs! Even Advil is simply a shot gun mask of the nervous system. You want to restore communication, not shut it down. The Healthy Hands, Wrists & Forearms thing is great! Try to relax and breath when playing guitar. Fretting hand pressures and tensions should have less relationship to the attitude and aggressive nature of rocking out. In other words, Townshend's windmills, grimacing guitar faces and such are theatrics expressing the emotion of the music-- not the actual effort required to play the instrument. When people confuse this, they employ excessive force playing the instrument. I get that you've been playing a very long time, and you're not unaware. Just re-look at your playing processes, stay loose, stay light and flow-- even if your sound and style are heavy and aggressive. Any effort beyond that necessary to fret, change, bend and vibrato is wasted energy and wear & tear on the body. Cheers! jp I strongly recommend the cal-mag products produced by Peter Gilham, and available in many health supplement stores or online. Gilham’s formula is designed to be assimilated, whereas many cal-mag products are not absorbed very well. Also check out the homeopathic formula Rhus Toxicodendron produced by any maker of homeopathic products. Boiron is a good brand.

Here’s a good resource site for guitar players:

http://www.elutherie.org/repetitive-strain-injury/

Shorten that strap if you’re playing it slung low.

And say no to drugs! Even Advil is simply a shot gun mask of the nervous system. You want to restore communication, not shut it down.

The Healthy Hands, Wrists & Forearms thing is great!

Try to relax and breath when playing guitar. Fretting hand pressures and tensions should have less relationship to the attitude and aggressive nature of rocking out. In other words, Townshend’s windmills, grimacing guitar faces and such are theatrics expressing the emotion of the music– not the actual effort required to play the instrument. When people confuse this, they employ excessive force playing the instrument.

I get that you’ve been playing a very long time, and you’re not unaware. Just re-look at your playing processes, stay loose, stay light and flow– even if your sound and style are heavy and aggressive. Any effort beyond that necessary to fret, change, bend and vibrato is wasted energy and wear & tear on the body.

Cheers!
jp

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