Holiday Inflammation And The Musician’s Body
Holiday Sugar, Inflammation, and Your Body How Christmas Treats Can Quietly Sabotage Your Playing longevity I know this seems trivial. Stupid even. But if it does, you are probably not suffering enough, or worried enough, to pay close attention to risk factors that are proven instigators of increased inflammation that may contribute to already existing problems. Eating too much at the holidays is not going to magically create arthritis in your fingers. Of course not. But if you have to play on the night after Christmas and your hands already hurt, watching how much you party may be a good idea. If you are worried about your ability to play 20 years from now, you may want to start being attentively proactive. For most musicians, pain and stiffness don’t come from one dramatic injury. They come from layers—practice load, sleep debt, stress, posture, travel, and yes, diet. The foods we eat can either reduce or increase inflammation throughout our bodies. The holidays add a unique layer that many musicians underestimate: a sudden spike in sugar, alcohol, and inflammatory behaviors piled on top of an already stressed nervous system. KABOOM – A heavy load of inflammation could mean an extended...
read moreMusicians and Arthritis: The difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis in the Hands, Fingers, and Neck Dr. Lou Jacobs – Musician Specialist – Portland, Maine What Musicians Need to Understand: Why Waiting Is a Bad Idea If you’re a musician dealing with finger stiffness, joint swelling, reduced range of motion, grip weakness, or neck pain that just doesn’t settle, arthritis is often part of the conversation. There are many types of arthritis. For musicians, confusing one type for another can lead to the wrong expectations, poor management, and unnecessary loss of function. That all translates into expensive pain and suffering. Let’s clarify what’s actually happening, and what you can do about it. Two Very Different Diagnoses: Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis Osteoarthritis (OA): Mechanical and Degenerative Osteoarthritis is the most common form seen in musicians’ hands and necks. What it is: Gradual cartilage wear and joint surface changes Often asymmetric (worse on one side) Related to cumulative mechanical stress over time Common in finger joints, thumb base, and cervical spine What musicians notice: Stiffness after playing or in the morning Reduced finger independence Pain in cooler more damp weather Grinding, clicking, or loss of smooth motion Neck stiffness that affects hand coordination OA is not about “aging.” It’s about...
read moreHand got the blues? Musician Hand and finger injuries: Cause, Perpetuation, Solution.
Hand Pain, Stiffness, or Numb Fingers? ~Dr. Lou Jacobs – Musician and Performing Artist Specialist – Portland, Maine In my musician specialty practice here in Portland, we see a lot of hand and wrist issues that are attributed by the musician, to playing. While this post covers the hand and fingers, future posts will be more specific to fingers. Many times your music is a heavy contributor, and other times it’s just a small piece of what is creating the aches and pains in the hands. As I say in nearly every post, just because you have an activity that is easy to blame for your aches and pains, doesn’t mean that it’s the sole contributor. If you can uncover other activities that also contribute, and then correct them, you can leave your music alone, continue to play the way you like, and without the risk or injury. Sometimes…. Why Musicians Shouldn’t “Wait It Out” If you’re a musician dealing with hand pain, stiffness, weakness, tingling, or reduced sensation, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. These symptoms are common among instrumentalists, but they’re rarely caused by just playing music. Here’s the part most musicians miss:Your instrument may trigger...
read more“Insured” Doesn’t Mean “Covered” – Health Insurance in Maine.
“Insured” Doesn’t Mean “Covered” … And Definitely Doesn’t Mean “Cared For” ~Dr. Lou Jacobs Why so many Americans feel like they bought a health plan but got an unusable coupon book instead. Most Americans shop for health insurance the way they shop for a winter coat:“Does it look decent? Is it “technically”functional? Will it keep me alive in February?” Unfortunately, the health-insurance version of this coat often shows up thin, overpriced, and full of strategic holes that the wind – your medical bills – blow right through. Let’s clarify something that I believe the industry doesn’t care that you ever understand: 1. Being Insured ≠ Having Coverage You can absolutely be insured and still effectively uninsured. If your deductible is the size of a used 2014 Mini Cooper, around $8,000…If your copay makes you sweat before you even step into an office… If you are absolutely compelled to ask about prices before you make an appointment… If your policy excludes everything short of emergency limb reattachment… Congratulations! You’re “insured.”Just not covered. Insurance companies excel at this trick: they sell protection while designing contracts that make it remarkably difficult for that protection to ever activate. My health insurance for four...
read moreMusicians and Snow Removal!
Snow Removal Among Musicians Is A Legitimate Risk For Injury …Or a good way to get stronger. ~Dr. Lou Jacobs – Portland, Maine When winter hits Maine, musicians sometimes underestimate how much snow removal can sabotage their ability to practice, perform, or even hold their instrument without pain. Whether you play violin, guitar, bass, drums, brass, woodwind, or keys, snow-day chores can load stress directly onto the same structures you rely on to play. Here’s how the most common winter tasks create problems, and what you can do to reduce the risks. 1. Shoveling: The Perfect Storm for Wrist, Shoulder, and Low-Back Strain The problem:Shoveling combines bending, twisting, gripping, and lifting—exactly the motions that aggravate picking-hand wrist tendons (important for guitarists, bassists, and drummers), bow-arm shoulders (string players), and lumbar discs (all instrumentalists)(See biomechanical evidence on increased spinal compression: Norman et al., Clin Biomech, 1998). Also, don’t underestimate the risk of a fall. Watch this! Do it safer: Use a smaller shovel to reduce load. Keep hands wider apart to reduce wrist torque. Push snow more than you lift it. Take micro-breaks every 5–7 minutes (for 30 – 60 seconds.) 2. Roof Raking: A Hidden Trap for Neck, Shoulders,...
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