Hand 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,...
read moreThanksgiving Preparation For Musicians – Don’t be a turkey!
This subject looks stupid, I know….but you still need to read it. Dr. Lou Jacobs, Chiropractor and Musician Specialist for over 23 years Thanksgiving is fun, loud, chaotic and full of movements that can quietly undermine your ability to play your instrument. Whether you’re a violinist in Portland, a guitarist in Biddeford, or a drummer sprinting between the stove and the dining room, the holiday can create sneaky strain patterns that mimic or worsen common playing-related injuries. This short guide connects the most common Thanksgiving-day tasks with the physical demands of musicianship, and offers safer, smarter ways to host without waking up the next morning unable to play. Silly sounding or not, these little things add up, and may affect your playing if things go south. 1. Setting the Table: Rotator Cuff Fatigue & Wrist Irritation Reaching forward repeatedly to place plates, glasses, and decorations strains the rotator cuff and small stabilizers around the shoulder blade. These are the same muscles that keep your bow arm steady or help support your picking, drumming or strumming hand(s). Risks for musicians: Shoulder fatigue that destabilizes fine motor control. Wrist extension strain from carrying stacks of plates. Neck tension from forward head posture....
read moreRESTRICTED: No Laundry For Musicians!
Are your lego socks really that dangerous? Laundry is one of those chores we all do on autopilot… until it flares an injury and suddenly makes playing your instrument uncomfortable, weak, or downright painful. Yup. It can happen. As a chiropractor who specializes in working with musicians, I see the same patterns again and again: ordinary movements become injury multipliers when your hands, shoulders, spine, and nervous system are already taxed by hours of practice or performance. This short guide will help you understand where laundry can go wrong—and how to keep your body resilient, steady, and ready to play. 1. The Laundry Basket: Hidden Enemy of the Upper Back & Hands The problem: Carrying heavy baskets (especially away from your body) strains the thoracic spine, neck, wrists, and elbows -common hotspots for guitarists, pianists, drummers, string players, and horn players. Why musicians should care:When you fatigue the postural muscles that support the shoulder girdle, your fine-motor precision decreases. That increases risk for: Tendon irritation in the picking or bowing hand Reduced grip endurance for drummers and bassists Neck tension that alters breath mechanics for wind players Safer option: Hold baskets close to your body. Make more light loads...
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