Drummers and Wrist Injuries Prevention and Treatment For decades, I have worked with drummers of all levels. Drummers experience various wrist issues, often related to the repetitive and forceful nature of drumming. There are other issues to tackle like back and neck pain, shoulder pain, etc., but this post is about wrists. Some common wrist problems include: Tendonitis: This is the inflammation of a tendon, which is the tissue that connects muscle to bone. Drummers can develop tendonitis in the wrist due to the repetitive motion of playing and the force exerted on the tendons. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Drummers who frequently grip drumsticks tightly may be at risk. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: This condition involves inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Drummers who use a lot of thumb movement, such as in traditional grip, may be more susceptible. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): This is a general term for conditions resulting from repetitive motion and overuse of certain muscles. Drummers can develop RSIs from the repetitive nature of drumming, affecting various parts of the...

Plantar Fasciitis Plantar fasciitis is a common foot condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes. This inflammation can cause pain and discomfort in the heel and arch of the foot, making it difficult to walk or engage in physical activity. Tiger woods left his most recent tournament because of plantar fasciitis pain. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis typically include: Pain in the heel or arch of the foot, especially when taking the first steps in the morning or after sitting for a long time Stiffness and tenderness in the foot Swelling in the foot Plantar fasciitis is commonly caused by overuse or repetitive stress on the plantar fascia. Activities that put a lot of pressure on the feet, such as running, jumping, or standing for long periods of time, can increase the risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Other risk factors include flat feet, high arches, obesity, and wearing shoes with poor arch support. Treatment for plantar fasciitis typically involves a combination of self-care measures and medical interventions. Some self-care measures...

What’s the deal with a percussion massage gun like the “theragun” or “Hypervolt?” A quality Percussion massage gun is an easy way to loosen muscles, reduce muscle and other soft tissue inflammation, and loosen connective tissue (fascia). Various activities, sports, and previous injuries may lead to soft tissue and fascia damage that is impacted very positively by percussive massage. By reducing tension, inflammation, and adhesions, rang of motion and flexibility are also positively affected. All of these combined, reduce pain, recuse soreness, and reduce stiffness. In addition to those effects, vibration of this type may help your metabolism, may help release trigger points (knots), and improve blood flow. Occasionally, people will feel sore, see redness or mild bruising afterward, but those are the few more common, albeit unusual side effects. So what Diagnoses are helped with a percussion or vibrational massage gun? Arthritis pain Back pain Soft tissue injuries like ligaments, tendons, or muscles Sprains and strains Post surgical tension, soreness and scarring Minor trauma to muscles. Some conditions develop over a long period of time, like arthritis, or with repetitive stress on the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body. Some of those types of injuries...

Do you want to try to feel better at home? Then get this SH*T done. Pain in nerves, muscles and joints plague the vast majority of Americans at one time or another. So if you are in pain, you are not alone. Most of our patients declare on their first visit that they’ve waited so long because they were trying to “get better on my own.” This is a great idea, IF you know what your problem is caused by, what needs to be done, how you execute the “fix”, for how long, in what quantity, etc. It can be complicated to the inexperienced home doctor. I do not advocate working on a problem at home until you know that it is safe to work on your ailment by yourself, or under the guidance of your doctor. That being said, many of us have had issues that feel familiar enough to not worry, and we just want to give it a couple more days. If you are certain that you are not dying, you are not feverish, paralyzed, or otherwise very compromised, try getting this S.H.I.T. done. S – Stretch H – Heat I – ICE T – Trigger...

Chiropractic and Acupuncture Under One Roof! So Much easier. What are the benefits of having chiropractic and acupuncture under one roof? The most time consuming part of doctor visits for most Mainers is driving to and from appointments and waiting once they get to the office. Rather than driving to a chiropractor, then across town for acupuncture, waiting in two places, and then paying in two locations, it is much more efficient to go to one location. You may  have a family, a job, a life. Time, quality time, is irreplaceable. Respecting your time should be a top priority of any office you go to. After all, you are seeking help to enjoy your life, not to hang out in your car or the doctors office. Time is your most valuable commodity, don’t waste it.   Don’t let others waste it either. Is there a benefit to having one doctor perform both services? What do you think? Having one person, licensed in both chiropractic and acupuncture, means that they can seamlessly integrate care holistically. They can also maximize the benefits of both for your specific needs. Do practitioners communicate about your case if they are in different offices? Sometimes,...

Piano Posture Causing Low Back Pain? If you play piano and your back hurts, there are reasons and solutions that are important to your future. You’ve learned to sit up straight on a flat wooden bench. You have put in hundreds to thousands, to tens of thousands of hours of focused practice. Your back hurts during or after practice or performance and it’s starting to affect your ability to wash dishes, play with your kids, even sleep. At some point you have to think about your viability as a musician down the road. That’s why this blog exists for you. When you sit up straight on any surface, with extension in your low back and shoulders, you are compressing the joints of the low and mid back, increasing muscular tension in your low back. This combination is one of the leading causes of low back pain, temporary disability, and real trouble if you want to continue to play.  As joints of the spine continue to be “loaded” with stress and compression, arthritis and pain are the predictable outcome. We Were Not Designed To Sit All Day. In non musicians, low back pain remains the leading cause of disability in...

AMATEUR MUSICIANS AND COMPLAINTS OF THE ARMS, NECK, AND SHOULDERS (CANS) A study published in 2017 evaluated amateur musicians and complaints of the arms, neck, and shoulders (CANS). The only relevant observations were in amateur musicians who played with an “elevated arm,” which was most often the left arm. When compared to a neutral left arm position, those with an elevated left arm, had more complaints in the arm, neck and shoulders. The amount of time playing appeared to be much less relevant than the left arm position in causing musician injuries. Who may be affected? Amateur musicians playing string instruments like violin, viola, upright bass, guitar, and bass would be most obvious. Horn players with elevated arms may also be affected. The repetitive motion of string instruments, combined with moving up and down the neck of the instrument, poses real challenges for any serious musician. Playing Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMD’s) are very common and the bulk of the Musician Health Specialists’ work. 3 Steps to better shoulder biomechanics while playing: Be strong. Strengthening your shoulders and upper back will help you avoid injuries. Warm-up. Stretching your arms, neck and shoulders like you are stretching for a sporting event,...

Managing stress – Fall 2020 Most of us have never lived through a time like this. Fall 2020 stands to be one of the most stressful autumn seasons in 19 years. Between elections, COVID-19, social isolation, cold weather, dark skies and the threat of snow, power outages, homeschooling, food insecurity, and working from home, the outlook for the rest of 2020 is creating a lot of anxiety. Depression is affecting many, as are feelings of helplessness and loneliness. One way to manage stress potential is by planning what you can, and not worrying about things you can’t control. Below are some things you can control, that will keep you safer if COVID-19 gets a whole lot worse. Take Vitamin D. According to Michael Hollick, MD, Ph.D. of Boston University, Vitamin D can decrease your risk of contracting COVID-19 by 54%. Take Formula 303. Formula 303 is a valerian root, passionflower, and magnesium supplement that reduces stress, reduces muscle tension, and improves sleep. Get more Sleep. Too little sleep will leave you tired, irritable, and more vulnerable to stress and illness. Exercise. Exercise reduces stress and strengthens you for a bad season of “bugs.” Exercise also helps sleep and reduces weight, a...

Pain in the shoulder – Upright Bass Whether you are playing slap style bass, bowing, using pizzicato techniques, or other extended techniques, the double bass has been known to be the cause of shoulder injuries. Shoulder impingement is one of the more common injuries. Form is critical, of course, but sometimes a history involving stress on the shoulder, either shoulder, will predispose you to an injury while playing. Below is a synopsis of shoulder impingement, and solutions for quick, strategic healing for bass players. Shoulder impingement and the bad news. Shoulder impingement syndrome is typically a repetitive stress injury. This would be more common in the shoulder of the upper hand, because of the position and constant tension on the upper shoulder. Even with a relaxed shoulder and proper form, your shoulder is still engaged in a compromised position. Your shoulder moves as your hand navigates the neck of the bass. The constant engagement along with the up and down, Is repetitive stress. Friction and inflammation in the tendons connecting the supraspinatus muscle and your arm, reduces space underneath the shoulder blade and above the ball of your shoulder joint. When the shoulder is compressed through rotation, twisting, or...

Are you a COVID Parent? Like living through a natural disaster or another major generational event, being a “COVID MOM” during this time will be something that you’ll never forget.  Raising kids is challenging enough under normal circumstances. But the degree to which you must juggle responsibilities now is for many, unparalleled.  Do you remember a time when things were “easy?”  One of the biggest obstacles to taking care of oneself is time. We all recognize the value of time, how we don’t get it back, and how COVID-19 has changed our use of time.  Our office is acutely aware of time. We make sure that your care is efficient. No long waits, and only the necessary time for your care. No more, no less. We process your insurance for you to save you time. We have quick effective ways of scheduling and communicating with our office. We have flexible hours to make your visits most convenient for you.  Your day, your life is why you come to us, we want to make sure that you enjoy as much of it as possible. It’s not about your back pain, neck pain, or headaches. It’s about your life! Taking care...