Thank you for visiting. |
GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH Your Personal Guitar Lesson |
Photo by Robin Gentile, NYC
| BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT" It contains many of Doug's Previous Guitar Technique Tips of the Month |
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Marsha to Doug: "You need a bath."
Hand Contrast Baths
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
I hate to say it, but we are seeing the graying of the guitar world. Lots of people began playing
the guitar in the 1960's and have stayed with it these many years or picked it up again after a
hiatus of several years. I don't know the numbers on the guitar world overall, but I do know that
the demographics of several major guitar magazines (steel string and nylon string) show that
more than 90% of their readership is past forty years of age.
Unfortunately, along with those years of wisdom and experience come aches and pains of
many kinds. For musicians, and musicians of ALL ages for that matter, hand problems are very
common. There are now doctors and therapists around the country who specialize in
musicians' hand problems. Websites on the topic abound. Google "musicians hand problems"
and you will see what I mean.
This is a column about guitar technique, and often in our diligent efforts to improve our
technique, we don't warm up properly, don't practice correctly, or use our bodies in inefficient
ways. The result is often pain.
The Problem
One of the most common hand injuries for guitarists is tendonitis, an inflammation of one or
more tendons, usually in the left hand (the correct spelling used to be "tendinitis" but now
"tendonitis" seems to be used more). Personally, I have rarely had hand problems, but at one
time came down with tendonitis in my left thumb. I stretched, took Ibuprofen, and decreased
practice on some things I thought were irritating the tendons. But the tendonitis kept hanging
on.
How To Fix It
One of my students told me he had gone to a great hand therapist who worked wonders in just
two or three visits for a much more serious problem he had. So I made an appointment to see
his therapist, Marsha Lawrence of Handworx here in Kansas City.
To make a fairly short story shorter, after examining me and watching me play, Marsha said,
"Doug, you need to take a bath." Now I want to assure my readers I do not have any kind of
personal hygiene problem. What she was referring to is the Contrast Bath or Contrast Bath
Hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is the use of water as a therapeutic agent. Water may be
applied to an injury in the form of ice, heat, etc. The specific type of hydrotherapy discussed
here is called Contrast Baths. Here is the procedure as outlined by Handworx:
Some specialists say to end with cold water--I'm thinking that maybe if you are ending your
practice session, you should end with cold water. But if you are going INTO your practice
session, end with warm.
Nicholas Quarrier, (MHS PT, OC) on the Performing Arts Medicine at Ithaca College website
explains, "The contrast of hot-cold creates a pumping of the blood in and out of the body part.
The blood vessels dilate in the heat and constrict in the cold. Any stagnating swelling is
reduced as it is pumped out of the body part. Inflammation is reduced as fresh blood and
healing agents are pumped into the injured area. Pain is also reduced, as both hot and cold
have anesthetic effects. Contrast baths are effective in helping carpal tunnel syndromes and
hand / forearm tendinitis."
The bottom line is that for me, this treatment gave immediate relief. Complete recovery took
about three to four weeks. As Mr. Quarrier explains, "Here is a home remedy for many hand,
wrist, and forearm aches and pains. If you suffer from what you believe to be an overuse injury
during music playing, you may want to try a home hydrotherapy treatment. This is not a
substitute for seeking medical attention for any suspected serious injury. I know many
musicians suffer from music-related soreness and are unable to get immediate attention from a
physician. In the meantime, hydrotherapy is an effective treatment that reduces or eliminates
many symptoms and signs of overuse injuries."
Next time you start to have twinges of pain, try this out before the pain develops into something
serious. There is no expense, it's easy, and it works. And while you're soaking your hand, get
some reading in, or do some mental practice for your music memorization (How to Never Ever
Forget a Piece of Music Again). Don't wait till Saturday night.
Take a bath—now.
Hand Contrast Baths
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
I hate to say it, but we are seeing the graying of the guitar world. Lots of people began playing
the guitar in the 1960's and have stayed with it these many years or picked it up again after a
hiatus of several years. I don't know the numbers on the guitar world overall, but I do know that
the demographics of several major guitar magazines (steel string and nylon string) show that
more than 90% of their readership is past forty years of age.
Unfortunately, along with those years of wisdom and experience come aches and pains of
many kinds. For musicians, and musicians of ALL ages for that matter, hand problems are very
common. There are now doctors and therapists around the country who specialize in
musicians' hand problems. Websites on the topic abound. Google "musicians hand problems"
and you will see what I mean.
This is a column about guitar technique, and often in our diligent efforts to improve our
technique, we don't warm up properly, don't practice correctly, or use our bodies in inefficient
ways. The result is often pain.
The Problem
One of the most common hand injuries for guitarists is tendonitis, an inflammation of one or
more tendons, usually in the left hand (the correct spelling used to be "tendinitis" but now
"tendonitis" seems to be used more). Personally, I have rarely had hand problems, but at one
time came down with tendonitis in my left thumb. I stretched, took Ibuprofen, and decreased
practice on some things I thought were irritating the tendons. But the tendonitis kept hanging
on.
How To Fix It
One of my students told me he had gone to a great hand therapist who worked wonders in just
two or three visits for a much more serious problem he had. So I made an appointment to see
his therapist, Marsha Lawrence of Handworx here in Kansas City.
To make a fairly short story shorter, after examining me and watching me play, Marsha said,
"Doug, you need to take a bath." Now I want to assure my readers I do not have any kind of
personal hygiene problem. What she was referring to is the Contrast Bath or Contrast Bath
Hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is the use of water as a therapeutic agent. Water may be
applied to an injury in the form of ice, heat, etc. The specific type of hydrotherapy discussed
here is called Contrast Baths. Here is the procedure as outlined by Handworx:
- Contrast Baths
1. Alternating between warm and cold water has been found to be helpful for decreasing
symptoms often seen with overuse syndrome.
2. Heat increases circulation and the ability of tissue to stretch making it easier for the
nerves and tendons to glide.
3. Cold helps decrease pain.
SET UP: This works well at a double kitchen sink. You can also use the sink and one
pan on the counter.
Fill one sink with warm water. (105º-110º)
Fill the other with cold water. (59º-68º)
1. Soak your hand in the warm water for 10 minutes.
2. Place your hand in the cold water for 1 minute.
3. Return to warm water for 4 minutes.
4. Return to cold water for 1 minute.
5. End with at least 4 minutes of warm water.
A minimum of twice per day is recommended, but 3-5 times a day is optimal.
(End Handworx Recommendations)
Some specialists say to end with cold water--I'm thinking that maybe if you are ending your
practice session, you should end with cold water. But if you are going INTO your practice
session, end with warm.
Nicholas Quarrier, (MHS PT, OC) on the Performing Arts Medicine at Ithaca College website
explains, "The contrast of hot-cold creates a pumping of the blood in and out of the body part.
The blood vessels dilate in the heat and constrict in the cold. Any stagnating swelling is
reduced as it is pumped out of the body part. Inflammation is reduced as fresh blood and
healing agents are pumped into the injured area. Pain is also reduced, as both hot and cold
have anesthetic effects. Contrast baths are effective in helping carpal tunnel syndromes and
hand / forearm tendinitis."
The bottom line is that for me, this treatment gave immediate relief. Complete recovery took
about three to four weeks. As Mr. Quarrier explains, "Here is a home remedy for many hand,
wrist, and forearm aches and pains. If you suffer from what you believe to be an overuse injury
during music playing, you may want to try a home hydrotherapy treatment. This is not a
substitute for seeking medical attention for any suspected serious injury. I know many
musicians suffer from music-related soreness and are unable to get immediate attention from a
physician. In the meantime, hydrotherapy is an effective treatment that reduces or eliminates
many symptoms and signs of overuse injuries."
Next time you start to have twinges of pain, try this out before the pain develops into something
serious. There is no expense, it's easy, and it works. And while you're soaking your hand, get
some reading in, or do some mental practice for your music memorization (How to Never Ever
Forget a Piece of Music Again). Don't wait till Saturday night.
Take a bath—now.
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
 | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  |
 | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.