Tendinitis

I am trying to learn fingerpicking but find I keep getting tendinitis in my elbow and it even extends into my shoulder. Are there any techniques, precautions or gear that I can use to help mitigate against this ?

Thanks
Jim

Which arm is the culprit? Picking hand or fretting?

Its my picking arm ( right ).

I use a nylon string classical guitar so the body is fairly small. Most of
the time I hold the guitar on my right knee like you do when playing a steel string acoustic guitar but occasionally I'll hold it on my left knee in a typical classical guitar position with my foot on one of those little footstands.

I figured with the amount of players there must be some who experience this elbow or shoulder pain as well who may have discovered some secrets to getting around this ?

You need to play more often for a shorter time likened to working with wieghts. Also, pick a light string guitar, a sweet 12 fret or a grand concert requiring no effort at all, and at last, let it rest or it will never heal. Build up slowly Pal

Originally Posted by: ffaiellaYou need to play more often for a shorter time likened to working with wieghts. Also, pick a light string guitar, a sweet 12 fret or a grand concert requiring no effort at all, and at last, let it rest or it will never heal. Build up slowly Pal

I agree, accept that you've got a nylon string guitar, so I don't think string thickness is going to be an issue. It sounds like its technique... not your body position... are you really tensing up your arm when you pick? Your arm should be relaxed as you play... a good way to check is to see if your wrist feels really tight as you pick, or if it feels relaxed and floppy. But yeah, take it slow, don't "push through" and if it hurts, stop until it feels better.

Thanks to all that commented. I guess I'm going to have to rest it for awhile to let any inflammation subside before I work on alternate
techniques to see if that is the culprit !

Jim

This is unfortunately a problem for players of all levels, not just beginners. The good news is once you have been playing for a while your body does adapt to what was once uncomfortable, much better. However, the unfortunate reality is that you will confront this beast throughout your entire career. I know I have.

I ran into big problems while I was in school about 5 years ago. I went from playing 1-2 hours a day to playing 8-10!!! Quite a change, and my body couldn't handle it. I saw a hand specialist, and they gave me some stretches that cured me. That mixed with not playing as much really, really helped.

Fast forward about 4 years later, and same problem. We all spend a lot of time on computers, and that only adds to the mess we can create for our arms and back. I overcame it, but again I simply had to step away from the instrument and the computer for a few weeks.

For you, I would suggest the same thing. If you are experiencing some real discomfort that is expected in the beginning. However, you need to take it easy and don't push it. If you experience this pain the minute you pick your guitar up, than I would see a hand specialist and get yourself checked out. Everything is very connected in your body, and problems in the hands and elbows can result from back issues, etc.

Do you have access to a good guitar teacher in your area that is experienced and can look at your technique if the problem persists? :confused:

Originally Posted by: Douglas Showalter I saw a hand specialist, and they gave me some stretches that cured me. That mixed with not playing as much really, really helped.

Great post. Will you describe the stretches?

do finger stretches before you play is the best way to prevent tendinitis. I can't stress that enough. There's a lot of great finger stretches out there that are easy to do and does not take up too much time. Do it every time before you play the guitar and you'll be just fine. Especially if you want to shred on the guitar, youll really have to stretch before you shred.

I agree, stretching is parmount. I had a bad experience about two years ago with both elbows. I spent way too many $$$$ for occupational therapy getting back to normal. One of the things I learned is to stretch from my fingers to my neck. Today I play guitar about 5 to six days a week and limit it to 60 to 90 minutes. Sometimes I can get away with two hours. I stretch before gently and then stretch when I get tight sometimes while playing. As mentioned earlier in this tread, stretching is important and more important is to know how so you do not do more harm to already sore body parts. To get an idea of some of the stretches you could search YouTube and the Internet for "tennis elbow stretches" and "guitar stretches". This should help demystify stretching somewhat. Good luck.

Topazrider here,
I've playing trying to learn guitar off and on most of my life. This last year I got a strat and last month just before signing up for full acess pain began in my fret hand elbow. I began playing 2-3 hours a day for the last half year. So painful now I can't play now for the past 10 days. I'm hoping a month off will do the trick but I'm going thru withdrawels I miss playing so bad! What's the old man (62) to do?

Good vid here on stretches...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSrfB7JIzxY

I have tendinitis from a sport I compete in. After 20 years of a very rough contact sport, you find a few tricks.

They make a strap that goes on your forearm specifically for this. It looks like it will not work but it does. It puts pressure just in the right place so to help.

Something like this: http://www.activeforever.com/imak-adjustable-tennis-elbow-support-with-ergobeads

Most drug stores have them. It is a life saver for me.