Pedal causing unsettling leg pain?

[mostlyclassical]

Lately I get this annoying pain in the right leg (in the back, between ankle + knee, closer to ankle)  and I'm almost sure it's from using the pedal. It doesn't feel like a 'bone - orthopedic' type of pain but rather a more alarming venous - inner type, making itself notable especially at nights. Goes away if I don't use the pedal for 2-3 days. In the last year I kind of quit exercising and maybe this has sth to do with this pain, never experienced before in about 8 years of piano playing.
Anyone experienced this, any suggestions?  unsettling

Thanks

[nightmarecinema]

I got sore from pedaling, and I thought that was kind of weird, but I don't think that's what you're talking about. What you're saying actually kind of sounds like shin-splints, but I've never heard of someone getting that from playing the piano...that's just kind of weird, so I doubt that's it.

[mostlyclassical]

More + more I'm convinced it's from the pedal... I assigned the right pedal to the left on the Clavinova but that won't cut it for real piano. Not to mention the fear I'll get the pain on the left one too, the left pedal on the Clav is quite hard to push down! 
I really don't know what to do, I'm supposed to be studying 4+ hours/day, and some work without pedalling can help a lot I guess but, for I'm getting used lately to not using it at all and that can't be good.

[abell88]

Maybe some warm-ups and stretching of your legs before you practise would help? Does your leg/ankle feel very tense when you play?

[mostlyclassical]

Yes, I think that's the way to go, to exercise and strengthen the leg(s)... but I'll give it a week's complete rest before trying anything. Tense isn't the word I'd use to describe this, it's more like the kind of pain you get from running/walking/playing football for hours and just can't do it anymore. But I get it after using the pedal for 10 mins.

[mostlyclassical]

Think I've figured it out. I probably brought this to myself by practicing... barefoot all the time. Ok, with socks on.    I guess that was too much for my leg to handle, my pedal is quite resistant. I now always put a bulky shoe on... and it seems to be getting along nicely.

[jlh]

I once saw someone push the pedal by putting his left foot UNDER his right heel, so that his right toes are pushing down from a horizontal position, instead of from a raised position.  I don't know if doing this will help or not, but it will use a different range of motion and possibly allow your leg to heal from what appears to be a stress injury.  

Also, and I don't know if this will help, but does it hurt when you play the pedal without putting the heel of your foot on the floor (not bending at the ankle at all)?

Maybe you're pushing too hard on the pedal?  With you saying your pedal is quite resistant, maybe it's time to call a technician and fix it?

[mostlyclassical]

Very interesting, thanks.

[pianistimo]

stability is important.  having one foot under another doesn't sound stable.  leverage is most interesting, too.  some grands are on wheels and others not.  height should be w/out wheels (so if you need something under you foot - put it there).  also, angle of your foot.  maybe the angle is too intense.  try different ones.  maybe it's affecting your shin - whereas another angle would cover most of the pedal with more area than just immediately under the toes.  you want enough of the pedal covered so that you don't have to 'try' to push the pedal down.  it should just go down without effort.  maybe oiling the pedals would be an idea for your tuner.  (i remember i had a stiff pedal with my kawaii and didn't even notice it until the tuner did). 

also, you should pedal at the pedal point (point of dampening) and not slap the pedal with your foot.  too much vertical action is unneccesary and actually makes your pedalling sound bad.  try to minimize your foot movements.  the little 'up/down' shouldn't be making your shin have such pain if your foot is adjusted to the right height and the pedals are operating without stiffness.

[pianistimo]

glad the shoes helped!  that was probably most of the problem.  a little weight.  was thinking about weight distribution too.  i find it easiest to pedal slightly leaning back and harder on the tendons/ligaments leaning forward.  that is if i was constantly in one position or the other.  moving a little helps keep you loose everywhere i guess.

when i broke my right leg i tried pedalling witht he left leg, also.  that was quite an experience.  kind of like writing with the opposite hand.  you have to get coordinated.  then , when i played the organ (which is in an L -shape to the piano) i put my casted leg on the piano bench and looked like a really casual player (left leg on organ pedals - right leg way over there).

[mostlyclassical]

It still hurts today a bit, I guess I came close to some kind of permanent damage. At least this made me much more careful in my use of the pedal(s), musically speaking too.  During the last months, I tried to play as if the pedal never existed, and while this can help sometimes while practicing, it's just plain rubbish, even in very easy pieces, or early baroque ones. May be the piano IS the pedal? Its strongest characteristic? Thanks for your input, pianistimo.