Neck Pain

[phil13]

What are some of the causes of mild, discomforting neck pain? I've tried different distances from the piano, and I get up to stretch and walk around every 30 minutes while practicing. Yet, the pain is still here. I'm not sure what to do next.

Phil

[jpianoflorida]

interesting!  I have been having major neck pain , soreness for the last 2 weeks....part of mine I believe is from a wreck years ago,..but a LOT I think it from sitting in one position teaching all day long...I'm trying to move around more and do more neck stretches...also, get some "flexall"....it smells funny but helps relieve some of the pain!

[bench warmer]

My wife is sometimes a pain in the neck!

More seriously, try changing your sitting elevation. Maybe a cushion for more height or a chair for less. It may be a function of that also.

It could be tension from sitting stiffly during those 30 minute intervals. I always get a bit of it when I sit and just sight-read a piece (or pieces) for 20/30 minutes.

[allthumbs]

What is the source of your neck pain? Is it muscular in nature or is there some type of pathology involved.

If it's muscular in nature, as the other posters have suggested, keeping the practice session length to shorter intervals to where the neck muscles are not overworked to the point of fatigue, (hence the pain or discomfort).

If it's pathological in nature, (it would be necessary to have this identified by a doctor or other such professional), it is more serious.

Have you ever physically injured your neck? There are many tendons and ligaments that are attached to the vertebrae and these can be a source of pain and inflammation as a result of some trauma that has occurred.

If you don't experience this pain doing other activities, it is probably the former problem. If you experience pain constantly, go see a doctor.


Cheers

allthumbs

[phil13]

What is the source of your neck pain? Is it muscular in nature or is there some type of pathology involved.

If it's muscular in nature, as the other posters have suggested, keeping the practice session length to shorter intervals to where the neck muscles are not overworked to the point of fatigue, (hence the pain or discomfort).

If it's pathological in nature, (it would be necessary to have this identified by a doctor or other such professional), it is more serious.

Have you ever physically injured your neck? There are many tendons and ligaments that are attached to the vertebrae and these can be a source of pain and inflammation as a result of some trauma that has occurred.

If you don't experience this pain doing other activities, it is probably the former problem. If you experience pain constantly, go see a doctor.


Cheers

allthumbs

Actually, I have hurt my neck before, but in a different place. I pulled one of the side tendons jumping on a trampoline.

The pain only occurs every now and then, usually at least once a day, in the back of my neck, as though it's tensing up. The problem is, I am completely relaxed when I play, so that cannot be the source of the pain.

I have a bench that, unfortunately, cannot be adjusted for height. However, I have never experienced this pain at my teacher's office, where there IS one, so perhaps the height is the problem after all.

Phil

[nicco]

Try when you practice to use a chair with back support and sit rather low.

for me, this was the solution