ELBOW PAIN

[yarnold]

Posts: 1


  Re: Beginner question/health related
« Reply #9 on: Today at 08:10:17 AM » Quote Modify 

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I am a 67-year old 'returner' to the piano;-the last time I had a lesson I was 12 years old, and I haven't touched a keyboard for 20 years  until recently,- but I am doing ok, progressing, and practicing for an hour every day. I have a digital piano which is all I can afford. My problem is that after 5 weeks practice, I am getting 'tennis elbow' type pains in my right arm. Is this due to too much practice, wrong posture, or what? i don't want to have to give up playing when I enjoy it so much. The arm was fine before I got the piano! I have a decent bench and a music light, as I was hunched over the piano at the start.   
 

[yarnold]

I probably should have  mentioned that I am left-handed.(The pain is in my right elbow). I hardly ever use myright hand for anything requiring dexterity, so it isnt used to this kind of workout! I even do most of my typing left-handed, but I can't cheat on the piano. Infact I find that I am sight-reading easily, and can play almost any melody immediately on sight, but the pain is getting in my way.I am quite small-boned, but I dont know if that is a contributing factor.

[yarnold]

My elbow is now in a splint, and I have had to spend 3 days without practicing. I am now practicing for manageable 'chunks' of 10-20 minutes several times a day, rather than doing 90 minutes in one session. I don't know if this is the right approach, but at least i'm getting some practice done.

[extratorrential]

Hi,
have a look at this video. It might help you help yourself. Let me know if it does, or if it is another part of the elbow forearm.

[nyiregyhazi]

Hi,
have a look at this video. It might help you help yourself. Let me know if it does, or if it is another part of the elbow forearm.

Did you mean to post a link? I'd be willing to bet anything that the poster is using arm pressures on each individual note. My most recent blog post on keybedding explains the basic reasons why problems occur when playing this way.

[scott13]

Tennis elbow is a tendon related problem, meaning simple tasks such as firmly gripping a coffee mug should be painful to a degree. Also be aware of Golfers elbow, same tendon problem but on the inside of the elbow, pianists can develop this too. Posture is a normal culprit, as it excessive tension.

Posture wise, aim to the have the balls of your elbows sitting just below the level of the white keys, and sit far enough back so when playing a c major scale, you can cross both elbows to the middle of your chest without them hitting your body.

I thought i had tennis elbow while practicing several of Chopin's Polonaises and Rach's Preludes, yet my doctor commented it was a muscle strain, not a tendon one, her exact words were "A tendon problem is immediately apparent, the simplest task will set it off"

Use Ice and Heat and alternate for a week. Fixed my muscle issue and it never came back. Also stretch a lot before playing, and although it may sound silly, constantly shake your arms at your sides to relieve any building tension.

[scott13]

Did you mean to post a link? I'd be willing to bet anything that the poster is using arm pressures on each individual note. My most recent blog post on keybedding explains the basic reasons why problems occur when playing this way.

Arm pressure done correctly (the Russian School of Piano Technique) is how i play and i have be fine for years. It's tension that is the problem, not arm weight.

[extratorrential]

I meant to post this link:

Bit ooopsy today and tomorrow and.......

[nyiregyhazi]

Arm pressure done correctly (the Russian School of Piano Technique) is how i play and i have be fine for years. It's tension that is the problem, not arm weight.

I'm, not saying the weight of the arm should be completely held back, certainly not stiffly.. I'm talking about the problem with actively pressing through braced joints, instead of moving properly within the hand. Virtually every pianist will tend to want to move this way, unless shown the alternative.

[keyboardclass]

Get yourself one of these - https://www.thera-band.com/store/products.php?ProductID=20

[extratorrential]

Hey, that's a good idea, then he could strengthen the problem until it becomes permanent!

[jeffkonkol]

yarnold, are you working with a teacher at all ?

You indicated that you have recently restarted after decades away.  I am going to assume though that you touched the piano throughout the years, of course.

I guess what I am pointing at is that if you are returning after 50+ years of noodling and developing a few bad physical habits.... a teacher, even if only for a few precious lessons, will be invaluable in spotting and helping you remove tension from your motions.

It may cost a bit... but it is going to be far cheaper than rehab in the long run :-)

[yarnold]

Thank you all for your advice!

Yes, Scott, I think it is golfers elbow,not tennis elbow! My sleeve was actually hurting my arm when it brushed against it, but the pain has almost gone after resting myarm  for several days. The splint works wonders by giving support and doesn't prevent me from playing.

Because I play very slowly and hesitantly, I tend to suffer from constant tension in my arms, and I am working on correcting my fingering, which can feel laboured and strenuous if I dont get it right. I have only been back at the piano for 5 weeks, so I have a long way to go..................
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I HAVE neglected warm-up exercises, and I'm rectifying that right away. Looking silly doesn't matter if it prevents injury!

Yes, I have 'dabbled' over the years - and by the way, I'm a woman- (someone thorught I was a guy!)

I absolutely cannot afford a teacher at the moment. I have just saved up for a holiday in Andalucia on my State Pension - another reason not to injure myself as I will have to manage my own luggage.( Phew -life is eventful!!)

Off to look at suggested video now.............................

[yarnold]

Extrratorrential:
-the video does look interesting, and i will definitely try the exercises. I have had 2 other tennis (or golf) elbows affecting the same arm in the past 12 years,  -not due to piano playing, infact I have no idea why the problem occured, but on one occasion i had to have an steroid injection in my elbow joint, which was no fun. It always happens in my non-dominant arm.

I think I've got my posture sorted out! the first 2 weeks it was awful, due to using an uncomfortable straight-backed chair, and I ached all over - ribs, back, neck - everything! Now I have a good piano bench I am sitting comfortably, -right distance from the keyboard, correct height etc - and a clip-on music light prevents me from straining my eyes.

[yarnold]

..................What DOES irriate me is friends who turn up for coffee or tea, and expect me to drop eveything (including my own much-needed refreshment!) and give them a 'recital' while they eat and drink, even if I have done my practice for that day and am tired. Having an audience  at such an early stage causes further tension, and I will have to learn to say NO. - In any case they are disappointed by my efforts, as they expect me to be note-perfect already. (People who have never touched a piano!!) Give me strength!!

[extratorrential]

Yarnold, then have some more - information at least. This -

&feature=related - is one way a physiotherapist might deal with the situation. The video links in the right column offer other suggestions.
BTW, I'm a re-beginner on piano but posture, movement and injury is my work.
Good luck with it.

[dblomd]

The first thing I would consider is tension. Is your right arm more tense than it should be? Secondly, I would check if your elbow is sitting at a weird angle. Freeze every once in a while while playing and see if you are doing something weird with your posture.

[scott13]

The first thing I would consider is tension. Is your right arm more tense than it should be? Secondly, I would check if your elbow is sitting at a weird angle. Freeze every once in a while while playing and see if you are doing something weird with your posture.

Even better is to video yourself playing and watch for movements/tension that are there but shouldn't be. Without a teacher you need to identify these things yourself.

[keyboardclass]

Hey, that's a good idea, then he could strengthen the problem until it becomes permanent!

Do the research buddy!