Do your forearms get warm after playing?

[tjinaz]

I'm an adult who restarted piano about a few weeks ago. I have noticed that after practicing, my forearms are very warm when I touch them.

Does this happen to you too? Is it normal?

There isn't any pain, but I never noticed my forearms warming up when I was younger, so this is a new thing for me and it has me a bit concerned.

[amytsuda]

Playing piano is like sports. So yes, you do get warm, not just forearm, but also upper arm, and even whole body. (And the piano gets warm too)  I am an adult who picked up piano again 3 years ago as well. The first 6 months, I did have to build my muscle to be able to play piano again. In my case, I did play certain pieces my body wasn't ready, so I did cause pains in my forearm. I could play with no physical problem when I was a kid, but when I was kid, I started at age 6 and I never had a day not playing almost. I didn't realize I lost all my muscle. So you probably want to be very careful. So definitely watch out how you are using your forearms and upperarms. Make sure there's not too much tension. 

[hfmadopter]

Yes I notice getting warm in general as well, it feels internal. I can't say I ever felt my arms to see if they were warm to the touch. The faster more complicated pieces get me warmest. I can be sitting still in a chair on a some what humid day where it isn't bad enough to put on the ac for instance but playing the piano gets uncomfortable. It's physical activity and you use a lot of muscles to play piano. This is why I suggest little snacks like white raisins and a drink when you practice a lot, same as in any exercise. You burn energy and you tire. it's not as strenuous as some physical exercises but it is physical exercise non the less, combined with mental.

[indianajo]

I've got the world's least muscled forearms for a man, so no, but I do sweat to dampness in  the armpits after an hour of vigorous practice. Keyboard practice is good for you. It flushes sludge out of the arteries and pumps the leaked water in the tissue back through the lymph nodes back into the blood.  Piano is not quite "aerobic" exercise, which see (Dr Cooper' book) but is right up there with housework as a cardiovascular maintenance regime. 

[tjinaz]

Thanks everyone. I'm a bit relieved knowing I'm not the only one that gets warm.

I think the first couple weeks was the worst for me. During those weeks, my arms did ache a bit because I wasn't used to the playing and my technique was rusty. But it's starting to come back now.