Is back pain something you care about?

[liandanxian]

Hey,
As a pianist myself I was thinking backpain was an common issue for pianist and this is also the reason why I started as a piano bench reseller.

However, the most I go deep into that market the most I start to realize people don't care much about their seat but only about their piano.

This is why I was wondering is the back pain an issue for you and if yes which way to use to tackle it? Do you have a yoga routine or another solution?

[lelle]

I have basically never had back pain from playing for more than 20 years. I'm in my early 30's. I think good enough posture - upright but relaxed and easy - and playing technique (which posture is a part of) generally protects you from back pain. I also have a good exercise routine and do things such as Alexander Technique, mindfulness, stretching and what not.

[ted]

I would certainly care about it were I to experience it but I never have. Maintaining fitness through fifteen to twenty hours training a week for many years has likely played a big part in preventing injuries from piano playing. At one stage I was getting tingling and numbness in one hand. Recently a friend made a video of me playing and I looked like a blend of Jarrett, Gould and a spavined polar bear. After consciously carrying myself like Basil Fawlty for a week or two the issue disappeared and hasn't returned. So yes, posture is very important and bad habits are alarmingly easy to develop.

[pianistavt]

It's not hard to avoid back problems - just takes some stretching and mobility exercises a few times a week.
If you set up a good routine, are consistent, you should have a healthy back well into old age.  At last, that's my belief.

[klavieronin]

I had back pain for the first couple of years after starting the piano. It turned out that it had nothing to do with playing piano and everything to do with the fact I had scoliosis. Once I got that sorted out I never experienced back pain at the piano. Sitting at a desk in a nice comfortable office chair ironically gives me more back and neck issues than playing piano.

[lostinidlewonder]

Recently a friend made a video of me playing and I looked like a blend of Jarrett, Gould and a spavined polar bear. After consciously carrying myself like Basil Fawlty for a week or two the issue disappeared and hasn't returned.

Lol Ted 😆

It's not piano playing that causes the back problems for me, it's the sitting for long extended hours. I did experience it when I was doing some 9 hours playing per day, the solution was using office chairs with back support. Piano bench is horrible imho, good for if you want to play very serious or in public.