shoulder aches

[lovemysonors]

lately, i've been playing about 4 times a week (about 8-9hours) with my bands. as a result, i've been getting sore should joints, the front side mostly. so now i'm stretching, using some stretches i do before i go swimming, since both activities are heavy on the shoulders.

any other suggestions? am i doing something wrong in my technique?

it reminds me of when i began drumming without stretching my hands and wrists, and that resulted in a very sore right wrist (i'm right handed)......note to self: stretching is essential to healthy drumming!

[maddrummr]

well i never really stretched before drumming. But when i started, my practice sessions were about 30-45 min. After i got better and better they started getting longer in small increments so i guess i was really training my muscles for whats to come. Now ill loosen up my wrists but with warm-ups.

** make sure you warm up before you play, just like if you were to lift weights and didnt warm up; you could hurt yourself.

[Tama Player]

Yes, warming up is ESSENTIAL to playing. You could seriously injure yourself (temperaley) and/or permantley damage your body. Waring up for about 20-45 minutes should do the trick. Also, be SURE to take 5 minute breaks every hour or so, so that your muscles may relax a little and may be a little less on your muscles.

Peace,
AGR

[Ozzy Biz]

I have shoulder issues from school rugby (tendons and ligaments on both sides are ****ed, also damaged pecs and biceps..... dislocations are bad). Anyway, I'm not good at stretching certain ways and doing certain movements. Reaching into the back seat of a car while sitting in the front seat is one of the worst. I have my kit set in a way that I don't have any movements that may arouse pain or discomfort. I also have good posture on the seat and sit straight with my shoulders back; not hunched with shoulders rolled. I find this helps. Don't force yourself to do big rotations and stretching around to reach that 2nd floor tom, etc. Hope this helps.
oh yeah, and "if pain persists, see you doctor".

Biz

[SFSanity]

Make sure your not sitting too close into the kit. when you sit in too close it causes the shoulder blades to pinch together. i use to do it and it caused me to get the aches.

[catchagato]

Also try sitting up straight more with your shoulders relaxed back instead of pinched together and hunched over. It makes a huge difference even if your shoulders are slouched forward a little bit because if you play like that for a long enough time, you'll start to feel your shoulders getting more tired quicker and it'll feel like it's aching...so try sitting with your back straight, shoulders back as well and relaxed.

[loki83jcg]

I like to make sure that my elbows are either at my sides or mainly in front of me. The closer the elbows are to your body the less effort.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I lowered my ride about three inches because of a problem with the right shoulder and it worked wonders.

[LinearDrummer]

I lowered my ride about three inches because of a problem with the right shoulder and it worked wonders.

Works for me too...

I do alot of weight training and I was having pain in the my front deltiod nerve....
So no more military presses and lowering the ride did the trick....

[loki83jcg]

I give a nod to Dave Wreckl for his great cymbal angle and placement in "Back to the Basics."

The cymbal is higher and is compensated by a little more angle which allows good sticking and crash-ability with the shaft.