Preventing & Treating Drumming Related Injuries>>>

DrummersRx

DrummersRx

New Member
I have been developing a program for the past few years called Drummer's Rx. It is a wellness program designed to prevent & treat drumming related injuries to boost performance and longevity. For the past 25+ years I have been a health coach and corrective exercise specialist and combined my 2 passions (Wellness & Drumming) into Drummer's Rx. My website will be launching soon and my facebook page is currently live and growing. I have endless topics I will cover from improving sleep, reducing chronic pain, nutrition, flexibility, ergonomics, posture, hearing protection and lots more.

I am new to this forum and wanted to get more feedback as to what others do away from their kits to stay healthy and play as long as possible.

Thanks in advance!

DRx Profile.jpg
 
Sounds like a real benefit for all, welcome!

Now, if we only had 4 arms and 4 legs like your logo... ?
 
bermuda said:
Sounds like a real benefit for all, welcome!

Now, if we only had 4 arms and 4 legs like your logo... ?
Click to expand...


That would certainly help my left-side weaknesses. But seriously, sounds like a great idea. I'll be looking forward to seeing your helpful offerings.
 
I hope you stick around, there are lots of pain threads here, covering almost every part of the body. It would be nice to have someone here who knows how all the body's parts work together.

To answer your inquiry, I pay attention to my hands. I try to keep my wrists straight always. If I'm doing something where they aren't straight, I modify myself or what I'm doing until they are.
 
Hi there - Away from the kit I meditate, stretch and cycle to help keep fit and sharp. Good luck with your effort!
I'm somehow lucky to have no discomfort playing even though I've broken my neck, scapula, hand, have had multiple knee reconstructions, separated ribs, shoulders, etc... I have practice and playing sessions over 8 hours and looking forward to grabbing some of your knowledge to make my playing even more comfortable.
 
would be cool to see some tips for marching drummers as well....dealing with the weight of the drums, as well as playing on Kevlar/Aramid, and higher tensioned heads for long periods of time

i have my kids do a PT program for their bodies and would always be into gaining more insight on this side of things!!
 
I run three times a week, as fast as I can for about 2.5 miles which amounts to a little over 20 minutes. I rest in between those days to recover and avoid repetitive injury. Other than that I try to eat well and play loose. My right hand never gets tired or sore but my left does a lot and I think it’s because I’m tensing up forcing it to keep up with the right hand. Probably not the best idea.

Just this morning I was wondering if there were any exercises I could do to strengthen my weak hand/wrist. I even imagined bringing sticks and a pad to the doctor to show him what hurts when. There are sports therapists. Are there physical therapists for musicians?
 
Yes! Glad to have you on here. I've had a fascination on the topic. I recently finished John Lamb's Anatomy of Drumming and found it exceptional (maybe not "finished" but at least read through. It seems like you "finish" his book in the same way you "finish" Stick Control lol). I am constantly making adjustments to both my posture and hand technique and am always looking for fresh ideas.

It feels like a losing battle sometimes. I build fences for a living as a day job, and digging 10+ holes with post-hole diggers each day, carrying concrete, and throwing wood on my shoulder all day long can take it out on me. Fortunately I do treat myself well and make sure to do yoga, don't drink alcohol, eat healthy, and get my 8hrs of sleep a night, but a career change is certainly on the horizon for my drumming's sake. I look forward to delving into your facebook page!
 
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DrummersRx said:
I am new to this forum and wanted to get more feedback as to what others do away from their kits to stay healthy and play as long as possible.
Click to expand...

For the last 8 years I run, do indoor rowing, cycle, lift weights and Pilates. Some combo of these almost every single day. Huge difference for me if how I feel when I sit down to play.

I always focus on an ergonomical setup, however, most recently changed my setup to accommodate music stand placement alleviating severe muscle spasms / discomfort in my neck and back.

Had I known 44 years ago to protect my hearing - I would not be 70% deaf in one ear and 30% in another. About 25 years ago I began using custom made plugs for protection.
 
will there be a way to access your info w/o Facebook? I will not participate in the mainstream social media forms for many reasons, and don't want to miss any info...
 
Fitness wise I hit the gym 5/6 times a week weight training, play football once a week and play cricket. Love sport and fitness, always have, always will.

Keeping fit doesn't really make me a better drummer but staying in shape is never a bad thing, I was lucky that my drum teacher at uni's mantra was to set you up to play for life without any aches or pains so all those technique lessons have stood the test of time in the 14 years since I graduated.
 
danondrums said:
Hi there - Away from the kit I meditate, stretch and cycle to help keep fit and sharp. Good luck with your effort!
I'm somehow lucky to have no discomfort playing even though I've broken my neck, scapula, hand, have had multiple knee reconstructions, separated ribs, shoulders, etc... I have practice and playing sessions over 8 hours and looking forward to grabbing some of your knowledge to make my playing even more comfortable.
Click to expand...

Jesus, man, are you a crash test dummy during the week?! That's a lot of injuries.
 
My drum teacher was very serious about ergonomics. The throne is at a very specific height, the rest of the drum set is adjusted according to the throne height. During practice, especially at the very quick tempos, breathing and when to breath. Stretching with the sticks during practice. Stretching out legs during bass drum exercises.
 
Y'all make me feel lazy. I'm almost 44 and in fantastic physical shape, but don't do near as much. I eat healthy and stay active, but running, the gym, yoga, pilates, meditation, cycling, y'all are killing me!

I'm not lazy by any means. Work doesn't scare me. The extra curricular work I do to the house (remodelling) and property (1acre, on a mountain, with a push mower) and vehicles (everything, I do it) must equate to something?

Oh yeah, I love hiking. I'd rather walk than anything...
 
nolibos said:
My drum teacher was very serious about ergonomics. The throne is at a very specific height, the rest of the drum set is adjusted according to the throne height. During practice, especially at the very quick tempos, breathing and when to breath. Stretching with the sticks during practice. Stretching out legs during bass drum exercises.
Click to expand...

I am this way too...ever since watching the whole Test For Echo videos with Neil Peart and hearing him talk about Freddie Gruber, and completely restructuring the way the drum set is set up, I feel like I have added years to my playing later on in old age. I completely went away from the "traditional" set up and have had what others call some "pretty crazy placement".
 
MrInsanePolack said:
Y'all make me feel lazy. I'm almost 44 and in fantastic physical shape, but don't do near as much. I eat healthy and stay active, but running, the gym, yoga, pilates, meditation, cycling, y'all are killing me!

I'm not lazy by any means. Work doesn't scare me. The extra curricular work I do to the house (remodelling) and property (1acre, on a mountain, with a push mower) and vehicles (everything, I do it) must equate to something?

Oh yeah, I love hiking. I'd rather walk than anything...
Click to expand...

I think as long as you are active, how you do it doesn't matter.

I am Type 2 diabetic and 2 years post heart attack, (thanks 80's American fast food/processed food diet!!) so I have to stay pretty active. Hockey, biking and drumming have always scratched the itch.
 
beatdat said:
Jesus, man, are you a crash test dummy during the week?! That's a lot of injuries.
Click to expand...
Soccer and cycling competitively dished out some injuries. I can still pedal a bike forever and bang the drums all day so all is good. Just no running now. :)
 
mikyok said:
Fitness wise I hit the gym 5/6 times a week weight training, play football once a week and play cricket. Love sport and fitness, always have, always will.

Keeping fit doesn't really make me a better drummer but staying in shape is never a bad thing, I was lucky that my drum teacher at uni's mantra was to set you up to play for life without any aches or pains so all those technique lessons have stood the test of time in the 14 years since I graduated.
Click to expand...
bermuda said:
Sounds like a real benefit for all, welcome!

Now, if we only had 4 arms and 4 legs like your logo... ?
Click to expand...
Launching a FREE Drummer's Tune Up course for 2020...
 
nolibos said:
My drum teacher was very serious about ergonomics. The throne is at a very specific height, the rest of the drum set is adjusted according to the throne height. During practice, especially at the very quick tempos, breathing and when to breath. Stretching with the sticks during practice. Stretching out legs during bass drum exercises.
Click to expand...
Launching a FREE Drummer's Tune Up course for 2020...
 
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