Arm, shoulder, and wrist pain = no gain!

1. The pain problem often comes from a lack of support of the scapula from the serratus anterior muscle, often creating scapula winging, trapeze pain, tendinitis in the forearm (shoulder, elbow, or wrist)
2. Non optimal coordination/weakness of the shoulder muscles during movement.
3. Posture. Posture is shaping your body to create the levers you need to move and to transmit body weight to your strings.

1. Upper arm pain

2. Wrist pain

3. Elbow pain

4. Neck pain

5. Middle back pain

1. Tendinitis 
2. Overuse syndrom - Tendonosis 
3. Bursitis

• integrate biomechanics knowledge to your playing
• consider strength training
  
• warming up before starting playing 
• eat healthy 
• drinking water regularly - white tea +
• get massages and take breaks regularly
• light and slow stretching

I believe that biomechanics is a key area in the development of a cellist because all strokes, left hand, and fingers movements have a fundamental mechanical structure and injuries primarily have a mechanical cause.

OPTIMAL MOVEMENT = OPTIMAL TECHNIQUE & SOUND

If you need help understanding the cause of your pain, you can book a short session where we will talk and I will explain what is causing the pain and what you can do about it.

 EVALUATE YOUR NEEDS

:

• Lateral Epicondylitis Tendinitis & Tendinosis

• Medial Epicondylitis Tendinitis & Tendinosis

• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis & Tendinosis

If you do not find the cause of the pain, yes. And from the experience I have with cellists dealing with pain, the longer you wait, the longer it takes to recover.

When a tendinitis becomes chronic, there may be restriction of motion of the joint due to scarring or narrowing of the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon (see tendonosis below).

There is no "easy fix"but do not think you will lose time, it is the opposite! You will get a stronger technique and better sound after the healing a rehab process.

Overuse syndrome happens to professional cellists after an intensive and very demanding practice, recordings, competitions or performance activity. In the best case, it will go away with rest, a lot of water, diet, and good sleep. But be careful with tendinosis.

 There is a common misconception that symptomatic tendon injuries are inflammatory; often are mislabeled as “tendinitis.*

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What is a tendinosis?

Tendinosis is caused by chronic overuse of a tendon. The most common overuse tendinopathies in cellists involve the rotator cuff (shoulder joint), medial and lateral elbow epicondyles.

It can occur in cellists:

• who practice vigorously without enough rest in between practice sessions
• whose tendinitis is left untreated
• with a posture issue
• with tight calf muscles

Most patients with overuse tendinopathies (about 80 percent) fully recover within three to six months, and outpatient treatment should consist of relative rest of the affected area, icing, and eccentric strengthening exercises. Although topical and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective for acute pain relief, these cannot be recommended in favor of other analgesics. *

• resting the affected tendon
• taking a break every 15 minutes
• applying ice for 15 to 20 minutes, several times a day
• tape for support of the affected tendon
• performing light stretching exercises
• moving the affected area through its natural range of motion to prevent shortening of the related muscles and increase circulation
• physical therapy, posture work
• strength training
• massage
• nutrition, including vitamin C, manganese, and zinc for the synthesis of collagen production *

• physical therapy, posture work
• strength training
• resting the affected tendon
• taking a break every 15 minutes
• applying ice for 15 to 20 minutes, several times a day
• taping - for support of the affected tendon
• performing light stretching exercises
• moving the affected area through its natural range of motion to prevent shortening of the related muscles and increase circulation.
• massage
• nutrition, including vitamin C, manganese, and zinc for the synthesis of collagen production *

Collagen is a general term for structural proteins in the skin and connective tissue.

Food sources of collagen include the following:

Fish, Chicken, Egg whites, Citrus fruits, Berries, Red and yellow vegetables,  Garlic, White tea, Leafy greens, Cashews, Tomatoes, Bell peppers,  Beans,  Avocados, Soy, Herbs high in collagen (Chinese knotweed, horsetail, gynostemma), Herbs that help to produce collagen (gotukola, bala, ashwagandha). *

"since collagen cannot be absorbed and is broken down into amino acids when consumed, the consumption of collagen does not guarantee that any new collagen will be made."

What about collagen supplements?

"Most collagen supplements undergo hydrolyzation to form hydrolyzed collagen that makes it easier to absorb and turn into tablets, capsules, and powders. Some supplements are infused foods that are drinks and/or edibles injected with collagen. Ingesting more than 20 grams per day may be harmful according to some dieticians."

Even though it was the tendon was inflamed, the true cause was the musculature. This is why you will have to re-educate.

Good posture puts the neck, head, shoulders, and thorax in the ideal position for muscular efficiency.  It also ensures that the weight is distributed correctly and that the forces placed on each structure are tolerated.

It takes a lot of patience and observation but there is no alternative solution.