When your playing requires fast, repetitive movements and long periods of time spent in the same position, it’s not surprising that you may end up causing carpal tunnel syndrome. Although this type of injury is usually a result of extensive use rather than excessive play, it can still be one of the consequences you face as a guitarist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the wrist and causes numbness and tingling in the palm of the hand due to compression in the carpal tunnel. This is where the median nerve runs through from forearm to hand so anything that affects it can cause problems. If you are worried about any of these signs then it’s probably time to reevaluate how much time you spend strumming your guitar. However, if you begin to notice any of these around the same time every day for three months or more, then it’s probably best to seek medical attention sooner rather than later. Here are six signs that your guitar playing has caused carpal tunnel syndrome:
You Always Have Pain
For many people, the biggest sign that your playing has caused carpal tunnel syndrome is persistent pain accompanied by tingling and numbness in your fingers. If you have suffered from this for a long time, it could be because you’ve injured your tendons, nerves, or muscles. If you continuously have pain and numbness in your fingers, it could be a sign that you have damaged the nerves and blood supply pathways in your arm. If this is the case, you need to stop playing as it could be causing lasting harm.
You Develop Repetitive Strain Injury
When you play guitar for a long period of time, your muscles and tendons can eventually become strained or injured. This can be caused by long periods of practicing the same movement over and over again, or playing an instrument that doesn’t have a break between the movements. Repetitive strain injury can develop in any muscle or tendon, but it’s most common in the forearm muscles, hands, and neck. If you are experiencing pain, stiffness or aching in your forearm, wrist or neck muscles, it could be a sign that your tendons have become injured. It’s important to seek medical advice if you have developed this type of repetitive strain injury as it can be very painful and difficult to recover from.
Your Fingers Feel Numb
If you notice that your fingers feel numb while you’re playing guitar, it’s a sign that you’re placing too much strain on them. It’s a good idea to stretch your fingers and wrists at least once a day so they don’t become too tight. When you play guitar, you need to use your fingers to fret the strings. If you’re not stretching them, or are not allowing them to recover between movements, you risk them becoming too tight or even painful. This can lead to long-term problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. If you notice that your fingers feel numb while you’re playing guitar, it’s a sign that you’re placing too much strain on them. It’s a good idea to stretch your fingers and wrists at least once a day so they don’t become too tight.
Your Hands Get Hot and Weak
When you play guitar, your hands will become warmer than the air around them. However, if you are using too much pressure, your hands could feel hotter than normal. If your hands feel like they’re on fire, or feel very hot, you need to lower the amount of pressure you’re using. When you play, your hands will become warmer than the air around them. However, if you are using too much pressure, your hands could feel hotter than normal. If your hands feel like they’re on fire, or feel very hot, you need to lower the amount of pressure you’re using. You can also try using a water bottle between your hand and the strap to reduce your grip pressure.
The Tingling Gets Worse at Night
If you notice that the tingling begins to get worse at night, it could be a sign that your nerve damage is getting worse. In addition, it’s also a sign that your immune system is struggling to combat the infection. The best way to prevent this is to take regular breaks. If you sit at your desk all day, you need to break for at least 20 minutes every few hours. A guitar can put a lot of pressure on your hands and wrists, especially if you’re a guitarist that plays for long periods of time or at a high level. When you’re constantly using them, the tendons, muscles, and joints can become overstretched.
Conclusion
When you play guitar, you put a lot of pressure on your hands and wrists. This can be dangerous if you don’t take regular breaks, and you also need to remember to stretch and hydrate your hands. If you notice any of these signs that your guitar playing has caused carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s probably time to reevaluate how much time you spend strumming your guitar. However, if you begin to notice any of these around the same time every day for three months or more, then it’s probably best to seek medical attention sooner rather than later.