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Player Health Archives

How to Stay Healthy When Touring
Ask Damian Erskine

How to Stay Healthy When Touring

Damian Erskine lost 72 pounds since the beginning of the year, and he did it over a time of lots of touring. A reader noticed and asked Damian to cover “How to Stay Healthy When Touring” in this new “Ask” column.

WristGrips Now Available
Accessories & Strings

WristGrips Now Available

Playing a lot of bass can lead to some serious issues with your hands and wrists. Ryan Sollee and Gabe Castro are combatting those issues with WristGrips, a one-size-fits-all compression wrap that aims at preventing health problems. “WristGrips help prevent and heal tendonitis, arthritis, and carpal tunnel issues, by compressing and supporting the wrist, increasing oxygen and blood flow to...

Dealing with Blisters on the Pizzicato Hand
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Dealing with Blisters on the Pizzicato Hand

So, you recently acquired a double bass. This is great news! Welcome! Or perhaps you simply resolved that this was the year you got serious about playing and you increased your time at the instrument. Fantastic! Or maybe you picked up some regular gigs! Even better! Either way, this recent positive change in your life will allow you the opportunity...

Avoiding Discomfort and Pain When Playing the Upright Bass
The Lowdown with Dr. D

Avoiding Discomfort and Pain When Playing the Upright Bass

It should be physically easy to play the upright bass. When we experience discomfort or pain, during or after playing, it is our body’s way of telling us that we are doing something wrong. While each body is unique, there are general guidelines all bassists can follow which will reduce the potential for bass-related injury. Below are some general recommendations...

Left Hand Exercises and Resources for Bass Players
Ask Damian Erskine

Left Hand Exercises and Resources for Bass Players

Q: I live in Ethiopia and I am a 4th year bass student. I have some problems my left hand. Do you have advanced finger exercises? A: For this question, I’m going to point you to a variety of resources – here on No Treble, and across the web. There are a variety of stretching exercises, finger independence exercises, tendon...

The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management Now Available as eBook
News

The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management Now Available as eBook

Dr. Randy Kertz has reissued his seminal work, The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, as a downloadable eBook. The book covers a wide range of common and uncommon physical issues that bass players may face. Dr. Kertz explains injuries and conditions that may occur as well as prevention and treatment options for each. A symptom guide helps players to pinpoint...

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 2: Where, When, and Why)
I Wish I Knew That

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 2: Where, When, and Why)

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski In Part 1 of this series, we looked at two different types of earplugs, the over-the-counter ones as well as the custom molded ones, and some of the benefits of each. Now, let’s think about when to use them and how to get comfortable playing with them in. Before we jump in, let me say that...

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 1: Options)
I Wish I Knew That

Earplugs… A Love-Hate Relationship (Part 1: Options)

Ever rush out of the house in the morning and forget something that you always have with you? Your watch, perhaps? Or maybe your reading glasses? As soon as you realize that you’ll have to go all day without this beloved item, you start to feel uncomfortable, annoyed, and metaphorically naked. It is a truly awful feeling that I’ve experienced...

Food for Thought: A Guide to Healthy Eating for the Working Bassist
I Wish I Knew That

Food for Thought: A Guide to Healthy Eating for the Working Bassist

We all know that it’s important to eat right, get exercise, have a healthy lifestyle, and stay away from fried foods and candy, but what does that have to do with playing music? The fact is, playing an instrument is both a mental and physical endeavor that requires a certain amount of fuel. It may not be as strenuous as...

Randall Kertz Releases New Edition of The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health
News

Randall Kertz Releases New Edition of The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health

Dr. Randall Kertz, DC has released an all-new, second edition of his popular book, The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. The second edition features expanded content and a new cover. The Bassist’s Guide is written specifically for bassists, dealing with the common, and not-so-common issues bass players encounter when practicing and performing, as well as every...

Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 6: It’s All In Your Head
Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist

Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 6: It’s All In Your Head

Never Mind — if It’s All in Your Head Your Mind Can Fix It “It’s all in your head” is a phrase commonly used by physicians – publicly or privately – when they aren’t sure what is wrong with the patient because symptoms don’t fit in with a test performed or a question on the history form or within the...

Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 5: Odds & Sods
Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist

Health & Fitness for The Working Bassist – Part 5: Odds & Sods

Lift Off — Common Sense Guidelines for Lifting and Moving Your Equipment Most of us carry our own gear around. Sometimes we get lucky and use house gear or somebody else’s gear (which isn’t always as good a deal as it may sound). At times, some of us are fortunate enough to have somebody else haul our equipment around for...