Back Pain ***

[fluttiegurl]

This sounds all too familiar as I have suffered from chronic back pain since high school. First, I strongly encourage you to be checked by a physician. Back pain is often a symptom (I hope I spelled that right) to an ailment of another physical problem. It may not seem necessary now, but as you grow, it may get worse (as it has been for me). Therapy is an excellent tool, but only if you are correctly diagnosed first.

You may be causing unnecessary strain to your lower back when you play. It is not possible for me to know this without seeing you play, but I can give you a few suggestions. Make sure there is little tension in your arms. This often migrates to your lower back. Also, make sure that when you sit and play, you are using a correct posture. Many students cause unnecessary strain because they sit with an unusual posture when they play (as opposed to how they stand). Your back should be straight, but not bent backwards (as I sometimes see students do). Make sure that your head is on top of your shoulders as opposed to being forward or backward (like it is hanging above your neck, not setting on top). I know there are many more posture related issues, but again, I cannot offer much help without seeing you play.

[apleasuretoburn]

I also have back pain (I'm currently getting it checked out... possibilities are a curved spine and a slipped disc... oy), which I find is aggravated by playing for long periods of time. Sometimes when you are sitting for band practises there isn't much you can do to help it other than make sure you are using correct posture, but when you're practising at home it helps to take frequent breaks, and to stretch often. My flute instructor last year was on a big body and ergonomics kick, which helped because she was able to show me some stretches that are good to do before playing to help the back. Maybe you could ask your instructor for some tips? I would explain what stretches she had me do, but I don't really know how to describe it. Just tell your instructor about your problems, and surely they will try to help you, or at least help you find someone who can. Either way, if you're practising at home and you start to feel stress in your back, take a break, don't push yourself. Like fluttiegirl mentioned, make sure there is not too much tension in your arms and body, and make sure your head isn't coming forward (mine tends to do that... it's something I need to work on).

[woof]

For each person and their backpain there may different underlying causes so I think the best advice is for you to see a physical therapist for the appropriate exercises for Your back back pain, to treat your specific problem. Outside of nerve, muscle or vertebral damage back pain often is the result of poor abdominal muscle tone-- i.e. many exercises strengthen the abdominal muscles-- take time-- good luck.