Musicians Therapy
Madeleine is an experienced remedial therapist and offers a range of treatments for the common injuries suffered by musicians. Formerly a professional classical musician, she understands the demands of playing and potential for various overuse injuries.
SHE CAN HELP WITH:
• General aches and pains
• Overuse injuries and muscular imbalances
• Tendonitis and RSI
• Neck, back and shoulder pain
• Nerve entrapment syndromes
• Embouchure problems
• General problems related to posture
• Nervous tension
OTHER USEFUL TREATMENTS:
Madeleine is also a qualified Yoga Therapist and can give you Postural Analysis and Advice, and a personalized practise which;
• Maintains flexibility and muscular balance
• Keeps your back strong
Madeleine has a number of easy and practical back exercises that she considers essential to maintain ‘Alexander’s line’. It is hard to sit well without the muscular strength to do so.
Common issues for Musicians
Most problems incurred through playing are due to over use injuries and poor postural alignment.
The importance of posture:
A good posture means holding your body in such a way that bones and joints are as congruent as possible. When joints become compromised – muscular, neural and circulatory problems can occur. We are creatures of habit, and years of holding a certain posture causes our bodies to mould to that frequently held position adding to the potential for injury and pain.
Overuse injuries:
Repetitive action of a muscle with time causes tears and a build up of scar tissue, until less and less muscle fibers within a muscle system can contract. This causes weakness followed by pain, as connected structures such as the tendons and ligaments get involved (Tendonitis/ Carpal tunnel syndrome). Massage is fundamental at restoring contractile ability or muscular strength. Muscles used extensively in any plane of movement may become over developed at the cost of other muscles that may atrophy, with a build up of metabolites and joints that no longer move in their entire range of motion (frozen shoulder).
Musicians Therapy Treatment
Madeleine offers remedial treatments yoga movement and breath classes.
What does Remedial Massage do?
Relieves pain
Restores muscle strength and full range of movement
Maintains muscles in their optimal contractile state, pain and injury free
Re-establishes Postural Alignment
Reduces stress and the effects of brought on by nerves and anxiety.
Leaves you feeling centered, balanced and relaxed.
YOGIC HELP
Madeleine can show you exercises and stretches that will open up your body, strengthen and re-energize weak areas, keep your spine healthy and strong, enabling you to hold a good posture. She will give you a personalised daily yoga / exercise routine.
She also offers MOVEMENT & BREATH classes:
Cultivating a deep steady breath;
Balances the nervous system
Controls the effects of anxiety
Open up the chest and lungs. Nerves and instrument holding usually have the effect of closing the chest inwards and turning it into a piece of protective armoring. Steadiness of breath and nerves require the ability to breath deeply. Vital capacity in the form of function of your heart and lungs require an open articulating rib cage.
If long hours of playing are demanded of you, be preventative. Have regular treatments and a good stretch/ exercise routine. If you don’t have time to cross train and stretch, then use your treatment session for this purpose.
COMMON INJURIES
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Cause
Excessive jaw clenching, – violin, viola or due to general tension.
Symptoms
Pain where the jaw joins the skull in front of the ears.
Treatment
TMJ release, massage
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Cause
Muscle strain in muscles around the mouth
Symptoms
Focal dystonia, or loss of muscular control – wind/ brass
Treatment
Massage
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Cause
Whip lash, general muscular tension from nerves, bad posture, holding heavy instruments under chin or by arms.
Symptoms
Constant ache, or on moving/holding.
Treatment
Massage, releasing and stretching techniques
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Cause
Impingement of veins, arteries and median and ulnar nerves between the collar bone and first rib. Usually due to bad posture, instrument or heavy bag holding.
Symptoms
Numbness, tingling, cold hands, pain and weakness.
Treatment
Releasing the thoracic inlet
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Cause
Damage to rotator cuff muscles by prolonged holding of arm at or above shoulder level.
Symptoms
Pain felt on raising the arm, or a general, internal ache.
Treatment
Gentle manipulation, shoulder energy re-evaluation, remedial exercises
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Cause
Result of overuse from forearm flexor muscles from gripping objects with the wrist bent in a downward motion.
Symptoms
Pain on the inside of the elbow with the palm facing upwards.
Treatment
Icing – if inflammation is present; otherwise massage and stretching.
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Cause
Over use of hand extensor muscles by bending hand and wrist backwards.
Symptoms
Pain and inflammation of the tendon at the outside of the elbow. (with the palm facing upwards) Often affects pianists, and tennis players.
Treatment
Massage, stretching, cross training.
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Cause
An overuse injury , with muscular demands that stretch or bend tendons around joints.
Symptoms
Local pain and irritation of the tendon (tendinitis) or inflammation of the sheath through which the tendon passes (tenosynovitis).
Treatment
Rest, icing until the inflammation has passed, massage to associated muscle, and to reduce scar tissue on the tendon.
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Cause
Positional and over use injury of thumb when fully extended, mainly as a result of holding an instrument for long periods.
Symptoms
Pain may travel up the forearm.
Treatment
Massage, stretching, rest
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Cause
Compression of the median nerve in the wrist from inflamed tendons. This nerve supplies the thumb and first three fingers. Maybe an over use injury or due to trauma to the wrist.
Symptoms
Pain, numbness and tingling of the hands, thumb, index and middle fingers.
Treatment
Rest, re- alignment, general massage of forearm, remedial exercises.
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Cause
Compression of the ulnar nerve at the inside elbow, from over use of the little finger and sideways motion of the hand.
Symptoms
Pain in the inside elbow (with the palm faced upwards), and numbness or tingling in the little finger, ring finger, back or side of the hand.
Treatment
Treatment – massage, stretching, remedial exercises.
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Cause
Prolonged bad posture, with unequal strains and demands on the different sides of the body. Also weak core and abdominal strength.
Symptoms
Pain and dysfunction dependent on how chronic.
Treatment
Postural analysis, Alexander technique, proper back exercises, massage, stretching.
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Cause
Irritation and compression of the sciatic nerve as it leaves the spine in the low back and travels down the leg. Will occur with bad sitting posture, too much driving, out of alignment in the pelvis and lack of hip mobility/ flexibility.
Symptoms
Pain in the legs and buttocks.
Treatment
Massage, releasing the compression, remedial exercises, stretching.