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Lifting weights vs. Playing guitar.

Bellah83

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Nov 11, 2019
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Fort Worth Tx
Has anyone else had issues with playing fast and clean after lifting? I notice coming back from vacation and not lifting for a week that my playing improves quite a bit. I hate to choose between one, does anybody have any exercises or stretching to help maintain dexterity?
 

Ed Seith

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Or waiting. Or keeping the weight down on the exercises that work forearm muscles. Anything you do a lot of wrist work for, like curls.
    The weightlifting is doing exactly what it’s supposed to – it’s tearing that muscle, so it can heal and rebuild. But – you NEED some of those muscles to play guitar, so of course you’ll feel it in your playing. Two hours after a good upper body session, you’re not going to be able to bench your record, right? Same thing.
    Recovery time, and take it a little easier on exercises that hit wrists and forearms too hard.
    That, or get so awesome at guitar that you never have to play at more than 85% capacity .
     
    J

    Jak Angelescu

    Guest
    Syn got pretty stacked once before so you definitely don’t need do choose between the two. I also lift but I have to be conscious of gripping the weights too hard. I notice when I work my deltoids is when guitar is a little exhausting. If anything lifting should help improve your playing because of it doing proprioception work for your muscles and nerves. Maybe you could try to form a schedule where you lift first? Or… maybe reanalyze how hard you’re gripping the weights. You should never be lifting so intensely that basic daily functions are compromised.
     

    Bellah83

    Campfire Attention Holder
    Nov 11, 2019
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    Fort Worth Tx
    The forearm part is definitely the issue. I could try lifting straps… but you catch a lot of crap using those these days haha.
    The thing that sucks is that it’s not really just right after lifting. It’s like the tendons are tight for a week or so after. It may not help that I work with my hands on top of it.
    I remember seeing Syn’s arms looking pretty big years ago. Around Waking the Fallen maybe? Anyway, thanks for the input I may just switch my arm routine to an hour of Syn’s etudes. Good enough of a burn there.
     
    J

    Jak Angelescu

    Guest
    Do you roll out your muscles and stretch properly? My friend is a medical massage therapist so I know a lot about this kind of stuff. The tendons shouldn’t be too tight even directly after working out. The tension should diminish within hours. Make sure your form is safe and you’re not lifting too heavy. What you’re describing sounds like you could be causing a repetitive stress injury
     

    Christopher Lonski

    Free Bird Player
    Nov 11, 2019
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    I lift heavy and don’t have too many issues with this. I also do a lot of stretching before I play, like a whole upper body stretch. I stretch lats, traps, biceps, forearms. I even try separating each pair of fingers as far as they’ll go to get wider stretches easier. The most essential, by far, is straightening your arm and pulling all your fingers back to stretch the bottom of you forearm and then pull them forward to stretch the top. I notice instant improvements in my playing when I do this. Its like your fingers are just getting the signals from your brain better or respond better to them or something. I’m no scientist or anything, but it works.