Neck Pain

[Kent Swafford]

PDtek@aol.com wrote:

>List;
>
>Yes, sometimes tuning can be a pain in the neck, but I mean litterally. I've
>always had some soreness in my shoulder and neck, but over the years it seems
>to get worse, especially when my schedule gets heavy, like now. Most of the
>pain is on the side of my neck corresponding to my tuning arm. After a long
>day, it's difficult to turn my head without pain.
>
>Has anyone with a similar affliction found any effective treatment? I have
>gotten treatments from my D.O. but relief is temporary at best. Any good
>preventative measures, tuning techniques, treatments, medication that anyone
>has had luck with? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Dave Bunch

Overuse, fatigue, and poor posture all contribute to the pain in the neck 
that you are experiencing.  Your pain can mean more business to us in 
physical therapy clinics, but preventative measures may help you treat 
yourself and keep you in good shape and able to take care of your piano 
business.  A few slow stretches done regularly will stretch the muscles 
that tend to tighten up in the course of a tuning while giving a rest to 
the over-taxed muscles.  Gently turning your head to the side opposite 
your tuning arm, bending your head as if to touch your ear to your 
shoulder, and pinching your shoulder blades together are all good 
exercises.  Do these every 15-20 minutes; do each movement only once, but 
hold the stretched position for 10 seconds.  These exercises might do the 
trick, and if done regularly from now on, could decrease your pain.  For 
more information, you might review the January 1996 issue of the Journal 
where the exercises are illustrated on pages 36-37 in the article 
entitled "Posture Yourself for Good Health."

Bonnie Bauer Swafford, Physical Therapist
University of Kansas Medical Center