Exercises for musicians: essential moves to prevent muscle injuries

Music may not be a sport, but it still takes a physical toll on our bodies. And unlike athletes, musicians often do not pay attention to the strain that musical instruments place on our backs, necks, wrists and more. To enjoy a long-term musical career, it is important that you keep yourself in good physical shape. These exercises for musicians will allow you to maintain your playing for longer, and stay healthy without experiencing discomfort.

To help you with this, here are 5 quick, easy and highly beneficial exercises for musicians you can do to reduce tension. Do these before a show, when you are practicing or even every morning when you wake up, and you will greatly reduce your chances of injury so that you can continue playing music comfortably for years to come.

1. Wrist circles

Hold your hands out in front of you with your fists closed, and then slowly rotate them in a circular motion. This will help prevent tendonitis, as well as help with blood flow. These exercises for musicians are especially useful for those who mainly use their wrists, such as guitarists and drummers.

2. Individual finger stretches

A very useful exercise for finger style instrumentalists is to stretch each of your fingers on both hands individually by pressing them against the palm of your other hand and pushing them upwards. These exercises for musicians can help improve finger flexibility and strength.

3. Forearm flexor stretch

This will help alleviate tension in your elbows and forearms, making it one of the essential exercises for musicians. Simply place your hands together in a prayer position and squeeze them tightly while pushing your arms downwards. Hold for 15 seconds.

4. Neck rotation

This is a great exercise for easing neck tension, which is a common occurrence among violinists. Turn your head all the way to the left while keeping your back and shoulders straight. Hold for 5 seconds before returning to a neutral posture, and then turn your head all the way to the right and hold for another 5 seconds. Repeat for 10 repetitions. These exercises for musicians can help alleviate discomfort and improve flexibility.

5. Shoulder circles

Place your arms in a relaxed position at your sides, and then gently shrug your shoulders upwards towards your ears in a circular motion. Complete 10 repetitions or more.

These 5 exercises for musicians are a great way to reduce cramping, pain, stiffness, and other common issues that musicians face on a regular basis. If you do these regularly as part of your warm-up routine, you will begin seeing the benefits almost immediately.