Have any of you had students with elbow stress injuries from holding marching band instruments? Haven’t heard of it as a common issue, but makes sense. D21 has been complaining of a sore elbow for a few days. Now she just texted me that her elbow pops (not exactly sure what she means but it looks like I’ll be trying to schedule a last-minute med. appointment today). Plays baritone in the marching band…no breaks in practices/competitions/football games in sight. It’s odd that this is coming up now, as she’s a junior and has been in band since 5th grade, with no prior problems. I told her days ago (when it was merely sore) to give a heads up to the band director… (maybe she’s holding it wrong?) but she hasn’t. Has your band kid experienced this?
I have not heard of this. This is my twin girls 4th year of marching band. The smallest one (5 ft) plays the mellophone which is about the same size as the baritone.
Thanks! Maybe it’s not even related to holding her instrument…we’re having it checked out this afternoon.
I had trouble back in the day with my tenor sax. I ended up getting a different type of neck strap that made all the difference. There are slings for brass instruments for marching band that could help (search Neotech brass sling). I would have her talk to the band director and also see the doctor.
I believe that elbow pain could result from carrying a band instrument. I’ve had elbow pain from computer use and the ergonomics guy who I got to come by my office helped me change my set up. It took a while not to hurt.
Thanks for your replies! @momofsenior1, they don’t use any kind of neck straps in Ds band…and they do lots of complicated choreography and body movements (including putting down their instruments at times) that I think a strap might hinder. Don’t know if the director would allow it. At any rate, I was able to get a Dr. appointment this afternoon right after school. Now D is texting me that she doesn’t want to make a big deal out of it (after complaining about pain all week). Teens!
I think overuse injury can rear it’s ugly head any old time there’s overuse (often at the most inconvenient time), regardless of whether or not it is “common.” My daughter played flute for at least an hour everyday since fourth grade, and multiple other woodwinds from middle school through college. All of a sudden out of the blue she developed TMJ in her jaw joint sophomore year in college. She has learned to manage it and it has pretty much resolved though still emerges now and then.
Get the elbow checked out and see if there is anything that can be done to mitigate the pain. Because I doubt your daughter is going to want to stop playing in the band to let her elbow heal.