[scoobysal]

Can anyone advise on this. I am struggling with hip pain from playing the bass drum to the point i cant raise my foot to hit the pedal. my tutor said my pedal was quite high. I have tried both ways and get shin splints if i do the toe approach. I use the heel up technique. Its a big problem at the moment as i cant play every day.
I play until i cry out in pain and then have to stop. Does make me look like a crazy drummer though lol

[don11817]

So is it your hip or your quadriceps/thigh? If your hip then you need to evaluate your seating position as you are doing something that is throwing off your skeletal geometry. Perhaps the kick drum is too far to your right (assuming you are right handed) and you sit with your legs farther apart which makes it a unusual motion for your hip joint to accomplish-- causing pain???

Most of the heels-up style players sit higher than flat-footed players. I personally play heels-up as I feel I get faster response and more power that way. I sit with my thigh not parallel with the ground--my knee is lower than my hip by about 2-3 inches, even when I have the pedal fully depressed and all the force on the ball of my foot.

This gives me room to lift my leg up more without breaking that parallel plane with the ground, which would be harder. Essentially, lifting your knee higher than your hip is harder, takes more muscular strength and expends more energy on the upstroke, making a low throne less efficient of a seating position.

My 2 cents--

Maybe try putting the kick pedal more in front of you--I think the legs apart/awkward hip angle thing might be the problem...

[Tainojim]

Come on Sal, your a nurse, and a bit athletic . Soak it some Epsom Salts and apply some Tiger's Balm, apply a wet heating pad on it. Do this before you retire at night. It should recover in a few days. Did you bruise your hip ridding that Hog ( Us Yanks nick name for a Harley Davidson)?

My friend had a Harley with a 74 rigid frame 1250 CC's. I helped him do the rebuild way back when. I rode it once, man was it painful. The rigid frame has no shocks in the rear. Not only did my hips hurt for a week, so did my back. I don't know how he rode it just fine, but then again he was 6'2" and I was 5'8" at the time.
I built my own Indian Bike when I was 16 out of scraps. I still visit my old friends (Hells Angels at the East Village in NYC) once in a while.

Suggestion: while your recouping from your hip injury, you should see the movie titled "The World's Fastest Indian". Anthony Hopkins is in this movie and he plays the part of an old Ossie who travels to the Salt Flats in the U.S.A. and gets medals for the fastest motor bike in the world.

Lots of luck with that hip and hope it's not permanent. Also take Don's advice.

[scoobysal]

Hey, thanks guys. yep i am a nurse and i know exactly which muscle it is. I did it playing drums not riding the hog. I have made the stool higher and going to try play tonight. The pain has almost gone in my hip so will see about playing later. Thanks for the advice and time folks, much appreciated.
I have seen the film you mention, its a great film and AH is brill in it. Sportsbikes hurt ya hips and wrists which is why i moved over to the hog.
I did wonder whether it was because i am female, because of the different pelvis shape?? Just a thought.

[slingerland59]

If the adjustments suggested by don don't work, then try heel down playing with very loose pedal springs. It'll take a while to develop speed and power but lots of us drummers do it, male and female. I can't imagine trying to drum with pain. Drumming should be stress relief, not stress aggravation.