Who we help
Chiropractor for Musicians in Austin, TX
Playing is an occupational load. Touring adds driving, load-in, bad sleep and unpredictable schedules on top of it.
The context
Musicians are occupational athletes with a training load nobody tracks. A three-hour rehearsal, a two-hour set, and hours of practice all involve sustained asymmetric positions with fine motor demand.
Touring compounds it: a long drive, load-in with heavy cases, a set played in one position, load-out at 1am, six hours of sleep in a different bed, repeat. Austin Chiropractic Care works with players and touring professionals around exactly that reality.
What this puts on your body
Sustained asymmetric positions
Guitar and bass strap load on one shoulder, violin and viola neck and jaw position, and the forward-and-rotated posture of a keyboard or console.
Repetitive fine motor work
Hours of finger, wrist and forearm work at high repetition creates loading-related tendon and nerve irritation.
Drumming demands
Seated rotation, sustained trunk and hip position, and repetitive limb work — often for hours without a break.
Load-in and load-out
Amps, cases and kit hardware moved quickly, often at the end of a long day, frequently after hours of driving.
Van and bus travel
Long fixed-hip sitting with vibration, then immediate heavy lifting — one of the more reliable ways to strain a back.
Sleep and recovery on tour
Short, irregular sleep raises pain sensitivity and slows recovery, which is why the same shoulder that was fine in October flares in week three of a run.
Problems that show up most
Neck and upper trap pain
Common in guitarists, bassists and string players. Usually endurance-related plus asymmetric strap or instrument load.
Shoulder pain from strap load and reaching
Sustained load through one shoulder plus repetitive reaching. Often responds to strap setup changes plus scapular and cuff capacity work.
Low back pain in drummers and keyboard players
Seated rotation and sustained trunk position over long sets. Throne height, kit geometry and hip mobility all matter.
Wrist, hand and forearm overuse
Loading-related tendon irritation and sometimes nerve symptoms. Practice volume management is central; playing through numbness is not advisable.
Back pain after driving and loading
The van-then-lift sequence. Simple changes to how the transition happens make a real difference.
How care is approached
- Care planned around your show and tour schedule, not an idealized calendar
- Practical setup changes: strap, throne height, monitor position, instrument angle
- Practice-volume management the same way a running program is managed
- Manual care and laser therapy where they help you stay playable
- Endurance and capacity work that fits into a touring day
Frequently asked questions
- Can I be seen between tour dates?
- Scheduling around tours and short Austin windows is a normal part of working with touring professionals. Tell us your dates and we will plan around them.
- Should I play through hand pain?
- Pain that is mild and settles quickly can often be managed with volume changes. Numbness, tingling or loss of control should be evaluated rather than played through.
- Will I have to stop playing?
- Usually not. The more common answer is changing practice volume, setup and recovery while building capacity in the specific tissues under load.
Not sure what is causing your pain?
An evaluation is the starting point. Dr. Schuch examines what is happening, explains what he finds, and tells you honestly whether this is something the practice can help with.