ztuba wrote:I like to take a piece of ice and put it in my mouthpiece and then put my mouthpiece on my face like I am playing. I hold it there until the ice is gone then I get some ice and put it on my cheeks and the corners of my lips. no longer than 10 minutes. My physical therapist would always have me do this to my back muscles after I would do a workout.. so I dont see why we dont treat our face muscles the same way. My wife used to have to stand in a tub of ice after running around in high school track. Football players and baseball players ice their most used areas.
The above-mentioned liniment, applied on the rocks, will do the same thing.
Rick "who has never had inflammation of the lips except when resorting to too much pressure" Denney
If I'm not mistaken, the ice is used to reduce or avoid swelling. I also believe the standard wisdom calls for an injury calls for ice the first day, followed by heat on the days that follow. I'm not certain exactly how that applies with a thorough muscular workout. Perhaps someone more athletic than I could be more detailed.
(Note: I may not be the most athletic member of TubeNet. In fact, I may be the least athletic. Please keep this information secret. I wouldn't want anyone to find out.)
Rick Denney wrote:But when I'm practicing high stuff towards the end of a long practice session, I might blow some low stuff on the big tuba for 20 or 30 seconds before quitting.
That is precisely the sort of thing I do too. Just to relax the lips of any tension.
Well if you wanted to really warm up .. you could apply a hot pad to your face prior to playing and treat you facial muscles just like any other abused muscle group.
Kalison K2001
Norwegian Star
JinBoa F Cimbasso
Giddings and Webster 4 life
