Posture/Seat Height

[WillDellinger]

I have been in and out of physical therapy for years trying to solve right hip pain that is pinching my sciatic nerve and causing chronic leg pain.

This new therapist looked at how the tuba sits and said "yep, having your legs spread like that for so much time will definitely cause your piriformis to shorten, which is where that nerve runs." I always wondered why I've never heard of other tuba players in this constant pain.

He recommended getting the chair as high as possible with my feet still on the ground so my legs are UNDER the horn rather than straddling it. I've just tried it a little bit, but it makes sense and seems to feel better.

Am I just the last person to know about this solution? Or am I just especially suseptable to this problem? Or do all tuba players have this pain they never talk about?

[MackBrass]

I have been in and out of physical therapy for years trying to solve right hip pain that is pinching my sciatic nerve and causing chronic leg pain.

This new therapist looked at how the tuba sits and said "yep, having your legs spread like that for so much time will definitely cause your piriformis to shorten, which is where that nerve runs." I always wondered why I've never heard of other tuba players in this constant pain.

He recommended getting the chair as high as possible with my feet still on the ground so my legs are UNDER the horn rather than straddling it. I've just tried it a little bit, but it makes sense and seems to feel better.

Am I just the last person to know about this solution? Or am I just especially suseptable to this problem? Or do all tuba players have this pain they never talk about?

I had a hip replacement a few years ago and suffered from the sciatica pain after sugery for about a year. My wife suggested I move my wallet out of that pocket and it certainly helped. Today the sciatica is fine but when these flare up it's no joke.

As to playing in the seated position that was suggested to you, let us know how this works.

[GC]

My problem is the opposite, so please pardon the hijack. I'm 5'7", but my torso is short, more typically the length (not width or depth) of someone 5'-5'2". For decades, I had to support tubas with my legs to keep the mouthpiece from hitting me anywhere from my nose to my forehead. I tried several tuba stands but always ended up with serious backaches. A lot of leg stress and a hernia operation later, I ended up with a Besson 981/982 clone that allows me to rest the horn on the seat of the chair and still keep the mouthpiece at a comfortable level.

The one issue that I have remaining is that the angle of the receiver to the central plane of the instrument is only around 40 degrees. This puts the horn well in front of the central plane of the body and brings the 4th valve well to the front so that it's easy to reach. However, I have to angle the typical Wenger chair about 45 degrees counterclockwise to keep the horn from falling off the front. I can adapt to that easily enough, and a few venues I've found have long enough seats where turning the chair is unnecessary. Chairs with raised fronts are still also a problem.

Short or tall, tuba players have issues to overcome. That's life. Usually, we adjust.

[BWBTuba]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8 ... UTF8&psc=1

Bought this adjustable height chair - Alera Plus CS612 IL Series Height-Adjustable Folding Stool, Black - for practicing and performing, and found the investment worth every penny...

[euphomate]

The one issue that I have remaining is that the angle of the receiver to the central plane of the instrument is only around 40 degrees. This puts the horn well in front of the central plane of the body and brings the 4th valve well to the front so that it's easy to reach. However, I have to angle the typical Wenger chair about 45 degrees counterclockwise to keep the horn from falling off the front. I can adapt to that easily enough, and a few venues I've found have long enough seats where turning the chair is unnecessary. Chairs with raised fronts are still also a problem.

Short or tall, tuba players have issues to overcome. That's life. Usually, we adjust.

My problem exactly, same height, same horn type. After years of dealing with a variety of rehearsal and gig venues chairs, most of which are specifically designed to deter short people from playing tuba, I now carry two or three dense foam square cushions in my accessory bag. I first place a square of that non-slip shelf liner material (the heavy duty version) on the front half of the chair, and one or two cushions on the rear half. I sit the bottom bow of the Besson 982 EEb on the front non-slip mat half - works a treat, and adjust the cushion(s) to match mouthpiece and mouth. I have covered all situations for years doing this (you can carry the third cushion to deal with those stackable plastic chairs with the big dip in the middle, or those monsters that slope to the rear). I have ordered a Hercules performing stand to hopefully deal with chair variation issues. If that doesn't work, it's back to Plan A.

Tall players, be nice to the short guy sitting beside you. Tuba life is a lot more problematical for him than you.

[WillDellinger]

No wallet in the back pocket.

I'm going to try my solution for a while. I'll be sure to update if I see results. But the problem formed over years, so I'm sure it will take a bit of time to improve.

[Matt G]

OP, good on you for seeing a PT to resolve your issues.

Have you been including any resistance training? If no, it might be something to consider. Getting a bit more "meat on the bones" and strengthening the musculature around the joint(s) may help tremendously. Aging induces atrophy, which usually correlates well with some of these onset chronic issues.

[ckalaher1]

After some pretty serious abdominal surgeries in 2013, my body kind of "broke". Several lower back and left shoulder issues, which of course makes playing a tuba somewhat unpleasant.

The best remedy for me was some PT, and changing my seating. Since 2016, I take a drum throne with me at all times. Every rehearsal, concert, practice session, etc. I haven't sat in a regular and chair and played in 3 years. The drum throne allows me to sit higher, and is actually pretty handy if you need to switch horns on a show, since the adjustable seat means I don't have to adjust my tuba rest.

I'm far from cured, but the above has in fact helped somewhat. Carrying it around sucks, but what can you do......

Good luck with everything.

[Simonk]

Got fed up with injection moulded stackable "bucket seat" chairs at various places so have carried one of these around for the last 2 years;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stagg-KEB-A10- ... 140&sr=8-6" target="_blank

Far more comfortable and I know what I will be sitting on each time I go somewhere...