Written on 23 September 2026 - 51 views
Pain in the palm affects many guitarists and bassists and often interferes with playing. Poor technical habits and inappropriate muscle distribution are frequently the cause. Understanding these mechanisms makes it possible to correct your posture and play for longer without discomfort.
For many musicians, pain or cramping in the palm on the neck side eventually becomes a real obstacle to playing. This discomfort can travel up into the forearm, arm, or even shoulder. It is so common that it always raises the same questions: where does it come from? Is it tension? A poor technical habit? And above all, how can you prevent it from becoming established?
To answer these questions, the analysis by physiotherapist specializing in musicians, Xavier Mallamaci, provides valuable insight. His conclusion is clear: this type of pain is often related to an improper distribution of muscular workload.
The hand is a complex system in which each muscle group has a very specific role. When one of them is called upon to perform a task that is not its own, tension develops.
These small muscles located in the palm stabilize the joints and maintain the arch of the hand. They provide support and maintain posture. They are very endurance-oriented, but relatively weak in terms of strength.
Located in the forearm and in the thumb column, these larger muscles allow you to grip, bend, and press. They are powerful, but not very endurance-oriented, because they are not designed for prolonged postures.
Pain occurs when force is demanded from muscles that are endurance-oriented but weak, or conversely when postural support is demanded from muscles that are powerful but not very endurance-oriented. The cramp is then a signal indicating that the movement is not using the right muscles for the right task.
The positioning of the thumb on the neck side is one of the elements most often involved.
Many guitarists play with a very tense thumb, sometimes even in hyperextension, forming an inverted arc. This posture reveals a thumb being used as a rigid pillar, tasked with compensating for a lack of stability elsewhere, which unnecessarily overloads certain muscles.
The thumb should remain slightly flexed, as when holding a pen, a fork, or a mouse. This more natural and mobile positioning allows a better distribution of effort and considerably reduces the risk of cramping.
On the pick or bridge side, we find the same mechanisms: a grip that is too rigid, a locked thumb, and overloading of the extrinsic muscles. This leads to similar tension, a loss of fluidity, and sometimes even injuries.
The logic remains the same: wrong muscle, wrong task.
Some video resources make it easier to visualize these mechanisms.
Xavier Mallamaci notably offers:
These resources make the biomechanical explanations more concrete and help you adjust your own habits.
Pain in the palm is by no means inevitable. It generally reflects a muscular imbalance caused by an unsuitable posture. By learning to use each muscle group for its natural function, it becomes possible to play longer, more comfortably, and with less risk of injury.
See you soon, here or elsewhere !
Chrys
