Carpal tunnel syndrome is any musician's worst enemy, but drummers can be particularly vexed by repetitive use injuries. Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos has been pounding the skins since the late 60s without such problems, and shares his secrets for avoiding drum-induced carpal tunnel. One of his recommendations? Swallor your pride and hire a teacher to show you how to swing your arms properly! That's not such a stretch for a novice, but Carlos says this works for seasoned pros as well as just-starting-out garage band bangers. Another ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? Using drum technique which makes you look kind of like. . . a chicken. A silly analogy? Maybe. A serious solution to the carpal tunnel problem? Oh, yes. Take it from the pro who knows.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression or irritation of the median nerve through excessive use and muscle strain. It's also a drummer's worst nightmare. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and a loss of muscle power; all obvious threats to a drummer's career.

Many carpal tunnel sufferers may be offered conservative treatment options, but some drummers may need surgical procedures depending on the severity of the problem. Corrective surgery, recuperation, and physical therapy all require time away from the drum kit; even drummers treated for milder symptoms must radically change their old performance habits to prevent further damage.

The measures needed to treat or prevent carpal tunnel -- a lighter grip on the sticks, good arm technique, plus stretching and exercise -- aren't optional for working drummers who suffer from repetitive-motion injuries. Experienced players say the more time you spend behind the kit, the more susceptible you become to injuries, but there are well-known examples of drummers with long careers who have completely avoided problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos has been drumming since the 60s, a very likely candidate for repetitive motion injuries. In spite of decades of drumming, Carlos is not a carpal tunnel sufferer, and says his injury-free playing style isn't a matter of luck or some kind of genetic advantage. A drummer's healthy arms, wrists, and hands are the results of paying attention to good technique, combined with an aggressive set of preventive measures.

Where does a drummer begin the fight against carpal tunnel? "Pretty much, it's style." Carlos says, "If you look stiff, you're playing stiff. You're going to damage yourself." He says the key is to respect the design of the arm, and play accordingly. "Make sure you have a natural swing to your playing. . . you should look like a chicken flapping its wings." Carlos recommends getting a drum teacher to help perfect a healthy swing.

Those who ignore good technique eventually wind up in pain. A tight grip and unnatural playing style are hard on the body, and can result in a trip to the operating room to undo years of abuse. "I've met people who have (carpal tunnel)," says Carlos, "and usually it's because of their grip and they've got a brace on their arm. They've got to either take time off or not hit as hard."

Carlos has seen the results, which go far beyond the arm brace. "Max Weinberg got all eight fingers operated on back in the 80s because he was doing these four hour shows with Springsteen, and he wasn't gripping right." Any drummer who faces a long tour would do well to get some expert advice before putting the arms through their paces for an extended period of time. "That's when you maybe go to the big city," the Cheap Trick drummer says, "and look for a name teacher and give him two hundred bucks for an hour lesson, have him show you how to hold your sticks right."

Keeping an eye on your competition is also a good idea. How do other drummers approach their playing? How do they look behind the kit? He says, "Look at the guys who are playing and have a natural feel to their drumming. Go watch 'em!"

He believes a constantly changing drum kit is the key to preventing too much wear and tear on the same muscle groups. "I raise and lower cymbals, the snare drum, the chair. This year I'm using a four-piece kit, last year I was using a six piece kit. Change is good. If you change stuff all the time you don't wear things out."

The Cheap Trick drummer is very mindful of his hands. "I put grip tape on the sticks, I wear golf gloves and band-aids underneath." The results of all that protection? "My wife says, 'you have the softest hands!' I don't have a hand full of knobby calluses, but then again, I don't have to hold on (to the sticks) for dear life." In addition to these measures, exercise is an excellent part of an aggressive "preventive maintenance" program. You may wish to consult a personal trainer and ask for a workout aimed specifically at preventing carpal tunnel. Finger and wrist stretching prior to rehearsal or performances is very helpful, as are frequent breaks during long sessions.

It is possible to drum for many years without the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Bun E. Carlos knows this all too well, but his advice on the subject is the kind best taken as early in a drummer's career as possible. The other options -- surgery, physical therapy, time away from the drum kit -- are much less appealing.