Arm problems

Does anyone have problems with using the bar during gameplay? After I passed Max 300 (with 202 greats, accuracy is nonexistant when I'm trying to pass haha) my arms were in a lot of pain even when I let go of the bar during some of the less-intense sections.

If any of you have encountered this problem, how did you manage to reduce strain from the bar? Did you get used to it after using the bar for a long time?

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I have that issue after playing for a while.
Something to do with not lifting weights more than I should or something...

Yeah, I'm not fit. Probably explains it.
[You are exerting some sort of tension...you're arms are going to give in like they would similar (not really) to how you lose grip when on the monkey bars.]

It's probably a nutrition issue. Try not putting all your weight on your arms, also. Use the bar just not to lose balance.

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I lack a lot of upper body strength, so when I do use bar it's only for a brief amount of time. I try to balance the amount of weight I put on each arm so that I dont hurt myself.

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I have been left with my hands/arms tingling after really going all out on doubles on rare occasions. I suspect it has to do with not breathing enough and clenching my arms/hands when I shouldn't.

No, because I don't use the bar.

Recently I've been putting a lot of my weight on to the bar (and my arm). The result is I can do lots of 15s (and above) back-to-back but my arm tires quickly. Usually when I'm tired, it's my arms instead of my legs.

I can't do much about this, this helps my footspeed and accuracy anyway, though all I can do to alleviate it is to either let go or loosen your grip (or do it one handed) when easy parts come up.

edit: omg pie

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You may be crouching and putting a lot of strain on your back and arms. It's a habit that happens on a lot of people streaming bpm's they aren't used to and one you may want to break, bad technique and all.

Just watch how you're holding the bar and try not to hang on to it for dear life. Unless it's VDO. Then start praying.

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Unless I swing my arm around and accidentally karate-chop the bar with my fingers. Then my problem is that it was there at all.

Is it a bad thing if your arms hurt? I wouldn't mind upper arm muscle. : D...
I have no speed, so on Max 300 and Zeta among others, there are portions where I lean entirely on the bar. My arms hurt, but I always thought if I kept doing it, they would hurt less once there were muscles in my noodle arms.

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I've never had this problem. I usually only use the bar for hard songs (Max 300 , PSM , Tsugaru , etc.) and that's probably why I've never had it. Try taking breaks from the bar maybe?
Or you could try leaning less on the bar if you haven't tried it.

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Now that it's been brought up, I did remember crouching during the 8th stream sections in Max 300 since the only way I can tackle longer streams like that is straining myself with the bar if I don't want to dump a lot of misses haha. This probably puts all the weight on my arms.

I think if I'm able to have a more proper form for streams of that speed and length, my arms wouldn't hurt so much and I wouldn't have to rely on the bar to do the streams. While some might disagree, I find Legend of Max harder to pass than Maxx Unlimited due to the heavy streaming at the end while I can rush Maxx Unlimited easier.

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I had the same problem with ITG for a while. I think it's something you get used to. I play a lot of stream songs around level 12-14(old scale) and it does hurt after a while, but if you can push through to the end of the song, the pain is worth it and you'll probably get used to it. Also, place a towel on the bar, that might help your grip and maybe ease the pain.

Maybe it has something to do with height? The DDR machine is designed around the idea that most Japanese players would be around 5"1, so anyone much taller than that trying to reach down and grab it would probably be putting an insane strain on their arms and back, as well as destroying their posture and balance.

Um, the DDR machines were designed so that if you lost your balance and began to fall, you could grab hold of the bar. They were never, not ever, designed for people to throw their arms completely behind them and hold on tight for the duration of the song.

The reason people's arms hurt is because it's an unnatural position for your limbs to be in, at any height. Let alone for extended periods of time.

This isn't even a bar/no bar argument, it's basic sense. Go to a doctor and tell him your arm hurts, then tell him what you've been doing and see what he says.

My arms hurt and feel strained when I lift weights at the gym. Is that unnatural and unhealthy too?

this just in, aeron was involved in the bar's designing and so he knew all about the design and philosophy of the bar

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That depends. There's a right way and a wrong way to lift weights. And if persistent pain starts occurring, most lifters are smart enough to take it seriously and dial it back or stop altogether.

I also don't see many people contorting their arms to hold the weights behind them.

I just took out the useless info and kept what had purpose.

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Dossar,

if you just started playing while holding the bar, then it's most likely workout fatigue. Your body is not used to it. It's the same reason why playing on a psp or any other handheld is highly uncomfortable for the first few days. Your body is just not used to it.

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