Handheld Stabilizer Users... How do you reduce forearm and back fatigue?
 

I have recently bought Terry's Indicam Pilot sled, which is comparable to the Glidecam 4000 with added features. However, despite reading all the posts about forearms hurting, I thought I would be able to handle it ;) Boy, was I wrong!

Not only do the forearms get tired and my hands start shaking, but also, the right side of my mid back starts to get sore after a while.

The only remedy I have come up with is to keep carrying around the stabilizer until my muscles get used to the idea and just deal with it but I think there are better ways.

How do you guys handle the muscle aches associated with your handheld stabilizer?

What exercises do you do to build up those muscles?

What techniques do you use to reduce the fatigue associated with these muscles?

Thank you! I'm looking forward to a less painful experience ;)
:-Peter

I spend an average of 6 hours a day, doing a wide range of strength and endurance exercises. But, the most helpful exercise I do, for camera-carrying abilities, is picking up a pair of dumbbells that weigh from 25 to 35 lbs. each and carrying them for a mile or two. Sometimes, I carry them at my sides and part of the time, raise them to my shoulders. I swing them around and hold them at odd positions for several seconds as I walk. If you start out with light weights and build up over time, your capabilities as a pack-mule could increase a lot. My shoulder-mount/stabilizer and camera weight varies from 8 to 23 lbs., depending on the model I use. When I go on a 12-mile Nature hike with my full-sized Beta, that counts as a whole day's worth of exercise. That's just what I did yesterday, on Earth Day.

Wow, Stephen, you are INTENSE! Intense but a good idea at that! Thank you for sharing. I guess by carrying a pair of dumbells, you even out your muscles instead of becoming lopsided from only carrying the stabilizer and camera ;-P

Peter, I should add that I'm very fussy about the shoes I wear. They make a big difference in how well I hold up when packing extra weight. I use running shoes, but always a heavier and more supportive type, for carrying video gear or weights. Turntec is my brand of choice. Flexibility and warmup exercises are also important. I go through a long routine of stretching, before I do any exercise. All this preparation pays off, as I seldom have any aches and pains.

Can you expound on your stretch routine? Do you focus on stretching your arms and back only or your whole body?

As for the shoes, I am having a hard time locating the Turntec brand. I had never heard of them until you mentioned them but they seem to exist only on ebay?

Thanks, Stephen.

In a never-ending quest to find the best shoe for Steadicam work (understand that the rig I carry daily averages between 55-70lbs depending on camera), my current pick is this.

Peter, in the first place, any exercise and flexibility program must be started slowly and carefully. If you have any special problems with your back or joints, then even more care must be taken. I started my athletic training when I was age 4, so I've had plenty of time to develop my routines and allow my body to safely tolerate them. A life that includes a good diet with enough calcium and also adequate sunlight to generate Vitamin D, is needed to have strong bones. There's other ways to get calcium and Vitamin D, but if they come from natural sources, they are much more effective than what you get from supplements. However, I do take daily supplements of glucosamine and MSM for my joints and it really works. I'll be 67 in a few months and I'm functioning better than I did when I was 1/3 my age.

For flexibility, I usually start with simple movements. I bend over and touch my fingers and then my palms to the floor, doing about a dozen repetitions. Then, I squat all the way down and come up 6 times. I spread my legs out and do 12 lateral rotations, touching my opposite hands to the floor, two feet past my feet. Then, I go down on my knees and bend all the way back, touching the back of my head to the floor several times, holding it there for several seconds. I stand and raise one foot to a bar that is 5 feet off the floor and bend forward, touching my chin to my knee several times and reversing sides. Then, I grab a doorknob for steadiness and bend laterally at the waist in the opposite direction and hold it for several seconds and repeat 6 times on each side. This is to stretch the ilio-tibial bands (IT bands) that run down the outside of the legs, from the pelvis to below the knees. If the IT bands become too tight, they may cause severe pain along the outside of the knees or hips. In addition, I do many strength exercises that also serve to increase flexibility, such as lateral rotations when standing and doing a two-handed pull on a handle from a cable and pulley machine, at chest height.

I do quite a few exercises when hanging from overhead bars that are parallel and 20 inches apart. These include pullups, straight-leg or bent-knee raises and lateral rotations. I may do these exercises at a fitness club or use the full set of apparatus I've incorporated into the structure of my garage and covered patio. There's also a lot of hard bike riding, running, weightlifting, foundation gymnastics exercises and Kayak paddling in my activities. I've pretty much had to give up ball sports, as there's no time for them. I hope you can pick some useful ideas from this. Good luck in your own workouts.

You should be able to find Turntec running shoes at many of the better athletic shoe stores. I get them at a cut rate at a Big5 store, that's part of a large chain. The parent company of Turntec is American Sporting Goods, which also owns Avia and several other brands. The owner of this company and also the brilliant design engineer who developed the shoes, is Jerry Turner. He's the one who overhauled the shoes made by Brooks, before he started his own company.

Charles, those semi-hightop shoes look very substantial. I can imagine how they would have all the characteristics your demanding work would require. If I didn't have the burden of carrying a strong personal prejudice against that company and its products, I'd probably want to give them a try. This is odd, as I was the first paying customer they ever had, being a friend of their original sales agent.

Most back problems occur from weak abdominal muscles. Work your abs evey week. When carrying a load always tense yor abs to help support your back. If you are overweight with a big belly you are asking for trouble.

Stephen, I am thoroughly impressed and encouraged that you have maintained your health and continue to do so at such an age in your life when others are ready to retire and do nothing! Thank you for sharing some of your stretch exercises as well. Prevention is the best health care, in my opinion.

Yesterday, I took a pair of dumbbell weights and carried them around with my elbows bent at a 90 degree angle to stimulate the stabilizer muscles ;)

Thanks for your input and suggestions!

Peter

I really wonder if Glidecam Body Pod works well or not for this situation.

Shoes, shoes, shoes...
 

Just out of curiosity, do you guys have a nicer pair of shoes, for when you do nicer dressed functions? I got a pair of David Taylors at Sears, and they aren't quite as comfy as running shoes, but way better than my boots. Nice black suede and soft soles, sort of corporate casual.

From what i read, the bodypod is just to relieve stress, and is not a stabilzer system. The next closest thing is the smoother shooter but then again, that has its weight attached to it also.

Sure it's not a stabilizer system but the pressure applied to our bodies would be more balanced when used, I think. Of course excercise is still very important.

Thanks for the reply.

From what I understand, the bodypod is best used in between shots to give your wrists a rest. I suppose you can use the bodypod to shoot, but I think it translates your up & down movement from walking to the camera since it is connected to your body...

I have no experience with it but that's what others have said. Pease correct me if I'm wrong.

You are right. The body pod is for static shots. It has no articulation, so walking is not really an option. It also does not spead the load from what I have seen in the pictures.

If you want something else, you would go up to Terry's Indicam or Glidecam's vest for the 2000/4000. The Glidecam wrist brace is supposed to help and someone recently mentioned using a sports wrist brace found at WalMart or a drug store also helped decrease arm fatigue.

Edit - other tactics are to work on lightening the camera package. Use multiple small batteries. Don't use a quick release mount. I did two parades with my 2000 with a VX2100 (not continous - only about 1.5 hrs of tape). Bayer Back and Body Pain is in my kit (my rotorcuff and elbow joint seem to get it the worst.)

You betcha, I've got some fancy footware. When I got out of the Army and went back to college, I signed-up for another term of Air Force ROTC, just so I could get a free pair of black dress shoes. I still have them and use them every three or four years, for funerals. Then, there's always my pair of semi-hightop Redwings, that I've had since high school. Does a pair of steel-tipped, box-laced paratrooper boots count as dress shoes? I once stood in an honor guard for European royalty with them.

Picture----far right, front row: http://www.redstone.army.mil/history...tantine_58.jpg

*shudder* No thanks... I'll take something a bit more casual than Army shoes. They weren't all that bad, just not as comfy as I like.

Greetings to all,

Just back from NAB where we had a great time.

I tried out all the stabilizers I could locate. I went to Glidecam's booth (great guys by the way) and after using the forearm brace for a short time I came more to realize that unless you're Superman, you NEED a vest and arm system to support your sled if you're going to shoot for any extended time. I don't know any other way around it. I know it's money but for those of us who have shot both ways, the expense it absolutly worth it. Like I've said in other posts, with the support system, you can shoot for hours-not just minutes and you don't "hurt" when your done...well, maybe just a little.

Tery

Terry, while I would like to be able to use a support system, I don't know how much of a distraction I will be with it. I want something discreet and mobile so as not to draw too much attention and yet get great footage... that is why I bought the Indicam :)

My current use of the Indicam is for pre-ceremony, location setting, and b-roll footage. While a full body support system is appropriate and warranted for movies and independent films and the like, walking around in a full rig at a wedding would only seem to cause distraction and add to the common notion that videographers are anything but discreet and only get in the way. Also, spaces are tight and there are usually obstacles, not to mention people, at weddings ;)

Perhaps the Steadicam JR or Merlin would be a better choice for people who want a stabilizer and yet still remain discreet and mobile because the center of gravity does not strain your wrist as much... Nonetheless, the Indicam is a great product and I do like it very much ;) The gimbal is smooth like butter :)

Peter

P.S. Terry, do you prefer to spell your name "Terry" or "Tery" because I see both.

Peter,

You are correct again. It is hard to be discrete with a full rig.

I just finished watching my daughter's wedding video where we used the PILOT sled only and the video looked great but it was a stress for long shots. My son handled the system while I danced the father and daughter dance. At the end you could hear him say under his breath "My arm's getting really tired". I laughed!

For your situation you are doing the correct thing. I have used the full rig at a wedding before but only at the reception. The wedding party knew and approved of it so everything was fine. I wore black so I wouldn't stand out as much. Standard color for steadycam use in live situations.

If you can send me a picture of you with the sled I'll put it on my website and link it to your website if you would like.

With regards to Terry or Tery, I use Tery in the video business generally so when I receive correspondence I know where it's from. Either way is OK.

Tery
Indicam

Peter,

Another thought. If you drop the extension as far as it will go, take off some of the counter weights, and re-position the gimble accordingly it should be easier on your arm.

I bought a .5 pound MPEG4 video camera at NAB and flew it with the PILOT sled. This of course is an extreme difference from the DVX-100a I usually fly but it was much easier. I shot "Simon the Magician" at one of the booths for about 20--25 minutes using the stabilizer this way.

The point being that if you can take some of the weights off the bottom and extend the post, flying will be easier because the sled will be lighter. This is only important if you need to video for more than a few minutes. I don't know how much extra time you'll be able to shoot but it will be longer.

Combine this with getting certain muscles toned up and it could really help.

Tery
Indicam

How does flying like this affect your shots? I believe others like Charles Papert have said that it's best to keep the post as short as possible and the gimbal about three to four fingers away from the stage.

Is it harder to control or to keep level? Does wind resistance affect it more?

I was always impressed by my old cinematography instructor's, Kris Malkiewicz, amazingly steady hand held work. I asked him how he did it; "Tai Chi". I had the advantage of attending CalArts where the actors are required to take Tai Chi, so you could just add yourself to the group. And I have to say it really does help your stabilizer operating as well. Get yourself a Tai Chi video! It really helps balance out your body and posture. As for a tired wrist, I've found a wrist splint (the velcro kind with splints that someone with a wrist sprang my wear that you can find at any drug store) is a big help. In addition, practicing 5 minutes with the stabilizer 3 times a day, then extend the time a few minutes each week will really get those muscles in shape in a couple of months and improve your operating as well. My vote for shoes are Merrell http://www.merrell.com/Main.aspx Not only super comfortable, but completely silent!

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Hmm, did I say that? I guess I did. I wasn't thinking of handheld stabilizers though, which have a shorter post to begin with--let's just say that a good ratio of post above gimbal to below gimbal should be 8-1 or greater. 3 to 4 fingers is too much for a handheld rig that might have a 12" long post.

Terry,

Do you mind sharing your wedding video clip of Indicam shots? I'd love to see the difference between using the full rig and going handheld or monopod.

Thanks,
Peter

Peter,

I'll have to get some of them on my website which will be in a few days as I'm still editing the wedding video.

Tery

Hi Peter,

If you're interested, you can take a look at my little demo of a handheld unit on my site:

http://dvcamerarigs.com/killercontents.html

The "Shock Corridor Stabilizer" has a QT link next to it. Just click it and take a look.

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

I have finally uploaded a clip from the last wedding. Boy what a week!

It can be found here:
www.indicam.com/media/steadiweddingSlow.wmv

Some of the best shots are lock-offs which I can also do with my rig.

Be kind as I am a manufacturer and not a professional steadicam operator.

Nice job, Terry. Though I could see the whole thing (slow-mo really helps steady things out too!), I'm sure the bride and groom will be quite happy with it.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Thanks Dan,

The hardest thing about this wedding reception was the low light. For all of us who face this problem there needs to be something in the contract that states "Adequate lighting will be used to allow for proper video" or something like that.

OK smart wedding videographers, what is the correct wording? I could come up with it eventually but I'm sure you guys have already done it so I won't reinvent the wheel.


Tery
Indicam

Thanks for sharing, Terry. I would have liked to see more shots but the two you showed were good.

When you say some of your best shots are lock-offs, are they lock-offs done with your rig, or tripod shots?

Also, do you get people giving you weird looks when you're in your rig? :)

I'd like to see the shot of your son muttering about his tiredness, if you have that, too ;) How long was he holding it for? Was he using the rig or just the sled?

Thanks again for sharing, Terry!

Hi.
I also have a nice Glidecam 2000 clip in wedding situation.
This is a mix with several weddings at photo time.
Hope you enjoy it :)

http://www.relaxvideo.hu/esk-videok.html

After 20-30 minute of using, my wrist is very fatigue, so i think to buy
a forearm brace. I'm only 28. But its quite expensive in Hungary.

Marton

Hi Prech,

This might look a little weird, but a sling (like you'd use for a broken arm) has become my new favorite way to battle fatigue when holding a stabilizer.

Dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Dan,

That will indeed help while resting or doing static shots but you want to have your arm free to do some steadying during a moving shot. Otherwise you could just use the Glidecam Forearm Brace which does the same thing. It doesn't allow up and down stabilization but the sled will help smooth out the side-to-side jitter.

You probably already know that but just for the record...

Terry
Indicam

I think you'd be surprise how much "UP" movement you can do. but you're right: Down, not so much. For a "Walk and Talk" tightening the sling up and using a "burrito" (a sound blanket rolled up) stuck between your arm and body gets suprisingly smooth shots from a hand held. (I've also used a wrist splint which helps as well).

dan
www.DVcameraRigs.com

Dan,

Great idea for an inexpensive arm support. It's not like a real stabilizer arm but it sounds like it would work somewhat. I suppose your wrist does much of the up-down stabilization.

Hey, Maybe you could have a "donations box" nearby because it might look like you have a broken arm.

Terry
Indicam

The local drug store thinks I'm really accident prone!


dan