Don’t Break Yourself

What I Learned From Hurting My Back

It's been almost a month since I posted here. Here's why.

About two weeks ago, after a show, I hurt my back. It happened after the show, right as I was getting home. Nothing serious enough to keep me off the kit for good, but enough to leave me unable to play for 10 days, on top of some rough nights of sleep.

Last Wednesday, July 8th, I finally got back behind the kit — at The Wood Shop, in Kings County, New York. The show was great, and honestly, playing again after 10 days off hit different. Thanks to the production team for all the support, and to everyone who showed up and even grabbed some merch to back the band. That kind of support makes a real difference in keeping us on the road.

If you were there and want to grab something else, the merch link is on the site. And while I'm at it — follow us and share, because we might be playing a city near you soon.

What I Was Missing: The Cool-Down

I've been playing for almost 30 years, and I always stretch before a show. That part I never skip. What I never did was cool down afterward.

Drumming is a sport. We use our whole body, in repetitive motion, often for hours at a time — and just like any athlete, the body doesn't just need to be warmed up before, it needs to come back down after. I'd finish a set, load out gear, drive home, and just... stop. No cool-down, no stretching, nothing — right when my back needed it most.

The Recovery

What got me back to playing pain-free in those 10 days was proper treatment and rest — and, more than anything, understanding that this wasn't a one-off event. It was the result of years of playing without preparing my body for it.

What Changes From Here

I'm building an actual cool-down into every show and rehearsal from now on, right alongside the stretching I already do before — plus a back strengthening routine to actually prevent this from happening again. And I want to bring this topic more into Pulse Culture, because I suspect I'm not the only drummer learning this the hard way.

Do you warm up but skip the cool-down too? Or do you have something cool to share with us?

Let me know in the comments.