Klarinet Archive - Posting 000244.txt from 1995/10

From: David Blumberg <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Can anyone help me?
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 22:52:46 -0400

Tiffani,
See a Doctor ASAP. Preferably one who specializes in hand and wrist
problems. The Doctor can prescribe anti-inflamatories that can reduce the
inner swelling that tendonitis or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can produce. A
really good neck strap I would reccommend is the DEG Claricord Elastic Strap
($13) works quite well. Make sure that your Right Hand (well, both hands for
that matter) is relaxed when you play, and do not squeeze the keys hard or
your wrists will take a pounding.
Whatever you do, DON'T play through the
pain as it will only make it worse.
The non specialist doctors will only
waste your time before sending you to someone who can help you. I know from
much experience.
David C. Blumberg

----------
From: Klarinet -
Clarinettist's Network on behalf of niethamer@-----.BITNET
Sent: Tuesday,
October 10, 1995 1:16 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list KLARINET
Subject:
Re: Can anyone help me?

>
> On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, Tiffani Marcello wrote:

>
> > I am a music education major with my senior clarinet recital
approaching
> > in less thantwo monthes....My problem is my right
wrist....aftre
> > playing for say twenty minutes I get severe pain.......My
professor
> > has tryed different things such as adjusting my thumb rest
>
> This is especially troublesome when I play standing
> > I would greatly
appreciate any ideas on what i should do!
> > Thank you,
> > Tiffani
Marcello (marcellot@-----.edu)

On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, C. D. McClune
wrote:

> 1. If you sit, rest the bell on a knee to take the weight off
the thumb.
>
> 2. If you feel you must stand then look into a neck strap.
There are
> many styles currently available. The strap will limit your horn

> movements and takes a bit to get used to. I may not look cool, but beats

> major problems otherwise.
>
> 3. If all else fails, see a doctor!

Some observations from someone who has been there:

1.) resting the bell on
your knees rounds your back and exagerates the
stretch on your arm muscles -
not necessarily a good solution. Your E/B
and F/C will have tuning problems,
unless you clarinet is exactly the
right size to be the third part of the
triangle formed by your thighs and
your torso.

2.) A strap may cause
problems with your neck and shoulders.

*BEFORE* anything else fails(!!)
see a physical therapist, and take your
clarinet. A PT can look at your
playing and make an asessment of what is
causing your pain, and give you
treatment/exercises to correct the
problem. Unless you postpone this
treatment until the problem is extreme,
you can *probably* continue to play
during treatment. I did, and my
therapist was of the opinion that practicing
the good posture habits was
long term helpful. This last bit is somewhat
controversial among
therapists, as I understand it, but it did work for me.
I have stretching
exercises for before playing, and I'm *supposed* to do
situps every day.

Hope my $0.02 helps - Good luck!

David Niethamer