Klarinet Archive - Posting 000242.txt from 1996/08

From: "Christopher D. Hutton" <back7219@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Neckstraps
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 17:10:36 -0400

At 09:53 PM 8/6/96 -0500, you wrote:
>On Tue, 6 Aug 1996, Fred Jacobowitz wrote:
>
>> The fact that a
>> condition is finally DIAGNOSED has nothing to do with the fact that it
>> exists. People have been having strokes and heart attacks for millenia.
>> It is only relatively recently that an "attack of apoplexy" can be
>> differentiated into stroke, heart attack, etc. Musicians (and, indeed, all
>> other professionals) have always had medical problems specific to their
>> conditions.
>
>All very true, and yet, it seemed to me that about 15 years ago, we had
>an "epidemic" of TMJ (Tempora-Mandibular Joint Syndrome, I think) among
>musicians, which of course is impossible due to the fact that it is not,
>or should not be contagious. It seemed that a quarter of our woodwind
>students suddenly couldn't play for months at a time, and yet I had never
>heard of the syndrome, or even anyone who experienced the symptoms in my
>30+ years in music.
>
>Now, the "diseases ju jour" are CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome), RUI,
>(repetitive use injury) and other acronyms which I can't keep up with.
>I'm certainly not denying that the conditions exist, but I also can't
>explain the fact that in the 1950's and 60's, I was acquainted with
>literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of woodwind players in school and
>professional situations, and never heard one of them complain of such
>symptoms.
>
>Perhaps someone can help me understand this.
>
>Ed Lacy
>*****************************************************************
>Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
>Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
> Evansville, IN 47722
>el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
>*****************************************************************
>

As a musician, clarinetist and saxophonist (among others), who now suffers
from severe, chronic tendonitis in both forearms, I have discussed this
exact point with as many people as I can get a hold of. The common theory
among my former professors at college was that the practice"ritual" was
different before, as well as the attitude of musicians. They felt that most
musicians didn't admit to any pain because it might hurt their asperations
in the music world if people were to know that they were hurting. Another
theory is just that no one know what to call RUI until now, or tho
understand that not just the weaklings suffer from it, when you felt too
much pain, you found another career. I had never heard of the problem until
my arms got so bad that I coldn't grip a pen or pencil, much less play my
clarinet. Luckly I was not aiming to become a performer and as a teacher I
can handle the pain by not playing so much. But the problem still exists,
as I will probably suffer with arm and wrist pain for the rest of my life.

Carol Hutton, Instrumental Music Teacher, MD

   
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