Klarinet Archive - Posting 000185.txt from 1997/04

From: Terri Kimiko Oda <as648@-----.CA>
Subj: Neck Straps
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 1997 13:12:07 -0400

Just another comment:

I only recently began using a neck strap on my Bb. It actually doesn't
clip on to my thumbrest, but rather has a hole that the thumbrest goes
through. It has two holes in this bottom attachment, presumably so that I
could use it on an Eb if necessary. Other than that, it's just a nice
piece of elastic and velcro.

Why do I have to use it? I've been developping a repetative strain injury
in the past month, mostly due to writing, but I'm sure clarinet and typing
also factor in, as does driving, lifting objects such as a container of
juice, opening doors, etc... pretty much anything I do with my hands and
wrists. In other words, it hurt like anything to play (actually, it hurt
when I *stopped* playing. Usually my concentration was such that I
wouldn't notice my hands/wrists until later) even though I *had* reduced
the strain in my hands significantly. This takes the weight off my poor,
overused/abused wrists and allows me to play relatively pain-free, as long
as I haven't done anything else to my wrists beforehand.

There's no point in *everyone* using a neck strap if it's not needed --
certainly it would be more beneficial simply to build up the strength to
play -- but there are times, as in a repetative strain injury, that
continuing to play without it would probably cause further problems. I
like *my* neckstrap :) although I'm waiting for the day when I make enough
of a recovery not to need it all the time.

-> Terri <-

--
"It's like male geeks don't know how to deal with real live women, so
they just assume it's a user interface problem. Not their fault. They'll
just wait for the next version to come out -- something more 'user friendly.'
- Douglas Coupland, _Microserfs_