Klarinet Archive - Posting 000814.txt from 1998/03

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: NeckStraps & a related question
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 11:44:02 -0500

Nice to have a physiologist's view on this. The thumbrest point seems
very important - I suspect I've been quite lucky myself in this respect.
Roger S,

On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, Diane Karius, Ph.D. wrote:

> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 11:45:57 CST
> From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: NeckStraps & a related question
>
> Roger wrote:
> >
> > I've a suspicion that using a strap could be a substitute for developing a
> > good R. H. position.
>
> Its also possible to develop bad R.H. position because the
> joints/muscles of the right hand/arm are unable to deal with the
> weight effectively. The human wrist (and ankle) can vary
> tremendously from one person to another (from subtle changes in the
> shapes of the bones to variations in the number of bones present -
> any of which changes the way the tendons attach, changing the
> mechanics of the entire system etc...). Because of this, the
> decision to use a strap or not is one decision that everyone will
> have to arrive at for themselves (hopefully with a teacher who can
> help them maintain/develop proper positioning regardless).
>
> Just a question out of curiousity - how many people currently using
> neckstraps while playing the soprano clarinets (or teachers who
> advise their students to use a neckstrap) tried/ advised the use of
> adjustable thumb rests before making the move to the neckstrap?
>
> Why I'm curious: One thing that has become apparent from the
> research on repetitive use injuries (which most people using
> neckstraps have described here) is that the hand/arm was often being
> held in an inappropriate position for literally years before the
> development of the injury. On the clarinet, an obvious contender
> for forcing the wrist/thumb/hand into the wrong position would be the
> physical relationship between the thumb rest and the position the
> fingers have to be in to cover the tone holes. There is enough
> variation in the shape of the hand and mobility of the wrist that I
> find it hard to believe that the standard positioning of the thumb
> rest will work for everyone (if it did there would be no market for
> the adjustable thumb rests!).
> Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
> Department of Physiology
> University of Health Sciences
> 2105 Independence Ave.
> Kansas City, MO 64124
> email: dikarius@-----.EDU
>

   
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