Klarinet Archive - Posting 000044.txt from 2007/09

From: "Keith Bowen" <bowenk@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] shoulder injury
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:46:53 -0400

I think both Karl and Forest have given good advice, but I want to comment
on the lay-off issue. I did have a 2 month long layoff last year, due to two
lots of surgery, sinus and nerve - the latter in my elbow, so I had little
strength in my arm for quite a while. The neurosurgeon in fact was very
happy about the finger exercises given by clarinet playing, and as you say
the bass clarinet is little effort.

I did not find it much trouble to get back into shape. Admittedly the first
session was an exhausting ten minutes, but I could double the period each
day so it did not take that long. And I did it in a very structured way,
with long notes, scale, arpeggio and rhythm practice, and JeanJean/Baermann
finger exercises, as if I was learning all over again. Of course I wanted to
make sure the nerves were working properly, but I found at the end of this
period that my playing was actually better than before the layoff. Forest
coached me both before and after and can probably confirm this!

So I can't say whether you should do this or not, but if you have to, it is
an opportunity that you need not be scared of.

Keith Bowen

-----Original Message-----
From: klarinet-return-91569-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org
[mailto:klarinet-return-91569-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org] On Behalf
Of Karl Krelove
Sent: 18 September 2007 17:12
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] shoulder injury

FWIW, I'd say take your doctor's advice - try playing and, if it hurts,
stop. If it doesn't hurt, go for it. I wouldn't lay off for two months if I
could possibly avoid it - it's too much trouble to get back in shape. :-)

Karl

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donna Higgins [mailto:Donna@-----.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 11:48 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] shoulder injury
>
> About 10 days ago, I fell off a horse and tore some ligaments and
> tendons in my left shoulder. No broken bones. I had an MRI Friday and
> am seeing a specialist on Monday, but I don't think he has any special
> knowledge about musicians issues, and when I asked my regular doctor
> about when I could start playing, she just said "if it hurts, don't do
> it." Well, by the time I realize it hurts, it's too late to not do it,
> ya know?
>
> Am I completely out of my mind to think I might try playing some bass
> clarinet this week? I use a peg and no neck strap, so my left hand
> won't need to bear any weight, and my fingers are fine. Obviously,
> someone would need to put the horn together for me. I'm wearing a sling
> most of the time, but my doctor said to remove it a few times each day
> to move my arm around to avoid the shoulder joint completely freezing up.
>
> So, if I'm supposed to be working it a little bit each day, why not toss
> in a few minutes of playing time? Or should I forget that I even play
> clarinet for the next two months?
>
> Thanks,
> Donna
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

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