 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: loubob
Date: 2005-09-19 04:15
Howdy Y'all,
After undergoing corrective surgery for Tunnel Carpal Syndrome in my right hand I find that after about an hour of practicing I am experiencing pain and considerable discomfort in my right thumb. I am seriously considering moving up the thumbrest to where the thumb will be positioned directly under the right index finger. This feels more comfortable to me and the pain/discomfort is reduced considerably. Will this new position affect technique? Why is the thumb-rest located in its present location? Is the present location one of those "traditional" practices? Will moving up the thumb-rest to under the index finger make the right hand more ergonomic? What is the estimated groundspeed of coconut-laden swallow? Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks el mucho!
RS,
Loubob
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-09-19 04:20
I have mine moved up as well. However, that did not help nearly as much as the following:
1) Use a neckstrap.
2) Stretch before playing.
Moving the thumbrest did very little to alleviate pain, but these two steps eliminated it entirely.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: joannew
Date: 2005-09-19 06:43
I too have moved the thumbrest to try minimize tendonitis pain, but it takes some time for the hand to adjust to the new position. If you put an adjustable rest such that it can be gradually raised from the old to the new position, and use a neckstrap for at least part of your practice sessions during the transition, this should minimize the difficulties. But don't forget to take regular breaks from your practicing - if it hurts after an hour, practice in 45 min intervals.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-09-19 07:49
You could consider a Kooiman support that transfers support from the thumb to the side of the wrist.
http://www.tonkooiman.com/
Do a search of this clarinet forum to find reviews/views.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-09-19 11:31
Having had the same surgery and experiencing no pain problems afterwards while playing clarinet I wonder why you are. Having nothing to do with the carpal tunnel thing I had previously "flipped" my thumbrest upside down and prefer that playing position. I don't suggest trying to do that yourself unless you are mechanically handy. Do consult your surgeon re your pain problem.
Bob Draznik
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-09-19 11:42
I second the Kooiman, I've had the same problem in my right hand. The kooiman definitely does help!]
EEBaum, I'm curious about your stretch exercise... what exactly do you do before playing?
Post Edited (2005-09-19 11:44)
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Author: Andrewcn
Date: 2005-09-20 01:40
This sounds like a serious problem. Pewrhaps you could also consider something like a Pan Support, which supports all the weight of the clarinet. There is also something similar being made in Iceland or somewhere scandanavian, which has a belt rather than a firm waist brace. This sort of thing is well worth while, even if only for home practice sessions, with a simple neck strap for rehearsals & performances.
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Author: bryris
Date: 2005-09-20 01:44
As to the estimated groundspeed of coconut-laden swallow........
:)
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2005-09-20 02:22
I've had problems with tendinitis and carpal tunnell syndrome, and found that moving the thumbrest up across from the index finger was helpful. I also worked on my hand position to make sure everything was correct, and use a neckstrap and lightly rest the bell on my knees. I no longer have pain, and I'm playing about 40 hours per week.
Chris
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-09-20 03:26
I loosely follow the "hands, forearms and wrists" series from the Anderson book (one of the best $15 or so I've spent). It's a bit cumbersome for me to describe in words.
Quick summary... (any stretching, assume 10 seconds or so)
Interlock fingers, move hands clockwise & counter 10x ea.
Stretch fingers outward, then like angry cat claws.
With fingers straight, stretch at wrists upward, then downward, then outward with fingers curved.
Hold and twist each finger clockwise 5x, counter 5x.
Lightly pull each finger 3 seconds
Hands roughly in prayer position, move downward, hold, rotate fingers down, hold.
Hands back up to prayer position, push & hold to either side.
Again, not very effective to describe in words by someone with limited experience. I highly recommend the book. It's much better described and has great illustrations, as well as stretches for just about every situation.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2005-09-20 04:14
When John Butler restored my three old [wonderful] horns he changed the thumb-rests from standard to Selmer adjustable.. The difference for me was like day & night, I have a very happy thumb these days!
Fred
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-09-20 05:02
Also note that traditional computer mousing contributes significantly to strain on the thumb and wrist. I've found significant relief by switching to a trackball and a vertical mouse (I switch between the two). Consider this a #3 addendum to my original post.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-09-20 06:21
Thanks for the description EEBaum, I've still got the symptoms after playing 6 hours on a day (and I use the kooiman and let the bell rest in my knees. I also use a trackball mouse). So I will buy that book, I will do everything to make my playing live more enjoyable!
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Author: joannew
Date: 2005-09-20 06:21
Good point - the computer "horizontal wrist" position is quite a strain when you're used to the clarinet "vertical wrist" position (or vice versa). At work I use my mouse on the left to share the strain (takes only a day to get used to), and otherwise I use my tablet PC, with magnetic pen as an alternative to keyboard & mouse, for exactly this reason. I also found changing the straight mountain bike bars on my bike for bars with a nice sweep (traditional French style) puts the wrists back from horizontal to vertical, and eliminates a great deal of strain.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-09-20 13:02
Gigliotti was big with getting his students to adjust their thumbrests to get the index finger across from the thumb.
It helps relieve the pressure on the thumb from a very unnatural position. Manufacturers who put adjustable thumbrests which only go down and not up to get the thumb across from the index finger are clueless as to ergonomics.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-09-20 16:39
Gig's idea is what I found, ?independently?, to obtain a "pinch" orientation [better known as one of our Makers greatest inventions for mankind !!], IMVHO, of course. That is accomplished at least partially by TR inversion, and using a 1/4-3/8 " of a pencil [rubber] grip for more comfort. While playing, if my fingers lose flexibility etc, I just shake my hands, a few times vigorously, with wrist/fingers downward, as if trying to shake-off water drops etc. Seems to help me, and if it attracts other's attention, I just smile! Try these things, they're inexpensive. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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