 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cmarkey
Date: 2010-06-07 06:10
Does anyone have any good suggestions as to how to solve or improve right hand or wrist problems? I've been dealing with various aches, cracks, and general weakness in my wrist for as long as I've been playing clarinet, and using a neck strap doesn't really help any more. Recently it's gotten much worse, and I can't really make it through an entire concert without having to rest my clarinet on my lap. I'm not incredibly tense when I play either, which I realize can be a contributing factor in continuing aches and pains. It was manageable until late May; I performed a senior recital and I'm pretty sure it contributed to worsening the problem.
Any advice and support on these issues will be appreciated!
Celeste
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2010-06-07 10:12
You may also like to try Alexander Technique. I was about to have my wrist operated on a few years ago when I began AT and I've never looked back and never had wrist problems since, not to mention other smaller problems being solved as well. Needless to say I never had the surgery!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-06-07 11:17
Only suggestion I have is to ensure that your right index finger rests (in the "ready position") no higher than above the last sidekey. If your index finger "rests" at a position HIGHER than this key, you wind up pushing with your thumb to get at it (consciously or not) for the ever popular Ebs and Bbs that come up all the time.
I once placed my thumbrest higher on the lower joint WITHOUT changing the angle of my thumb (to angle with the tip pointing up) and spent a year in agony. Since I've had no problem either letting my thumb just take the weight (tip pointing down) with the thumbrest low (opposite the top of the second tone hole) OR thumb pointing more or less upwards with the thumbrest high (opposite the center of the first tone hole).
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: kimber
Date: 2010-06-07 11:32
Call an occupational therapy office and ask for a hand therapist. They specialize in hand/wrist problems and can give you exercises/stretches or even fabricate supportive splits if needed.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-06-07 12:45
Ask for a hand therapist who specializes in musicians. Go to other wind players as well as therapist offices. Sax and flute are particularly hard on wrists - sax on the right and flute on the left. Those will know whom to go to.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-06-07 15:14
(After considering a doctor's advice, ...)
Try a neck strap (I use the BG elastic model). After about 2 months of use, my strap greatly relieved my right wrist problems. After about a year, the "clarinet thumb" callus was pretty much gone.
The strap lifts the clarinet toward your mouth, but it also pulls it in toward your body. That changes the load on your thumb, but does not completely eliminate it. The change in most cases is beneficial to the user.
The elastic strap allows me to adjust the "rest position" of the instrument, so I can move it around to reach the mouthpiece and ligature without having to slip an adjustment on a fixed strap. Others like the more rigid set-up.
Check Michele Gingras' Rico Reed sponsored series of tips on youTube for a simple way to attach the strap to your thumb rest.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ron
Date: 2010-06-07 21:25
Celeste,
I am a clarinetist and an RN. I've had wrist problems for some time now. I strongly suggest two things:
1. Have a teacher who really knows the proper position for your hands, arms, and general posture that is necessary for correct playing watch you play. Not all clarinetists are qualified to do this. Find a really good teacher, maybe a professional in an orchestra and have one lesson to have him/her watch you play. You may be doing things incorrectly that can be easily fixed.
2. Find an physician, an orthopedist who specializes in hands to examine you. I've seen an hand specialist several times for various hand and wrist pain in both hands. You may have real clinical (medical) issues that are contributing to your problems. After such a doctor takes your history, examines your hand and watches how you hold the clarinet, then he/she may suggest physical therapy or some other avenue of approach, i.e. wrist brace to wear when you sleep and during the day, to help eliminate your wrist pains.
Leave no stone unturned and try to do both of the above suggestions. In order to fix any problems that you have, you must to know the cause(s).
Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Ron
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Author: Guy13
Date: 2010-06-08 09:16
Hi,
When I got surgery on my right hand, I used a system that relieves totaly hand and thumb. It includes a support bracket at the thumbrest, the hand only to guide the clarinet.
It's very interesting to relieve pain and allow the thumb and the hand resting up and healing .... continue to play.
http://www.clarinette-passion.fr/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=103
http://www.tasset.com/magilanck-bodystand-pour-clarinette-et-hautbois-p-9841.html
Guy
Aix en Provence
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-06-08 15:57
Alexander Technique, deep tissue massage, weight training, stretching, self myofascial release, adequate rest periods.
I recommend looking into and doing ALL of the above.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-06-08 15:59
Ron: if my observations are consistent with the population at large, VERY FEW clarinetists are qualified to do this.
One other thing, Celeste: Look at what you do with your wrists outside of clarinet. Do they twist outward when you type at the computer? When you use a mouse? When you grip a steering wheel?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-09 11:22
No-one has mentioned or suggested using the Quodlibet Fhred yet, don't know why as it's patently obvious (do a search), but there you go.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2010-06-09 15:43
I don't have a wrist problem, but I sure have a thumb problem, and will check into the above methods for relief. I've been thinking about the clarinet strap for some time. Don't know if there is such a thing as a thumb brace, that would really help. Carol
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-06-09 15:51
Ah, the thumb tendonitis. Find yourself a good massage therapist who specializes in trigger points. The problem MAY be a trigger point in your brachialis, as a result of holding your clarinet up for long periods of time, essentially doing a light isometric hammer curl for hours on end without rest. If this is the case, it's an arm problem that manifests as pain along the outside of the base of the thumb.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-09 15:53
Straps are useless if you have any right hand, wrist, thumb or arm trouble - they don't take the pressure off your right thumb and don't do much good for posture.
Do consider the Quodlibet Fhred (still surprised no-one has even given it a thought on here) - not sure of the cost, but that's insignificant if it offers you the ability to play without any pain: http://www.quodlibet.com/FhredGen.php
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2010-06-09 15:54)
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Author: sue
Date: 2010-06-09 20:48
I agree that looking into some equipment that will support your clarinet is a great idea.
Also, seeing an Occupational Therapist who can ensure you are not aggravating your wrist by how you hold the clarinet would be good.
As well, if the OT doesn't cover this, I'd recommend seeing a physiotherapist - preferably one with musician experience. They can give you targeted exercises to strengthen muscles around an area that needs support whether that need arises from injury, overuse or other reasons. Take your clarinet with you for that too.
Sue
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2010-06-10 02:40
It has been referenced above, but you might want to consider an adjustable thumb rest. A few weeks ago, just before rehearsal, I managed to painfully bruise my thumb in the exact spot contacted by the thumb rest. In order to play, I used a neck strap, moved my thumb below the thumb rest, and played as if there were no thumb rest. By the end of rehearsal, I was surprised at how much better than usual my hand and wrist felt. I am now seriously considering investing in an adjustable thumb rest.
Bart
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Author: smb9220
Date: 2010-06-10 03:42
The Fhred is a terrific solution. I had a problem with numbness of my right thumb when I played for long periods. It takes the weight off the thumb and doesn't require any alteration to the clarinet except for the installation of a small ring on the thumb rest.
I tried a neck strap but it kept getting in the way and didn't solve the problem.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-06-10 19:24
Chris P,
On the contrary, my personal experience with a neck strap has been a great success. My embouchure is now what limits my practice time, and I have no wrist, thumb or forearm problems when I used to have a lot of discomfort.
As I mentioned previously, however, the strap changes the way your thumb is loader. You still have to keep the clarinet away from your body by pushing away with your thumb.
Bob Phillips
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Author: cmarkey
Date: 2010-06-11 18:59
Thanks for all of the help everyone!
I actually do use a neck strap (BG leather), and have for two years now, and it's just recently stopped doing anything for me. I'll definitely investigate the FHRED, although it looks to be a bit pricy. Recommendations on which one to get?
Celeste
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-06-11 19:26
The middle and upper models need a ring fitted to the thumbrest or a new thumbrest with a ring already fitted (eg. an oboe/oboe d'amore/cor anglais thumbrest) that lies in line with the instrument (north-south orientation), or if you don't want to alter or change your existing thumbrest, the lowest priced model should be fine.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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