 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-07-19 02:55
I've been noticing recently after practicing for about an hour at at time, that the base of my right thumb and towards my wrist hurts a lot. I mean, its excruciating. I end up bracing my bell on my knee after awhile to avoid this. I've tried to wrap my wrist with an Ace bandage, but to no avail, because it's mostly at the base of my thumb. I've tried a neckstrap but there's no way i'll be able to get used to it. Is there any way to alleviate (sp?) this without any adjustments to my clarinet? I'm planning on getting a new horn sometime in the near future, so i dont want to do anything too drastic or expensive to my horn (college coming up, dont have a lot of money to spare). Any ideas??
~ashley~
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-07-19 04:19
So much pain on this site... I actually put so much pressure on my right hand that I bruise my thumb if I practice too long. But that pain doesn't last. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
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Author: Jonathan (Aus)
Date: 2001-07-19 12:25
Have you tried a flexible neck strap? I use one all the time (need to get a new one actually) and it helps alot. Also if its possible when you sit down to practice its a good idea to rest the bell of the clarinet on/in between your knees. The only problem this can really cause to be aware of is that it will flatten middle B if you are playing in ensemble situation and this can often times be a good thing. I used to get pain all the time in my thumb, wrist going right up to my shoulder and now i don't unless playing for over 6 hours a day for a week generally. I think that the reason for this is 1 the neck strap, 2 when sitting resting the clarinet in between knees as often as possible and last but not least 3 trying to be alot more relaxed about my playing. Holding the clarinet in a more relaxed way, keeping the fingers in a more natural and relaxed position, and overall my body being less tense has probably helped more than anything else and at the same time probably the hardest to do to get out of bad habits that i didn't realise i was even doing.
If this doesn't help you can try the Kooiman or any number of similar thumbrests that are molded to fit the contours/position of your thumb. These are quite expensive though.
Even getting a piece of plastic tubing to fit over your existing thumb rest to extend it outwards could be of some help to give your thumb more even support? This is also much cheaper - doesn't look as good but hey who cares. It also only takes 2 seconds to put on and off.
Anyway, I hope that you can find a solution soon so that you can practice for hours upon hours without any worries. :-)
Best of luck,
Jonathan
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-07-19 12:48
I have and had that too. It won't go away completely. What you have is an irritation of the tendon, which goes through your wrist to the muscle ending near the elbow. This system is responsible for bowing the thumb upwards and outwards from your palm (hope this is understandable, but if you have the pain, you will know anyway).
Don't know if a neckstrap would help. I actually got myself a moveable thumb rest and put it somewhat more upwards, so that the thumb is more straight. Also I mainly practice on a B12 plastic horm, which is ligher in weight. Then I try to avoid excessive pressure with the right hand fingers and keep finger action lightly. Moreover, I try to put the clarinet weight more on the thumb cap to use the muscles, which bows the thumb inward towards the palm (hoping the explanation makes sense), and which are much stronger.
Overall, I reduced the irritation to a neglectable degree.
Rene
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2001-07-21 02:44
i just rest between my knees and the pain goes away right away. I feel it also helps me relax all over my body by resting it there, just because I don't have to use the whole right side of my body. My hands are more relaxed, I breathe better, everything seemed better, and most of all, no pain. Try it and see what works for you.
good luck
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-07-21 14:03
I too get agonising cramp in the base of my right thumb that can cause me to cut my practise short,(not good.)I'm considering trying a strap or ergonomic thumbrest.
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