 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bstutsman
Date: 2009-01-01 06:23
I'm developing arthritis and it has been suggested in another thread to try this tool that guitar players sometimes use. It exercises the individual fingers. These things come in strengths of 3, 5, 7 and 9 pounds per finger. Have any of you worked with these before? If so, what strength did you use?
http://www.amazon.com/Gripmaster-Exerciser-Tension-5-Pounds-Finger/dp/B0006GBDZY/ref=pd_sim_sg_1
Thanks ahead of time.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-01-01 12:59
I have tried it in my life, but I would not reccomend it to anyone for clarinet playing (or any other instrument). I feel that making one's fingers "strong" will also make the stiff and slow and this is not necessary, especially for clarinet which has rather light springs.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-01-01 13:42
It's the muscles in the forearms that will be strenghtened as they control the fingers.
If you have arthritis, wouldn't this kind of excercise do more harm due to the extra stress on your finger joints (presuming the joint cartilage is already irreversibly damaged)?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-01-01 14:46
Don't use that thing. Both sets of muscles, the ones that curl and the ones that uncurl your fingers, are equally important. Strengthening one side of the equation won't help you a bit. It will only put more stress on already-compromised joints.
Finesse is always a much better solution than brute force. Have an expert technician adjust your instrument for the lightest action that you can work with. After you get used to that, think about adjusting things even lighter.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-01-01 21:33
And if the weight of the clarinet is becoming a problem for your right arm, use a Quodlibet Fhred support as that will take the weight off your arm, and also keep the clarinet at a decent playing height and angle while retaining good posture, unlike slings which only make the clarinet drop downwards causing your head to lower as well.
Personally speaking, I'm not affiliated with the Quodlibet company, though I have seen the benefits of their products with my own eyes and thoroughly recommend them to anyone that is finding clarinets (or oboes/cors anglais) too heavy for them, or so they don't exacerbate a physical condition while still giving the player the opportunity to enjoy what they like doing - playing music.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-01-01 21:39)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-01-01 22:05
I remember my friend Michael and his use of Heavy Hands while running. He is a keyboard player.
In a few weeks of running with Heavy Hands, Michael proceeded to screw up his arms so badly that it took months for the tendinitis to completely heal.
It is probably not a good idea to do any "strengthening" exercises unless specifically prescribed by an MD or DO and administered by a PT.
Your muscular skeletal system is a finely-tuned mechanical unit. I'd really be cautious about using the Gripmaster.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-01-03 14:28
Interesting to see an artical on the local news last night where an arthritis suffer had some of his finger joints replaced with carbon composite artifical knuckle joints. He was in such pain before having the replacement joints fitted that he even considered having his fingers amputated, but after the surgery he had the mobility in his fingers restored.
The carbon these joints were made from is the same dense kind of composite used in nuclear reactors, so it's hard wearing and should last a lifetime - they said somewhere between carbon fibre and diamond in it's density, apparently.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2009-01-04 00:48
But is it recyclable after we're done with them? After death a lot of these aparatus should end up in a recycling bin, wouldn't you think? (A bit of dark humour! ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) )
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Author: Neil
Date: 2009-01-04 02:55
"The carbon these joints were made from is the same dense kind of composite used in nuclear reactors"
I'm not aware of any modern day reactors that use carbon. Russia had graphite-moderated reactors long after the west but I had hoped they would give up on the idea after Chernobyl.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-01-04 05:48
"But is it recyclable after we're done with them? After death a lot of these aparatus should end up in a recycling bin, wouldn't you think? (A bit of dark humour!)"
Well, they do end up as landfill! But seriously, do artificial joints recovered after cremation get recycled?
I think the graphite used in the Chernobyl reactor was much lower density than these knuckles as these were like black glass. Seeing a documentary about Chernobyl it was doomed from the word go. Then they made modifications to make things worse.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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