Hand Health For Musicians: What Pianists, Violinists, and Other Musicians Should Know
As musicians, our hands are our livelihoods. They are the vehicles through which we are able to create and express ourselves. When pain or injury interferes with their functioning, our craft and emotional well-being suffers. Due to the repetitive nature of playing instruments such as the piano and violin, musicians are at an increased risk for the following hand injuries.
● Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
● Tendonitis
● Bursitis
● Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
● Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
● And more…
While finding and working closely with a reputable hand and wrist specialist is highly recommended — particularly for professional musicians — there are a number of steps you can take on your own to ensure healthy, musical hands. Our specialists have compiled a list of the three best steps you can take on a daily basis to improve your overall hand health.
Tips For Hand Health: What Musicians Need To Know
1. Perfecting Technique: Poor technique is the fastest route to hand injuries for musicians. Why is technique so important? Proper technique allows musicians to reduce the amount of force required to perform, keeps joints safely in their middle range of motion during practices and performances, and utilizes larger muscles groups that prevent fixed or tense positioning. All of this leads to a decrease in the chances of a hand injury.
2. Take Five: Taking regular and scheduled breaks to stretch and warm up during practices gives your muscles and joints relief from the repetitive motions of practice and performance. Furthermore, the constant repetitive motions prevent your joints and muscles from releasing the metabolic waste products that, over time, cause trauma to your hands.
3. Pace Yourself: When is the most common time for hand injuries in musicians? Immediately following a competition or recital, music camp, or at the end of their participation in a music group. Why? Lack of pacing. During each of these time periods, musicians are going full force all the time. They are “cramming” for their concert, endlessly practicing during camp, or performing non-stop with their musical groups. Therefore, their joints and muscles are being overworked and overstressed, and these musicians often suffer serious injuries. Avoid this pitfall by pacing yourself. Resist the urge to go non-stop. Give your hands a rest day.
Following the above advice can keep your hands in mint condition through performance after performance. Anyone suffering from recurring pain or a reduction in available range of motion should consult and hand and wrist specialist for a proper diagnosis. Request an appointment with us today if you are worried about your hand health.
