| Author |
Comment |
philipboulanger
Registered User
Posts: 8
(7/8/01 4:22:13 pm)
Reply
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Pain in Bow hand
thumb
Hello,
I've been playing for roughly 7 years, and lately
I've been having a lot on pain in my right hand while i play. It
doesn't hurt all the time, but it feels more like an endurance
thing. I find it hard to get through many of the pieces I am
playing, and even scales give me a bit of trouble. I don't ever feel
like i'm squeezing hard with my thumb while I play, but the problem
is in between my thumb and first finger, in the "meaty" section,
where the muscle is, in the webbing there. It doesn't really hurt,
but it feels fatigued, and i often have to massage it after i play
for a bit. any suggestions? Why is this happening? Thank
you
Philip
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Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1056
(7/8/01 7:24:21 pm)
Reply
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Re: Pain in Bow
hand thumb
Even if you are not actively squeezing the bow with your thumb, you
may still be tensing the muscles. Every once in awhile when you
practice, take a moment to pick up your bow and do some basic
movements exercises... like holding your arm straight out and
flipping the bow to the left and right, up and down.
The
right hand tends to get tense quite often. It doesn't need to be and
to play well, it shouldn't be tense. Try this: Hold your bow off the
string and feel the weight of the bow dangling from your right hand.
Now take your left hand and hold the bow up so that your right hand
is just providing an anchor point. See how relaxed your right hand
is? That's how it should be when playing. Except when playing very
soft passages, you never need to actively hold the bow "up." Gravity
will keep it in place. All you need to do is guide
it.
Laura
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RobertPlaysCello
Registered User
Posts: 5
(7/10/01 9:10:04 pm)
Reply
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Re: Pain in Bow
hand thumb
You could also check out how relaxed you are through your shoulder
and arm. A lot of the tension in my hands seems to really be related
to tension in my arm.
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philipboulanger
Registered User
Posts: 9
(7/10/01 10:00:04 pm)
Reply
|
finding
equilibrium is just as hard
thank you for your advice. i've been thinking about my right hand
alot these last several days during practicing, and now i find my
difficulty is in making sure my left hand doesn't cramp up while i
focus on the right. both hands hurt in the same place, though, in
between the thumb and the first finger. i also find that when i try
to have my arm (right) completely relaxed, it aches then too. it's a
strange balance i'm aiming for. thanks again for your help
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MsCheryl
Registered
User
Posts: 249
(7/11/01 9:23:33
am)
Reply
|
Re: Pain in Bow
hand thumb
Have you been doing other work with your hands? I found that after
doing alot of room painting, my bow hand starts to go numb while
playing. Apparently, I hold the paintbrush wrong!!!!! Anyway, I know
other people who developed problems after starting to crochet or do
garden work, so look around and see what else you use your hands for
(my doctor was astonished that I would play frisbee! Still haven't
figured that one out.....)
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