Introduction
The repetitive nature of playing a musical instrument may cause a musician to experience discomfort, pain, or injury during the course of their life. This pain is often the result of repetitive movement or overuse of the tendons, nerves, and/or muscles referred to as a repetitive strain injury. One common repetitive strain injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs due to constant pressure and irritation of the carpal tunnel. For a serious musician, the occurrence of repetitive strain injuries is very troublesome and if resulting in serious injury, can affect their profession and lifestyle. Therefore, it is vital to recognize any discomfort and strain in order to prevent further injury or damage to the body. Musicians have …show more content…
Wrist
The wrist and hand are perhaps the most common area of strain in musicians. First, a musician must understand that the wrist does not rotate. Any rotational movement should originate from the elbow and the distal end of the forearm, where the radius will cross over the ulna during pronation. Attempts to rotate the wrist itself can be problematic, so it is important for a musician to understand the structure and movement of these joints.
Wrist injuries in musicians are common and are usually categorized as repetitive strain injuries. The most well known repetitive strain injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by the inflammation of the median nerve and the nine surrounding tendons that run through the carpal tunnel (see figure 2). The inflammation and swelling only compound over time with the constant motion of the tendons rubbing on the nerve. While surgery can be performed to treat carpal tunnel, it can cause the carpal tunnel to fill with scar tissue, making the problem even worse. To avoid pressure on the median nerve,
the wrist should be kept straight …show more content…
These postures include aligning the curves of the spine, relaxing shoulders, and maintaining good wrist posture. Aligning the Lordosis curves of the spine, which are the Cervical (neck) and Lumbar (lower back) curves of the spine that curve outwards, allows support of the head. When the spine is not aligned correctly or the head is bent forward, the muscles of the neck and back must strain to hold the neck up, which can cause pain in the neck and back and can cause spasms. This also happens when the shoulders are scrunched upwards. Maintaining good wrist posture prevents excess pressure in the carpal tunnel, reducing pain and the probability of carpal tunnel syndrome.
In the case of pain or discomfort, it is important to know what preventative measures to take. Beyond ensuring correct positioning, the best actions to take include taking breaks to allow blood flow and release any pressure on the nerves and tendons. Stretching the muscles can also reduce pain, especially muscles that had been contracting throughout the
The repetitive nature of playing a musical instrument may cause a musician to experience discomfort, pain, or injury during the course of their life. This pain is often the result of repetitive movement or overuse of the tendons, nerves, and/or muscles referred to as a repetitive strain injury. One common repetitive strain injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs due to constant pressure and irritation of the carpal tunnel. For a serious musician, the occurrence of repetitive strain injuries is very troublesome and if resulting in serious injury, can affect their profession and lifestyle. Therefore, it is vital to recognize any discomfort and strain in order to prevent further injury or damage to the body. Musicians have …show more content…
Wrist
The wrist and hand are perhaps the most common area of strain in musicians. First, a musician must understand that the wrist does not rotate. Any rotational movement should originate from the elbow and the distal end of the forearm, where the radius will cross over the ulna during pronation. Attempts to rotate the wrist itself can be problematic, so it is important for a musician to understand the structure and movement of these joints.
Wrist injuries in musicians are common and are usually categorized as repetitive strain injuries. The most well known repetitive strain injury is carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by the inflammation of the median nerve and the nine surrounding tendons that run through the carpal tunnel (see figure 2). The inflammation and swelling only compound over time with the constant motion of the tendons rubbing on the nerve. While surgery can be performed to treat carpal tunnel, it can cause the carpal tunnel to fill with scar tissue, making the problem even worse. To avoid pressure on the median nerve,
the wrist should be kept straight …show more content…
These postures include aligning the curves of the spine, relaxing shoulders, and maintaining good wrist posture. Aligning the Lordosis curves of the spine, which are the Cervical (neck) and Lumbar (lower back) curves of the spine that curve outwards, allows support of the head. When the spine is not aligned correctly or the head is bent forward, the muscles of the neck and back must strain to hold the neck up, which can cause pain in the neck and back and can cause spasms. This also happens when the shoulders are scrunched upwards. Maintaining good wrist posture prevents excess pressure in the carpal tunnel, reducing pain and the probability of carpal tunnel syndrome.
In the case of pain or discomfort, it is important to know what preventative measures to take. Beyond ensuring correct positioning, the best actions to take include taking breaks to allow blood flow and release any pressure on the nerves and tendons. Stretching the muscles can also reduce pain, especially muscles that had been contracting throughout the