Tendons | A Workable Practical Guide to Piano Playing

Tendonitis of Wrist

admin Tendonitis May 30, 2011May 28, 2011Common Names, Excessive Stress, Exercise Equipment, Improper Technique, Knee Tendonitis, Micek, New Sport, Persistent Pain, Powerball, Professional Athlete, Professional Baseball Player, Professional Instructions, Repetitive Strain Injury, Tendonitis Wrist, Tendons, Tennis Elbow, Tennis Player, Thumb Pain, Wrist Rest, Wrist Tendonitis

Tendonitis of Wrist

Tendonitis of Wrist
By Karel Micek

Are you professional baseball player, swimmer, tennis player or golfer? Then you are susceptible to tendonitis in your shoulders, arms, elbows or wrist. Tendonitis of the wrist is an irritation and swelling of the tissue or tunnel which surrounds the tendons of the thumb. Pain in the front of the wrist is a common symptom of tendonitis.

But you do not have to be a professional athlete to develop tendonitis.

– The incidence of tendonitis increases with age as muscles and tendons lose some of their elasticity.

– Improper technique in any sport is one of the primary causes of overload on tissues, including tendons, which can contribute to tendonitis.

Some common names for various tendonitis problems are tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, pitcher’s shoulder, swimmer’s shoulder and jumper’s knee.

Treatment of Tendonitis of Wrist

– Rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers

Prevention of Tendonitis of Wrist

– Ease up. Avoid activities that place excessive stress on your tendons.

– Mix it up. If one exercise or activity causes you a particular, persistent pain, try something else.

– Improve your technique. If your technique in an activity or exercise is flawed, you could be setting yourself up for problems with your tendons. Consider taking lessons or getting professional instructions when starting a new sport or using exercise equipment (Powerball Gyroscope)

– Stretch. After warming up and again after you exercise, take time to stretch in order to maximize the range of motion of your joints.

– Prepare your muscles to play. Strengthening muscles used in your activity or sport can help them better withstand stress and load. (Powerball Gyroscope)

Exercise with the Powerball Gyroscope (also called Wrist or Hand Gyro) to strengthen or to warm up your muscles.

– Recommended by Chiropractors

– Profound effect on Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Repetitive Strain injury, tendonitis, arthritis & all wrist related ailments while used for as little as just 5-7 minutes each day

– Gently stress damaged areas

Do you suffer from Tendonitis of Wrist, Elbow, Arm, Shoulder, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS ), Arthritis, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), Wrist Injury / Break, Tennis Elbow / Golf Elbow?

Then you should read more and discover the rehabilatitive qualities of of the Powerball Wrist Gyroscope. Discover the benefits of this explosive, dynamic, exciting…addictive tool.

Here you can find more information about Tennis Elbow, Golf Elbow or Wrist Exercise and about Powerball Wrist Gyroscope.

This will make your exercise fun!

Article Source: //EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karel_Micek

Piano Basics- Scales and Arpeggios

admin Keyboard Technique May 9, 2010May 7, 2010Bowman, Eve, Fingers, Grief, Joints, Magic Touch, Note Patterns, Paint, Pianist, Pianists, Piano Basics, Piano Scales, Piano Teachers, Scales And Arpeggios, Simple Steps, Simplicity, Solid Foundation, Suitable Manner, Tate, Tendons, Ups, Warm Up Exercises, Warm Ups

I am well aware that for many people, the idea of playing scales, and other warm up exercises is about as exciting as watching paint dry. However, there can be no substitute for technique and good playing basics, like ensuring that scales and arpeggios are played correctly, and in a suitable manner as to ensure correct warm up of the hands, fingers, and joints. Many pianists have come to grief, by simply sitting down at the piano, and getting straight into a full routine to play a complex work, without the former warm ups suggested.

Now, the pianist may well get away with this for quite some time, even possibly years. although more likely than not, they will experience quite debilitating injuries in due course.

The tendons of the hands are placed under considerable strain when complex works are played, and the problem is exacerbated by people with small hand spans, as they need to stretch more to play the more complex works.

Particularly with beginners, by laying a solid foundation, and understanding the scale and note patterns, the student will be able to appreciate the more complex playing techniques in later years, and tackle them with greater ease as well. Many great piano teachers have spoken about the piano being about simplicity, in that even complex processes are made up of simple steps, often joined together by rapid playing. Whilst this is simple in its own right, it will become even simpler when attempted and done after a suitable warm up, every time.

Scales and Arpeggios are also mentioned in Wallace Tate's Magic Touch Piano Manual, describing the Bowman Method.

Tendonitis and Piano Playing – How Can Tendonitis For Pianists Be Resolved or Dealt With Appropriately?

admin Injury Management, Keyboard Technique, Overcoming Adversity, Piano Method, Tendonitis May 8, 2010May 7, 2010Beethoven, Cessation, Fingers, Joints, Muscles Of The Arm, Nbsp, Period Of Time, Physiotherapy Clinics, Pianist, Piano Playing, Possibilities, Professional Pianists, Regimen, Repetitive Strain Injury, Scales And Arpeggios, Seven Hours, Sonata, Tendonitis, Tendons, Tique

It is no secret to just about any long term pianist that occasional pain and muscular discomfort may occur from time to time, during their playing careers. Effectively, this is the result of repetitive strain injury. Many serious or professional pianists will typically practice for around seven hours a day, and over a period of a number of years, will add up to a long term pressure on the joints and muscles of the arm, hand and wrist.

As with any sporting activity, it is encouraged to ensure that a thorough warm up session be undertaken first, and then too, a cool down session, to slowly relax the body prior to the cessation of exercise. The same can be applied for pianists, as this will contribute to less chance of injury. Now, I am not going to suggest that playing scales and arpeggios before you launch into the Beethoven Pathétique Sonata is going to cover you against all and sundry injuries. However, it certainly is an important part of your playing regimen.

However, let's consider the actual forces and strain that are going on with the arm, and hands, let alone the wrist and fingers. As far as the arm is concerned, many pianists extend the arm in such a way as to apply considerable force to the wrists ad tendons, as they play, and this can certainly be sustained for a period of time,. However, given the nature of the work in question, some pianists will start to notice pain if they are stretching their fingers considerably (when the hands are small, and the notes spread widely over the keyboard). The preceding example is by no means the only possible scenario, but certainly a common one, amongst others.

There are a number of possibilities to undertake to resolve the problem, and for some, that includes attending physiotherapy clinics. They certainly have their place, and some are undoubtedly very good. In fact, some have an excellent reputation. A question that I would ask however, is to perhaps see if we can find a way to eliminate the problem form developing in the first place. Is such an option available to pianists? The short answer is yes, although it is dependent on the teacher, and student adopting a different method of playing, which like any new endeavour, will take time to master, but ultimately, bring forth greater rewards to the pianist, as well as the pleasure of an improved sound. You might well ask, "How can dealing with tendonitis improve the sound?"

The sound itself, is the result of the quality of the playing. When a pianist is able to play with less fear due to a greater relaxation at the keyboard, and a technique that allows a greater freedom of movement in the hand and fingers, as well as positioning relative to the keyboard, the strain can be greatly minimised on the tendons. Whilst some people may try to convince you that you can cure the problem in a few days, I personally believe that to be irresponsible, and dangerous. If you play on through a damaged tendon, you will likely do more damage. You are better off resting the injury till it heals, and then applying a technique that has been proven, like the Bowman method.

Next, are you experiencing or dealing with overcoming piano injury, for the long term?

You will also gain an enhanced comfort and improvement in your playing, with less stress and injury. To learn more, see the therapeutic techniques that are possible for classical pianists.