Sports and piano

[lufia]

I play basketball alot and i continuely stub/injure my thumb and fingers. Does this affect my piano performance in the long ran? Last year i got my finger/thumb stubbed about 8+ times.

[henrah]

How long have you been playing basketball and piano together? If you haven't noticed any problems yet, I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be any in the long run. Maybe shortening of the fingers (very slight, probably none at all) or the tips becoming flattened, but I don't think that will give you any problems if you keep playing both. Obviously bad injuries will effect your playing i.e. tearing a ligament (ouch!!) or stressing a muscle in one of your fingers thus destroying it's dexterity and movement. Until any problems come up, continue to play both, and also practice not stubbing your fingers in basketball
Henrah

[brewtality]

I played basketball and piano for most of my life and it has never been a major concern. I had more of a problem with playing classical guitar because of the need to grow long nails.

[stringoverstrung]

I've been playing BBall and Piano when i was in my teens and i had the same problem: injuries to the fingers. Now most of the time it's ok but one time i really hurt the ligament of my left 3rd finger and i must say i still feel it today (16 years after) not when i'm playing the piano regularly but when i practice real hard. Then i feel it that same day and a few days after that.

It is a fact that sports will render your muscles stronger but this usually means that the muscle becomes shorter and less supple. I play some tennis and i can not stretch as far with my RH (i'm RHanded) as with my left hand probably because my Right arm/RH is stronger from playing tennis.

Moreover if you are injured then you cannot play the piano thus violating one of Busoni's credo's: "touch your piano everyday"

[lufia]

thanks peepz for replys. its very true about ur theories, my right hand finger is slightly shorter than my left fingers but its unnoticeable unless i curve my thumb and fingers around my wrist but both hands can reach a 11th so its only slightly. My left is also very more flexible than my righthand. hahaha