Arthritis

[jam8086]

How common is it for a musician to get arthritis? I would think it's less common because musicians thoroughly exercise their hands every day.

[alzado]

I am a senior citizen and have arthritis problems in my legs and knees.

HOWEVER, I am totally free of any problems in my hands, wrists, and arms. 

My teacher tells me that piano playing is believed by many (including some doctors) to prevent this problem.   


If it helps to quantify things, I play my grand piano about 1-1/2 to 2 hours a day.  Most days, anyway.

[henrah]

Do you think playing the organ will keep arthritis from the legs and knees?

[abell88]

Actually, osteoarthritis is often caused by overuse or injury. (My piano teacher's mother was also a piano teacher, and she had huge finger joints from arthritis.) I think a lot depends on your genes, and also how you're practising -- abusively or carefully -- as well as whatever else you do with your hands in the course of your life.

[alzado]

I remember in the old "Get Smart" comedy program, there was a purported professional pianist who appeared on the show occasionally as one of the comic characters.

Whenever anyone would come up to him and offer to shake hands, he would bellow in an anguished voice -- "DON'T TOUCH MY HANDS! !"  He would then withdraw his hands in terror that something might "blemish" his precious hands.

Perhaps we could take a page from this performer's book --  er, from his score.

Just a thought.

Or perhaps we could put Dino Lippati to work running an air hammer on a construction project.

[steinwaymodeld]

Or perhaps we could put Dino Lippati to work running an air hammer on a construction project.

I don't think his skeleton is gonna make it thru the first hour.