How Delicate is the Hand?

[emmas_dad]

Reading through these posts, I see so many regarding injuries from playing. Is the hand really so delicate? Is it really that easy to injure yourself while playing? I mean, just playing, not with any Schumann-esque apurtenances attached to your fingers.

I guess these posts are making me a little paranoid.

[oscarr111111]

Mainly hypochondria, but its worth being careful.

[a-sharp]

Well - RMI (repetitive motion injuries) - such as carpal tunnel - are real. You *can* over-practice - and certainly use your hands in such a way as to cause injury - BUT, I think, as with in any other activity - you have to listen to your body. 'Soreness' - to a degree is normal - like when you work out for a long time & your muscles are fatigued. But pain - is a sign your over-working or doing something wrong and need to take a break, stop or change what your doing. If you're not feeling any pain, I wouldn't worry about it - carry on. & happy practicing!

[emmas_dad]

Thanks, a-sharp. Your advice was pretty much what I've been telling myself. I think the problem is that so many people, in posts and in books, tell us how we should sit, how our hands should be positioned, etc. Even though logic tells us what works best varies from player to player, it gets awfully confusing. Especially for those of us , like myself, who don't have teachers.

Thanks again!

[dnephi]

I would say to get a teacher no matter what.

Sorry,

Daniel

[arthur]

if you get hurt practicing it's because you lack technique.. I mean, every pianist should play in complete muscular repose

[dnephi]

if you get hurt practicing it's because you lack technique.. I mean, every pianist should play in complete muscular repose

I don't agree with the school of thought that you should be relaxed absolutely all of the time-there has to be some action of the muscles for the action to happen.  The key is quick relaxation.  Relaxation is going from a state of action to a state of repose, not staying in a state of repose.

[horizontal]

I don't agree with the school of thought that you should be relaxed absolutely all of the time-there has to be some action of the muscles for the action to happen.  The key is quick relaxation.  Relaxation is going from a state of action to a state of repose, not staying in a state of repose.

Although it is true that good technique is not 100% relaxed 100% of the time, I have never in my life seen someone who was having technical issues related too MUCH relaxation. In my opinion, the root issue of 99% of people's technical problems is too much tension in the hand and arm.

[keypeg]

Although it is true that good technique is not 100% relaxed 100% of the time, I have never in my life seen someone who was having technical issues related too MUCH relaxation.

There's always a first time.  You can get into dead weight from limpness, which has its own problems.  Something has to take up the weight, plus the "relaxed" limb isn't doing much.

[thierry13]

If you're 100% relax, you're simply not playing. The trick is to use exactly the tension required to get what sound you want to get out of the piano. Trying to over-relax will simply hinder your playing.

[momopi]

Your skin can crack if you wash the dishes (bec of dish washing detergent). be careful~~~

[hyrst]

Efficient playing looks easy becasue of accuracy and power.  Playing well takes power and direction, using as much opportunity as possible to relax - either complete release for a fraction of a  second or a generally more relaxed direction for several bars.  The trick is finding the balance between these two and finding out which muscles need to be the ones directing the power in the given circumstance. 

My own experience, beyond working with my rheumatoid arthritis, is that there is a pain quality difference between tiring muscles and potentially risky pain.  Working muscles will ache a little and tire.  You need to work them, but you need to rest them properly when you have worked them and you need to build up their potential for work.  Over-working causes aching for a couple of days (like going for a long bike ride or walk if you haven't ridden for ages).  That ache isn't dangerous, but a reminder to take better care of yourself anda build up your efforst. 

Strain on the ligaments or bones could be dangerous and causes a seizing, sharp pain.  That pain is a message to stop immediately and rest / ice if the pain continues. 

I found lack of strength in the hands and fingers led me to overuse my wrists.  The hands are not as prone to damage as the wrists.  I had to work deliberately to build the hand strength so that I oculd stop compensating by using my wrists.  It improved my playing immensely - control, ease, comfort, precision, expression, etc. 

[archneko]

Just don't over practice. Like a-sharp stated.
Remember that perfecting a song does not mean playing it a couple hundred times. Some people require more practice while others need only a week or so.
In fact, some people need only to hear a song in order to perfect a song.
https://hyerstandard.com/5-year-old-south-korean-piana-prodigy-can-play-any-song-after-hearing-it-once/
Yes, its the media, but its an example.

Ooh, fear the media~~~

[etcetra]

I think musicians usually have high level of tolerance, they don't stop even if their body is telling them to.. and  a lot of problem may come from practicing out of fear and trying too hard to become good... its even worse because a lot of people.. even teachers have that no pain no gain attitude.. but if you are practicing correctly with the right teacher you should be fine.