Forbidden Sports

[8426]

Is the pianist allowed to play volleyball? Basketball? Tennis?

Why or why not?

I have played. I occasionally have gotten injured but not for some time. Recently I had
to have a new teacher and he said it would not be good. Is everyone's take on it the same?

[Bob]

Naked Twister?  That's sounds like it would "forbidden."

Weight lifting doesn't seem great for the hands.  Pretty much any sport could damage the hands.  Maybe skateboarding, etc. if it makes you more like to fall down.  Any sport where a ball is passed around could injure the fingers.

Anything that could really damage the hands or fingers or use them with some force so it affects playing.

Not that stops people.  There's always a risk.  You could trip doing anything, fall down, and land on hand or fingers the wrong way.

Car accidents too.  Possibly more likely to have a car accident than a sports injury.

[onionduck]

I juggle, weightlift, play billiards, stepmania and punch a bag every now and then. For me, the worst activity for being able to play piano afterward in the same day is definitely the bag punching. So, forbidden sports are probably anything that involves punching stuff. I'd put basketball up there too since it's really easy to jam your finger (especially when you're exhausted and not paying attention as well).

[Bob]

Thumb wrestling.  While it might increase your thumb's dexterity, that could be quite dangerous.

[loonbohol]

I injured my pinky finger on volleyball.
Especially if you try to hit the ball the wrong way.

[tds]

I injured my pinky finger on volleyball.
Especially if you try to hit the ball the wrong way.

ouch...

[pianowolfi]

my students injure their hands or fingers mainly on basketball, ski and soccer.

[antichrist]

just don't be too serious while playing sports, injuries never recovers

[communist]

Be safe and play chess, pianists are good at chess.

[imbetter]

I have injured my hands and fingers numerous times playing sports. I guess just be careful, play a sport that doesn't risk injury, or not play sports! Personally I just try and be more careful.

[slobone]

Well unless you're a world-famous concert pianist and your hands are insured with Lloyd's of London, I think it's a little silly to avoid sports just because you're afraid of injuries. Go ahead and enjoy your life for goodness' sake.

And it's not as if sports are the only problem. The violinist Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg cut off the tip of her finger while slicing onions and was out of commission for a couple of years...

[musiklover96]

some sports seem to even strengthen arms and hands such as artistic gymnastics

[curio]

Still, if you're going to play sports, it's probably a good idea to pick one with lower hand/wrist stress.  Of course injuries can come from anywhere, from getting out of bed in the morning, but we don't have to increase the odds.  Myself - I'm pretty sure my clumsy attempts at tennis weren't worth the wrist problems it caused, but if there's a chance to go skiing this winter, I'm taking it.