Fingers are curling...

[donjuan]

I have been noticing a change in my hand this past year.  My hands used to be naturally flat - not flat flat, but mostly flat.  Increasingly, I have found my fingers curled up in a fist - not a tight fist but so the fingertips are touching the palm - while I am watching TV, or whatever.  It's not a problem, I can move them fine, it's just that the resting position of the fingers has changed.  I can consciously open and close my hand, but if I am not aware of it- say, I look down at my hands while watching TV, I find the fingers curved moreso than before..

I am wondering if this has anything  to do with the way I am playing the piano, or if there is some horrible injury evolving inside me.  Does anyone else feel their fingers are more naturally curved since you started playing piano?  For me, this is weird - I've had contact with a piano for at least 10 years and I am just noticing this thing now...

donjuan

[Nightscape]

Uh oh.... that sounds like what happend to Leon Fleischer right before his injury.....

[Nightscape]

Just kidding!

[jlh]

It sounds like your muscles are becoming imbalanced.  For every agonist muscle (the muscles that help you make a fist), there is an antagonist muscle (that helps you flatten your fingers).  If one of them becomes stronger than the other, you will notice what you're describing.  Try doing stretches several times a day and maybe get a doctor friend of yours to suggest an exercise program that will emphasize the use of the antagonist muscles of your hands.

[super_ardua]

Perhaps ask a doctor?

mines has always been bent

[Spatula]

I'm finding mine increasingly bent as well and curled in.

I think its been all the scales and 4 note broken chords that i force my hand to be curved to break my own speed wall

[donjuan]

wow, thanks for the responses.  I dont really think I need to see the doctor since Im not in pain or anything - I just wanted to know if anyone else experiences this.  If so (thanks spatula), I prolly dont need to worry becuase you are here and breathing..
donjuan