Help (cold hands)

[xtopher]

Hi...
I need ur suggestions because
i have to perform in 2 days and im worried because
here its a very cold season and my fingers freeze very easy.
So...i dont know how to play..i mean what should i do to play without cold in my hands in the recital?

[Daniel_piano]

Hi...
I need ur suggestions because
i have to perform in 2 days and im worried because
here its a very cold season and my fingers freeze very easy.
So...i dont know how to play..i mean what should i do to play without cold in my hands in the recital?

Wear fingerless gloves while you play



They should be long enough to cover your wrist
Finger freedom of movements with covered and kept warm palm and wrist prevent you hands from becoming cold, in fact sometimes they will be too hot

Daniel

[JP]

In my case warm water, gloves and such dont do much good.

If you want the heat to remain, you'll have to promote better blood circulation in your hands. Those extended arm rotations that lots of pianists do work fairly well. Avoid bending joints that are located between your shoulder and tip of you fingers.. (Read : elbows, wrists & fingers)

[Daniel_piano]

In my case warm water, gloves and such dont do much good.

If you want the heat to remain, you'll have to promote better blood circulation in your hands. Those extended arm rotations that lots of pianists do work fairly well. Avoid bending joints that are located between your shoulder and tip of you fingers.. (Read : elbows, wrists & fingers)

The problem is that you cannot simply promote better circulation in the arms just by moving them
Circulatory pathologies aside, the best way to promote better blood circulation in the arms and in the hands is to avoid better circulation in other area
So if you run, talk much, eat, drink or do exercise before your performance your blood flow will be redirected in those other areas (legs, face, brain, digestive system,  gall bladder biceps and triceps) and there will be less blood circulation in your hands
So avoiding redirection of circulation towards other areas is the best (if not the only way) to secure proper circulation in your hands

Daniel

[JP]

The problem is that you cannot simply promote better circulation in the arms just by moving them
Circulatory pathologies aside, the best way to promote better blood circulation in the arms and in the hands is to avoid better circulation in other area
So if you run, talk much, eat, drink or do exercise before your performance your blood flow will be redirected in those other areas (legs, face, brain, digestive system,  gall bladder biceps and triceps) and there will be less blood circulation in your hands
So avoiding redirection of circulation towards other areas is the best (if not the only way) to secure proper circulation in your hands

Daniel

Agreed.
Consider this, what causes the hands to be cold is the blood being diverted from that specific area of the body due to nervousness, actually fear (body considers it as danger). So the right solution would be to eliminate the danger. I know, its easier said than done.  If the diversion is really due to the cold, increasing the heart rate will circulate blood through the body at a higher rate. The catch? The area from which the blood is being diverted will receive x%*5-99% .
x = rate it was receiving considering the diversion.
5-99% = % of the increase it will receive
This is a simplified model..
There are several other models to calculate this, but my days in bio/pharma are a long way behind me.. 
Also, the slightest increase in blood circulation to the motor nerves mean a world of difference (mechanically), as you've probably noticed...

Obviously there is the psychological aspect of it all..
But I don’t feel like going there..
 

[hodi]

it's true that people who feel fear or deepressed has most ot the time cold hands even in the summer
but in the winter you would likely to have cold hands because of the cold and there isn't any connection between depression and cold hands in the winter for most people.

i just put my hands on my cheek and my neck for some time and they get warm because the cheek and the neck are always warm (lots of blood there..)

[JP]

it's true that people who feel fear or deepressed has most ot the time cold hands even in the summer
but in the winter you would likely to have cold hands because of the cold and there isn't any connection between depression and cold hands in the winter for most people.

i just put my hands on my cheek and my neck for some time and they get warm because the cheek and the neck are always warm (lots of blood there..)

Really?
Care to take a guess why when you're in the cold, at a certain point your body will cut-off circulation to your extremities, selectively of course.
Forget depression, its too specific. Think of it using fear, which is more general and the origin of depression..


P.S. excluding those who have circulation problems or require blood thinners.. Thats a different topic.

[aki]

To tell you the truth, gloves don't do much.  It is better that you wrap yourself in a warm jacket until you perform.  What is also helpful is those little bags that releases heat.  I've seen people with them.  As far as I know, you peel off a tape, or something to get the chemical reaction to start, and the bag becomes warm.  The bag is just the right size for the hands.  I'm not sure where to get them though...but they help.

[jlh]

Actually, gloves can do wonders if you have the right ones.  Personally, I like to find a restroom that has warm air hand dryers and first run my hands under warm water, then blow dry with warm air.  Also, keep your hands and fingers moving in the minutes prior to performing, as this will promote better circulation in that region.  You can also warm your hands under a warm jacket using heat from your upper body.