Finger muscles hurting on competition day, help!

[oullman7130]

I enter very few competitions, and the one today is in a few hours. The muscles controlling my fingers hurt (mainly my right) when I play anything rigourous. My pieces are the Chopin Ballade no 2 and Waldstein First movement, but when I just now played the coda of the ballade, my right hand couldn't get through it. I still need to do more practice, is there a quick effective way to relieve this like icing my hands and arms?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

You're relying too much on your fingers.

[michael_c]

Don't do any more practice. Practicing a few hours before a competition is counterproductive.

Take a warm bath, shower, take a walk, meditate, breathe deeply, read your favourite book, anything that helps calm mind and body.

[faulty_damper]

Imagine a runner running a marathon before the actual marathon because s/he needs the practice.  What energy is left for the actual competition?  And the high probability of muscular fatigue and injuries that can occur during this practice?  So why do pianists feel the need to do the same prior to a competition?

Regardless, sounds like bad technique.  Your muscles should never be in pain.