Recommend arm stretching exercises for warm up?

[geopianoincanada]

I find that I must have a pinched nerve in my right arm because it affects how well I can control my right fingers at times.

I'm sure other pianists must have experienced such things so I'm wondering what may be a recommended stretching or other sort of exercise to help.

Thanks.

[ego0720]

Do you have any suspicions as to the possible source? I had pinched nerve in my neck and that was painful.  I also had a pinch in my lower lumbar.  The solution was decompression of nerve via a cervical traction device and inverted back table, respectively.  This can be something serious so you will want to make sure you resolve it now and not let it snowball.

If related to piano, reassess the tensions as well as posture. It can also relate to general postures away from the piano (like how one sits in front of computer).

[geopianoincanada]

I think it started several years ago shortly after we moved in, I went on a mad tree trimming escapade here with a long reach (20 ft) manual trimmer and was rewarded afterwards with the equivalent of tennis elbow.

Since then I haven't done much tree trimming but use during piano it flares up in the form so when I need to rotate or extend to use my right arm/hand there are issues as if the right arm/hand become momentarily immobilized during the effort.

[ego0720]

Is the flare reproducible?  Like if you do it now can you purposely make yourself feel it?  If yes and trending for the worse (as compared to a few years back),  it might be something to talk with your PCP.  I cannot say I experienced a pinch nerve in my arms so I don't know if thats common for pianist.  Only on my legs, back, and neck (I had problems with everything except the arm).

[pianistavt]

I recommend (and practice) stretching of the entire body 3x/week for overall health.  There are zillions of yoga and stretching videos available on YT.  Find one you like and start.  You can search for specific areas, like the arms, wrists, hands, but you don't know what's causing the pinched nerve - it could stem from the lower back, etc.  I had/have an issue with my left wrist, it's gotten better over time.  It was exacerbated by the rowing machine at the gym.  The movement pulled on the muscles/tendons in the palm of my hand.  Stopping that was a game changer.  If you're not going to go to a PT, then I recommend exploring yoga/stretching and make it a routine practice.

[geopianoincanada]

The issue comes and goes on it's own without any input from me. A few days ago there was considerable interference with my right hand and arm but today there is none. I always do warmup movements in my hands and arms before laying my hands on the piano. I do have neck issues stemming from whiplash in the late 1980s and the resulting arthritis in my neck, perhaps there is some relation there.

[lelle]

Pinched nerves can be anywhere between your neck (thoracic outlet) to your hands. It can be for reasons as seemingly unrelated as chronic stress/anxiety causing neck tension which affects those nerves (has happened to me and people I know). I really like this Qi-Gong routine, it does wonders for my shoulders and consequently my playing especially if I do it consistently for a couple of days: