Guitar Players--Hand And Finger Movements To Prevent Hand & Wrist Pain

Musicians can get a lot of pain in their hands and arms because they hold their muscles in the same position for long periods of time.

This video by GuitarLessons365.com does a great job of showing movements for musicians (and other living folks) to counteract all of that "closed hand" muscle activity. 

When you use ALL of your muscles, you are not likely to get pain of any type!  That's the trick to staying pain-free.  When you were a little child, you used all of your muscles.  You ran and jumped, climbed and slid, crawled and tumbled.  You were never still!

But now?

That's why this video is valuable.  It shows many ways to move and stretch your hands to avoid and help correct muscle strain and pain from playing musical instruments.

Pay attention to his hands even as the man in the video begins talking.  He doesn't hold his hands "palm down."  That's the position musicians use the most (and the rest of us, too.)  By holding your hands palm up, you are using different muscles right off the bat!

Are you wondering whether it is possible to stretch TOO much?  Yes, it is.  I have done it myself.  So always pay attention to your body.  If you begin to have new pain in your hand joints, back off on the stretch a bit (don't stretch so far) or stretch less often. 

On with the show!

Comments

[Meri]

Thanks for posting this. I've been playing guitar for years yet haven't been doing stretches to prepare. Now it's starting to catch up with me. This video was very helpful.

[Kathryn Merrow - The Pain Relief Coach]

Hi Meri,

You're welcome! I'm glad you found this helpful. The 'rule of thumb' (and fingers, hands & arms) is to stretch the muscles that are held in short positions. Thank you for your comment!

Kathryn

[Laurie]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I am a cellist in pain and this is just what I am needing!!!

[Kathryn Merrow - The Pain Relief Coach]

Hi Laurie,

Glad to be able to help! Moving in the opposite directions of the ones our muscles are usually held in is a great key to pain relief.

Thank you for your comment.

Kathryn