Accordions and hand/finger/wrist problems

[JKJ]

I may have posted about this before as a possible aid to those with finger, hand, or wrist problems (I forget). I was recently reminded when my Lovely Bride started using it and after two days said it REALLY helped her recent hand pain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CDFLX47

“LifePro Hand Massager for Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel and Stiff Joints - Hand, Wrist & Finger Massager with Heat & Compression - Arthritis Pain Relief for Hands, Pressure Point Therapy Massager”

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This is a battery powered hand/wrist massager. I first bought one for myself, gave it to a friend who needed it more than me, then bought another one for us. At 74, I sometimes get finger cramps and hand pain when doing fine detail work for extended times, things like precision work on the wood lathe with small tools, detailed carving, building small mechanical things, playing the piano and guitar, too many hours at the control levers of the big zero-turn mowers, and more.

This thing is amazing. It has modes that massage the fingers, hands, and wrists. It works by inflating various internal bladders with air, varying the pressure over different areas, and supplementing with short selectable “buzzing” pulses. There are a variety of user settings for the amount of pressure, the type of massage and the massage area (s). The massaging will “roll” forward and back on some settings. There is even a setting to apply gentle heat.

The battery charge lasts a good long time. It turns off after 15 minutes but can run multiple cycles on one charge.

This has solved my finger cramping problem at the lathe and when working at other detailed tasks. After several days of use, my wife said her hand pain is gone, at least for now. Our welder friend uses hers every two days or so. One setting provides a massage gentle enough for a young grandson who played video games for too long.

I think I’ll buy another one so I can keep one in the shop and one in the house. Bought from Amazon, it can easily be returned within 30 days if it doesn’t help. If your hands hurt from playing the accordion and you are a charity case maybe I’ll get one for you. (But you play accordions you probably are not broke and destitute!)

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the company that makes these nor in Amazon, except I send Amazon money and they send me stuff.

JKJ

 

[Ffingers]

I may have posted about this before as a possible aid to those with finger, hand, or wrist problems (I forget). I was recently reminded when my Lovely Bride started using it and after two days said it REALLY helped her recent hand pain.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CDFLX47

“LifePro Hand Massager for Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel and Stiff Joints - Hand, Wrist & Finger Massager with Heat & Compression - Arthritis Pain Relief for Hands, Pressure Point Therapy Massager”

````````

This is a battery powered hand/wrist massager. I first bought one for myself, gave it to a friend who needed it more than me, then bought another one for us. At 74, I sometimes get finger cramps and hand pain when doing fine detail work for extended times, things like precision work on the wood lathe with small tools, detailed carving, building small mechanical things, playing the piano and guitar, too many hours at the control levers of the big zero-turn mowers, and more.

This thing is amazing. It has modes that massage the fingers, hands, and wrists. It works by inflating various internal bladders with air, varying the pressure over different areas, and supplementing with short selectable “buzzing” pulses. There are a variety of user settings for the amount of pressure, the type of massage and the massage area (s). The massaging will “roll” forward and back on some settings. There is even a setting to apply gentle heat.

The battery charge lasts a good long time. It turns off after 15 minutes but can run multiple cycles on one charge.

This has solved my finger cramping problem at the lathe and when working at other detailed tasks. After several days of use, my wife said her hand pain is gone, at least for now. Our welder friend uses hers every two days or so. One setting provides a massage gentle enough for a young grandson who played video games for too long.

I think I’ll buy another one so I can keep one in the shop and one in the house. Bought from Amazon, it can easily be returned within 30 days if it doesn’t help. If your hands hurt from playing the accordion and you are a charity case maybe I’ll get one for you. (But you play accordions you probably are not broke and destitute!)

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the company that makes these nor in Amazon, except I send Amazon money and they send me stuff.

JKJ

Thanks for that.

On the other hand, if you’ll pardon the pun, I’m broke because I bought a couple of accordions!

 

[David A]

Thanks JKJ, I was reading about these a couple of days ago. Good to have an informed recommendation, maybe I'll take the plunge.

 

[JKJ]

If your hands hurt from playing the accordion and you are a charity case maybe I’ll get one for you.

…I’m broke because I bought a couple of accordions!

Hmmm… the board has ruled: lack of self control doesn’t qualify as a charity case, sorry.

 

[murathan]

In instrument playing, "holding position" is very important. The general idea is using your limbs in their natural (rested) positions and while pushing a button for example using force as low as possible, just to complete the task. Psychological muscle stress is also common in performances. Finger 5 (pinky) have a very small muscle, never push that to limit for avoiding injuries. There are some exercises to be done only for a couple of minutes (sometimes not more than 30 seconds) when using finger 5 for this reason. Learning this takes time but very important. I always have a mild pain killer and Bengay like muscle creme at hand.

 

[debra]

Problems with the right wrist are mostly caused by the wrong posture, and more specifically by playing with a bent wrist because the accordion is positioned too far to your right. When your arm is in the correct position the forearm+wrist+hand all form a straight line. If you stretch out your right arm to the right, then bend the forearm to the left, and your hand is about to touch the grille or registers then the accordion is too far to the right. The fingers should end up just past the end of the black keys, so you can easily press the white and black keys without the need to have your wrist at an angle.

 

[RTW]

By contrast, I do not believe in my case the recent minor pain in my thumbs on both hands ( that comes and goes) is due to my accordion playing - which is ordinarily an hour a day. In my case, I feel playing the accordion is actually a therapeutic hand exercise and has seemed to prevent further decline. However, I do not yet have any medical confirmation until I see a hand specialist to determine the cause -

 

[dak]

In instrument playing, "holding position" is very important. The general idea is using your limbs in their natural (rested) positions

Why would it be a natural position for a violin player to be ready to backhandedly hit themselves in the nose with the left while giving themselves an uppercut with the right? Sure, that's what everyone else wants to do to them but why would they get ahead of the others?

 

[murathan]

Why would it be a natural position for a violin player to be ready to backhandedly hit themselves in the nose with the left while giving themselves an uppercut with the right? Sure, that's what everyone else wants to do to them but why would they get ahead of the others?

Good positioned and relaxed muscles work very efficiently. Less (minor) injuries. Speed and accuracy on upper levels on every instrument. This is very important for pianists and keyboard instruments, important for other instruments. More dexterity and endurance. Contracted muscles dont work well and ready for any injury when pushed too far. Body and posture is adapting an instrument in time, thats why it is always better to play one instrument only, not many instruments at the same time period.