Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
Subject: Right Hand Problem - Dystonia
Date: 5 Jun 1996 12:46:39 GMT

Several weeks ago I posted a message concerning loss of coordination in my 
right hand. After seeing doctors and a well-known guitarist in New York 
City I was diagnosed with Focal Dystonia. I can trace the cause of the 
injury to extensive practise of Recuerdos De La Alhambra, trying to get a 
smooth tremelo. Anyway, any passage involving my third finger is an effort 
and the second finger "flies" out of position involuntarily. I am now 
making an effort to retrain my right hand technique using the larger 
muscle groups of the arm and shoulder. Does anyone out there have anything 
to share with me concerning Focal Dystonia?

Regards,
Dennis


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Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
Subject: Re: Right Hand Problem - Dystonia
Date: 5 Jun 1996 20:20:25 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site


Try padding between your right forearm and the upper bout of the
guitar.  Resting a limb on a sharp corner impedes circulation and
increases likelihood of a repetitive strain injury such as yours.
Now that I'm used to playing with a pad under my right forearm,
I am intensely uncomfortable without it, and I notice distinctly
decreased coordination on arpeggiation studies such as Villa Lobos
study #1.  

Good luck!
Keith