Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
Subject: Re: injury
Date: 19 Oct 1998 15:57:24 GMT
:                          Has anyone suffered a mysterious loss of
: function in one of your hands?

:  One day I woke up to find my ability to alternate between i and m was
: dramatically reduced. I'm a college level guitarist and have had this
: prob for 2 months now.A doctor/
: chiropractor concluded so called "trigger points" were to blame.Therapy
: has not  provided results.There has been no pain in my arm.Now I'm
: simply taking a break from  playing, hoping the ability will return.

: Suggestions?

If you're having problems with your right hand, immediately address
the obvious ergonomic shortcoming of resting your right arm on a sharp
edge while playing.  This can cause exactly the type of symptom you
are describing.  I notice a signficant loss of rh control and signficant
discomfort when playing without a right forearm pad.

Easy fix: fold up a sock at least 5-6 layers thick and place
   	  between right forearm and guitar

Better fix: get a soft, rubber, foam type cylindrical insulator for a 
	   12oz can.  Cut a stripe of the cylinder about 4-5" wide.
	   Use a cut off cross section of elastic sock, about 6" longer
	   than the foam piece to hold the foam in place on your forearm.
	   A cross section piece of lycra arm warmer for bicycling works
	   great.

Warm up before playing, wash your hands in hot water, & I like to 
hold a cup of hot tea in both hands.  Do 1-2 minutes of upper body 
range of motion exercises before playing.  Wear long sleeves and 
don't play in cold rooms.  Repeat range of motion exercises after 
playing, followed by light stretching.  Try sleeping with long sleeve 
shirts as well, and don't sleep in postures that restrict circulation
in the arms: ie, don't sleep on your side with arm underneath you,
don't sleep with elbow bent at 90 degree angle or more, don't sleep
with wrist bent, etc.  Repair and healing of soft tissue takes place
while sleeping, the better circulation you can get at night the 
faster the healing takes place.

Good luck!

Newsgroups: rec.music.classical.guitar
Subject: Re: injury

Interesting remedy Keith.  I might suggest  something I use to protect the
nerves in my arm.. I got a forearm protector from an archery shop, it was about
$8.  I cut off the elastic bands that hold it on your arm and sewed it into a
sock I wear on my arm.  Sounds goofy but it really helps if you have any
problems with your right hand.
Paul Harper