[note: read more about Stan's work at http://www.tiac.net/users/stanwood/st&co.htm] Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 10:57:25 -0400 Message-Id: <199510041457.KAA15846@zork.tiac.net> To: mpaul@unlinfo.unl.edu From: stanwood@tiac.net (stanwood) Subject: RSI in Pianists . . . I am a piano technician/engineer. My discovery of improved methods for measuring the touch of piano keys has lead to a whole new level of understanding in the feild of piano action technology as well a range of techniques for idealizing and standardizing the "feel" of piano action key mechanisms. This has lead to ways of making piano key action mechanisms that are safer to play on. I have several cases in which my work on the piano action played a pivotal role in the recovery of the patient as well as numerous cases where treating the patients piano action achieved better results than from physical, medical, physical, or playing thechique therapy. From stanwood@tiac.net Thu Oct 5 09:43:44 1995 Date: Thu, 5 Oct 1995 10:43:39 -0400 To: mpaul@unlinfo.unl.edu From: stanwood@tiac.net (stanwood) Subject: Re:Stanwood Letters Dear Paul, I thought you might also find this older letter interesting. An article about this case was published in Piano & Keyboard Magazine July/August 1993 "Relief for Sore Wrists" by Larry Fine I'm looking in my file at the unedited copy by Larry Fine. The title of the article was changed by the editor to some cutsy name, I can't remember what it was. The letter says it all. ************* November 13, 1992 David Stanwood RFD 340 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 Dear David, Two and a half years ago I acquired a new Steinway B grand piano and played on it for approximately 9 months when I began to exhibit the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome: that is, I began to have significant tingling in my fingers, numbness, loss of strength, wrist pain. This coincided with my beginning serious practice studying with my new piano teacher, David Deveau. I have tried various methods for managing this condition, including wrist splints, ice, exercises, altered practice patterns (for some time never exceeding 45 minutes at a time), altered repertoire. I gave up playing Bach's Goldberg Variations and large Chopin pieces, dropped plans to learn the Schubert E-Flat Piano trio and became more and more restricted. I also had lubricating work done to the piano moving parts, had the piano voiced to make it seem louder (and therefore require less pressure) and saw several doctors, including Fred Hochberg at Mass General. I also began using wrist rests at work with my computer keyboards. Finally, my piano technician Tony McKenna suggested having the lead weights actually removed by you, to be replaced by springs that were adjusted based on computer-based algorithms. This seems to have been the breakthrough I have been hoping for! I am now able to play for more than an hour, can play through some of the Goldberg Variations and all of Beethoven Op. 109 without tiring, and am starting to consider picking up the Schubert again. I am also happy to report the results of an EMG medical test I had done yesterday in which I have no nerve damage, and therefore can conclude that this adjustment in the piano action has come in time for me to hopefully play for many more years! Thanks so much and regards, Laurie Orlov 9 Thoreau Way Sudbury, MA 01776 (508) 443-5618 P.S. - Five months after having her action modified, Mrs Orlov reports that her symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have virtually disappeared. -David C. Stanwood Paul, By the time Laurie found me, she had spent thousands of dollars on various treatments through the most notable authorities in the area of Stress Injury. She told me with a tone of resentment that none of them did anything for her. I think her feelings of resentment came from the fact that none of the "experts" considered that the mechannical characteristics of her primary practice instrument might have something to do with her problem. These kind of cases make it clear that people seeking help for their injuries will enhance the effectiveness of other treaments and therapies by including treatment of their piano action in their overall treatment. David C. Stanwood