Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - The Musician's Nightmare

Demands on Young Players - Poor Practice Technique causes Carpal Tunnel!

In a world where young musicians are judged more on prowess than expression it is all too easy for the young player to develop serious injury that stops their career in its tracks overnight. How do you prevent and cure carpal tunnel syndrome?

What causes repetitive strain? Carpal tunnel is a problem that is completely avoidable and usually treatable - but the best cure is not the easiest one to tolerate - time off playing! How do I know? I know from many years teaching and playing experience, seeing teenage guitarists get into trouble because they wouldn't listen to technical advice from teachers, and a horrible bout of RSI myself. How did I cure carpal tunnel problems? How would I avoid RSI? What do I tell the brightest and the best? Do they listen? Read on! Chances are if you are here you already have the makings of a problem or know someone who has.

Carpal tunnel syndrome creeps up on the unaware and yet can be so easily avoided and simply treated in its earliest stages. I hope this page will help. Or perhaps you have a tip you can pass on? Feel free to add links or tell us about it in the guestbook. This is a place where musicians can share their nightmare and the way out from it!

Do you know what causes carpal tunnel syndrome? Do you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome? Perhaps you are looking for a cure for carpal tunnel syndrome? This page is about prevention and cure of carpal tunnel syndrome and RSI.

Image of guitar is from my own collection, please do not copy, please feel free to visit my website though

Carpal Tunnel Problems Are Avoidable

If you are here because you have developed an injury then you can still play your part in educating others to avoid it. If you are here because you are keen to prevent yourself or your friends developing hand problems you are doing yourself a big favour! Avoid developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tendinitis, Bursitis, Tenosynovitis or plain old Repetitive Strain Injury in the first instance and you will save yourself months or even years of frustration, pain and inability to perform at your best. Carpal Tunnel sucks bigtime and is not prevented by bravado!

Baoding balls are one way to reduce stress and exercise the hands. I found these helpful.

Wrist Pain and CTS Is Preventable

Ever stopped to think what is the busiest part of the human body? What part of the body needs the biggest brain area? It's not the eyes, ears or the mouth. Not the legs even... It is the human hand! The hand is probably what makes us more special as a species than we even think. Other animals do think and feel, can work things out, do communicate in spoken language and sound - some even use tools - but the sensitive human hand differentiates us from any other species!

Here you can check out resources for help and information and even use the search function to find something more specialized.

Teachers are good at spotting poor technique and potential R.S.I. issues

In the world of Classical music even the best players in the world take lessons. They call them Master Classes. Why do they need them? Sometimes you need another skilled musician, a professional player or a professional educator, to give you pointers how you can improve. Nobody is so perfect they can't benefit from advice from an expert. Even if your expertise is Rock or Jazz there will be somebody you can turn to to watch your playing style and point out problem areas. Remember, the old guys might not be trendy, good-looking or fast, but they survived the course and they know the obstacles too....

If you have had a problem with injury and overcome it, please leave a message. You can put tips in the Plexo module too. If you still have a problem I hope this lens will help you find assistance and give hope for the future. If you are just curious, please take your technique and posture seriously and don't strain your hands. Good luck!