If one has performed so much manual gripping that one's hand is 'stuck' in a contracted fist-like condition, or just very stiff to opening and closing the fingers, the problem isn't just in the hand - all of the flexor and extensor muscles that move the fingers are in the forearm, so it would help to apply ice (or heat, but preferable ice) to the forearm and massage the forearm, from the wrist up to the elbow, in addition to all of the great advice that has been offered.
-----Original Message----- From: Gary Digman <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 6:59 am Subject: [LUTE] Re: incompatibility gardening/lute playing? As a young man ( I've been a young man for many years ) I worked as a carpenter building houses in the midwest (USA) for seven years while studying classical guitar, practicing 3 and 4 hours a night. This was before pneumatic and electric nailers were in widespread use. After slinging a hammer all day, my hand would be frozen into a cylindrical shape just big enough to hold a can of beer. It's a hard life in our capitalist paradise. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anthony Hind" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 2:09 AM Subject: [LUTE] incompatibility gardening/lute playing? > > Dear lutenists > Recently, I have found myself having to do some rather heavy > gardening, which appears to be almost incompatible with lute playing. > the simple fact of being physically tired is part of it, but also the > fingers seem less supple after clenching a spade or a pick-axe. > One lute player told me that even carrying suit-cases to a performance, > can make their fingers stiff; and certain lute makers told me that > using a lute maker's tools can make lute playing more difficult; > although there are some excellent lute maker-players, even among us. > % > Do others have similar impressions, and if so, are there any ideas on > how to get round this, (apart, of course simply from getting someone > else to carry your lutes, and do the gardening, or play your lutes): > some exercise between activities to help prepare for playing, perhaps? > % > At present, I am back in my flat in Paris, and so playing as much as I > can, in spite of the hot weather, which also makes things more > difficult, and I have regained the suppleness, but I will soon have to > go back to gardening. > Thanks for any advice, > Anthony > > -- > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.830 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2969 - Release Date: 06/28/10 11:35:00 --
