Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Advice needed on sore right forearm/wrist
I started playing with a much more loose wrist, and it kinda backfires :)
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
Lajer

Member
Members
September 4, 2013 - 5:30 am
Member Since: May 29, 2013
Forum Posts: 15
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Hi guys

 

Recently I started playing with a much more loose wrist. I'm trying to relax, but I must be holding the bow too tight or using my muscles to bend the wrist instead of relaxing and letting it do the work itself. After a practise session I need to have some days break, because I'm very tendse and sore in my forearm.

 

So I have two questions:

1. How do I treat this soreness? cold? heat? Wrap it up? leave it? It takes like 5 days to get better, and I can't not play for that long.

2. I obviously need to experiment with a more loose grip or maybe I need to focus on not using my wrist muscles - do any of you have any experience with this problem, and what did you do wrong?

 

Thanks guys :)

Avatar
screeeech

Regular advisor
Members

Regulars
September 4, 2013 - 8:53 pm
Member Since: December 14, 2011
Forum Posts: 196
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

As for Medical advice I can't help.

 

On playing, while I am bowing if I hit anything with my bow arm or bow  I drop my bow. I hold it that gently. Also spread the weight of you bow over your whole hand. Not just 2 -3 fingers. You should feel some if only a little resistance in your pinky!(little finger in case there is a translation issue) More pinky weight up bow than down bow.

 

Avatar
Lost Fiddler
Dallas Texas

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
September 4, 2013 - 9:00 pm
Member Since: October 12, 2011
Forum Posts: 563
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I just tried Australian Dream on my arthritic bow thumb, seems to helpthumbs-up

No matter where you go, there you are!

Avatar
cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
Members

Regulars
September 4, 2013 - 11:34 pm
Member Since: February 13, 2012
Forum Posts: 1817
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I'd like to see a video of your bow holding and playing if possible.

I play about a total of 2-3 hrs a day usually and have really never had a sore right wrist or forearm.

I find your issues to be very interesting.

"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

Avatar
Lajer

Member
Members
September 5, 2013 - 9:47 am
Member Since: May 29, 2013
Forum Posts: 15
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@screeeech Thanks for the advice, I'll mess a bit around with it.

 

@cdennyb I'll make a movie tomorrow(friday) with a few scales... I usually do some scales warmup excercises with long bowstrokes, I could record that... :)

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 7, 2013 - 12:22 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

You bring up a good point. Using the wrist too much is not good. I know that there are many players that use a lot of wrist but keeping the wrist kind of straight is preferred for strength. I rather bend my wrist up than down for drawing the bow down. It gives a better smoother pull on bow changes. It's not so much that you should not use wrist movements but more that you shouldn't bend it down too much and not use excessive movements.
Obviously it's good to have a certain degree of relaxation in your wrist but at the same time, a little firmness for power.
Finger flexibility is great IMAO. I have a few videos in which I demonstrate the type of finger flexibility that I think is super beneficial.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
Lajer

Member
Members
September 9, 2013 - 2:37 pm
Member Since: May 29, 2013
Forum Posts: 15
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks again guys for the help and thanks for the vids fiddlerman :)

I made a new topic under critique corner - I'm showing off my new strings and I'm showing how I'm bowing with my right arm!

 

Here is the link @cdennyb : https://fiddlerman.com/forum/c.....ew/#p49124

 

Again - thanks guys :) !

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
September 9, 2013 - 10:46 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16430

After seeing your video and re-reading this thread I realize that the problem is derived from tensing your wrist when playing at the upper part of the bow. The easiest way to alleviate this is to experiment with the angle of the violin so that you don't have to reach so hard at the tip of the bow. It might benefit you to do soft gentle stretches before and after practice. It would be a more controlled way to stretch and loosen your Extensor carpi radialis longus muscle (I really have no idea which muscle, tendon you actually need to stretch).

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
Crazymotive

Honorary advisor
Members

Regulars
September 16, 2013 - 12:12 pm
Member Since: January 18, 2012
Forum Posts: 347
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I don't know how long you have been playing but sometimes there are some aches and pains associated with playing the violin that come from using various muscles in ways that you have never used them before.  I used to get pains in my left hand and wrist when I started playing regularly. In my case it was due to too tight a grip on the neck of the instrument. Once I relaxed my hold not only did the pain go away but it suddenly got easier to shift between positions. When I was holding too tight I would practically pull the violin off my shoulder if I shifted quickly from lets say 3rd or 4th position down to 1st position. But with the relaxed grip the shifts became much smoother and more fluid. Also I find warmup exercises and playing a few short warmup pieces prior to practice, rehearsal or a concert helps immensely. Not only gets me loosened up but makes me less prone to getting aches and discomfort when playing long pieces.

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 72
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming Shell, Squiryl, Schaick, GlassTownCur, mcassidy2004, Reptile Smile, MyMing, CarolineNH, JamesRSmithJr, SethroTull86
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7834
ABitRusty: 3922
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2435
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2155
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31673
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 82
Topics: 10606
Posts: 134405
Newest Members:
alicedcoz258, Dres pirate, tonyluo, Terrence Terry Ruddy, andrea924breaux, pybring, stive4545, kevin498, Fiddlerjones, FidgetFrog
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16430, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5361