Overuse Injuries & Guitar

[qjckyp...@yahoo.com]

It's a sad fact that overuse injuries tend to be fairly common among
guitar players. This problem, which is also known as Repetitive Stress
Injury (RSI) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, can become so painful that a
musician may lose their ability to play the instrument with the same
skill they once had. I'm sorry to say that I tell you this from
personal experience.
Several years ago I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left wrist.
I didn't really know about overuse injuries at the time, I only knew
that my fingers would go numb whenever I played guitar for an extended
period. It eventually got so bad that my whole arm, from elbow to
wrist, would start tingling and hurt whenever I played.
Then one day I was asked to participate in a fund raising concert. I
decided to play some of my Classical Guitar Favorites for the show;
putting the easiest ones first and the more difficult pieces toward
the end. This would give my fingers a chance to warm up, or so I
thought. The performance started off well and I was rather amazed that
my hand felt so good. Half-way into the program however, I began to
panic when a familiar tingling sensation ran down my arm. The next
thing I knew I had no feeling in my fingers at all! It was the
weirdest sensation. I remember smiling at the audience and trying to
look like I was having a good time, but my fingers were completely
numb and I still had to play the harder pieces!...

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