Heath Post: Violin Tendonitis

Health Post

VIOLIN TENDONITIS

par Madame Haras

02 février 2013

I have recently been officially diagnosed with tendonitis in my left wrist. The causes? My style of violin playing. When I was younger I developed a cello vibrato (my fingers move sideways to vibrate rather than just the regular finger motions used to develop the rich sound that you hear in violins) while playing violin. Additionally, since I play viola also, I kept applying the same pressure as I would with my viola to my violin while playing. Thus I finally developed tendonitis.

So, for the rest of the violinists/violists out there, here are tips from my doctor and my very own violin teacher (plus myself) to help recover from tendonitis and to prevent it from happening again:

• Hot/Cold Water: For 5 minutes, place your arm into a tub of warm water (not hot) and rest. Switch for 1 minute immediately into a tub of cold (not freezing) water.
• Wrist Splint: While you sleep, your wrists tend to naturally curve inward. To prevent that, wear the splint at night (and during the day also) so your wrists stay straight as you sleep.
• Ice: Use ice to cool down the inflammation from the tendons of your wrist! Wrap a towel around your wrist/arm and then apply a frozen ice pack.
• Ibuprofen: Take as often as needed. The first few days take it 2-3 days but lay off of it for a day or so, and use it once a day after. Take as directed/needed. Ibuprofen is meant to help with inflammation thus use when swelling!
• Rest: There is nothing more important than resting your arm from any activities until the swelling has gone down and you don't feel any more pain. Ignore practicing any instruments, the next time that you pick up your instrument should be with a teacher, not alone
• The first time you touch your instrument after the above should be with your teacher. Your teacher will have to reteach you slowly, if that means changing your hand position or how you play your instrument completely. Your teacher is there to guide you and has experience with this, trust them to help you.
• Practice makes perfect, but until you fully recover don't play for how long you used to prior. Start off with 10 minutes of practice per day! After you adjust to the new position/corrected method of playing, move up by 5-10 minutes slowly. This is a process that will take you at least the next 2-3 months. You must not strain your wrists or practice for too long, your wrist is still in recovery even after it stops hurting.

Any other suggestions, leave them in the comments below! Fellow musicians should always help each other, at least that is in my own personal beliefs. Safe practicing and speedy recovery to all those who are currently suffering!