Why do my hands hurt after playing piano?

Developing carpal tunnel syndrome is a serious problem for piano players. The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome – not to mention the pain!

pianoemporium.com - Piano Playing and Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Is it OK to leave piano lid open?

Keeping the lid of a grand piano open all the time may damage the interior. A string cover may not completely ward off the damage humidity causes....

Last updated Jul 10, 2021

Is oboe or bassoon harder?

Both instruments are challenging to learn. However, while the bassoon is a little easier to play since it is a larger instrument it can be more...

Last updated Dec 24, 2019

Promotion

Developing carpal tunnel syndrome is a serious problem for piano players. The weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hands caused by carpal tunnel syndrome – not to mention the pain! – can severely limit time spent making music on the piano. It’s best to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome entirely, but if you have symptoms of the syndrome already, do not despair! There are many things you can do to lessen or even eradicate the pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve as it passes into the hand. The pain in the carpal tunnel is due to excess pressure in your wrist and on the median nerve. Inflammation can cause swelling. The main causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are underlying medical conditions and repetitive movement. Click Here for some great basic information on carpal tunnel syndrome. Most people who play the piano do so for pleasure; it’s not their job. And many people who play the piano also have jobs that put a great deal of pressure on the wrists. Office workers, welders, gardeners, mechanics, hairdressers – the list goes on and on! Any job that requires you to make repetitive hand motions, uses awkward hand positions, or strong gripping puts one in danger of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Wrist Position and Posture

If you have taken even one piano lesson, chances are your teacher talked to you about posture, wrist position, and the correct way to use your body when playing the piano. These tips are not to make your life more difficult, instead, they are intended to make playing easier and to prevent injury. The ideal wrist position to prevent pain and carpal tunnel syndrome is a neutral or straight wrist – the same wrist position for playing the piano! But, we are only human and sometimes it’s easy to slip into bad habits. Think about how difficult it is to remember to maintain perfect posture and wrist position while playing the piano. Now imagine that you had to remind yourself to maintain that ideal position at work all day. It’s basically impossible. That’s why you see so many cashiers and office workers wearing wrist supports. A good wrist support will keep your wrists in a straight position while performing repetitive tasks. Many people with wrist pain will even wear wrist supports when sleeping in order to keep their wrists straight throughout the night. If you have a job which requires you to do repetitive movements with your wrists, you may want to consider purchasing wrist supports. Click Here for a brand that we have found useful.

So how should one sit at the piano to prevent injury to your wrists and other parts of your body?

What is grade 11 called in America?

junior In the US, a student in the eleventh grade is typically referred to as a junior. The vast majority of students who are classified as juniors...

Last updated Nov 9, 2020

What is most challenging online learning?

Distractions Everywhere Having a time management system is perhaps the most difficult challenge for students to overcome because it depends...

Last updated Jun 17, 2020

Promotion

Sit up straight

Align your head, shoulders, and hips when sitting

Rest your feet completely on the floor. Feet don’t reach the floor? Use a stool. Just as your head, shoulders, and hips are aligned, your elbow, wrist, and pinky finger should also be aligned when playing Use the weight of your arm to play instead of pressing just from your wrists or fingers

Be aware of bench height – is it too low or high for you to comfortably play? Are you able to keep your elbows and wrists in line while playing?

Talk to your teacher about how to sit at the piano or drop by Piano Emporium! We are happy to demonstrate and help you find the ideal playing position.

Exercises and Stretches

Note: It is important to see a doctor to rule out if you have a medical condition that is causing the pain. It doesn’t matter how many wrist strengthening exercises or stretches you do if the pain in your carpal tunnel is caused by diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Work with your doctor to be sure of the root cause. The good news – wrist stretches and exercises are not difficult. You will not break a sweat or get out of breath. And there are so many great articles and videos online that demonstrate helpful exercises. WebMD has an article with good basic stretches. The key is to not overwork your wrists. Be gentle. In the case of already inflamed wrists, less is more.

Other Helpful Tips for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

pianoemporium.com - Piano Playing and Preventing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Why does transmission kick when shifting?

Automatic transmissions that shift hard, jerk or shake during a shift change may mean your transmission fluid needs changed or fluid level is low....

Last updated Jul 18, 2019

What is the most important chord in music?

I, IV and V I, IV and V are the basic building blocks for chord progressions in western music. You'll find these chords playing an important role...

Last updated Aug 24, 2021

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

What are the 12 notes?

Western music typically uses 12 notes – C, D, E, F, G, A and B, plus five flats and equivalent sharps in between, which are: C sharp/D flat...

Last updated Mar 4, 2020

Promotion

How many people does it take to move an upright piano?

four people It takes at least four people to efficiently move a piano, with two to three people doing the heavy lifting, and the others guiding...

Last updated Jul 26, 2018