The Dangers Of Wrong Violin Wrist Position

By Beryl Dalton


Violinists are one of the most classy instrumentalists of all time. They place the violin right under their chin with the support of their left shoulder and grip the instrument. Then they use a bow to run across the strings to create soothing music.

Proper playing techniques contribute to making musical performances better. In addition, if the wrists are not properly positioned, there could be harmful health effects. Violin wrist position is an integral part of violin playing. Some violinists are at risk to carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects finger and hand movements necessary for playing instruments.

The carpal tunnel is the space near the wrist formed by carpal bones and ligaments. The median nerves and flexor tendons pass through this space. Flexor tendons are responsible for finger movements necessary in playing the stringed instruments. On the other hand, the median nerves send message to the fingers to feel sensation.

The condition carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve and the flexor tendons malfunction. As a result, the hands and fingers will not move properly, will feel numb, or will lose sensation. The affected part may feel pain especially during the night. Violinists need their fingers to coordinate properly to hit the notes of musical pieces they play.

Wrong posture, incorrect wrist position, and also wrong gripping techniques may also trigger this deficiency. The left part of the body of the violinist, including the left shoulders and hands, must be properly positioned as other parts the body may also be strained. It is necessary that instrumentalists take extra care of their physical health as they need to be fit in gripping the instrument and showing extra movements to entertain their spectators.

The collapsed position of the wrist is risky as it strains the muscles, specifically the flexor tendons. If the muscles are too tensed, the bones are forced with each other causing pain and lack of sensation. The correct position of the wrist is straight and relaxed with fingers curved.

Professional violinists are often seen as if what they are doing is very easy. They look absolutely graceful and effortless, but before they arrived at that level, they also suffered a great deal of frustrations and failures, or perhaps injuries, muscle strains, or conditions similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. They may also have experienced pain on different parts of their body like shoulders, the back and neck.

In order to avoid harmful effects to the body, proper positioning of the violin, balanced posture, and reduced tension need to be practiced. It is also important to exercise the hands and wrists as a warm up before starting to play. Aspiring and amateur violinists need to be coached by experienced music instructors for proper guidance.

Precision in playing the violin can be acquired with a lot of patience and dedication, taking into consideration physical health. Injuries or even diseases like carpal tunnel syndrome may be experienced without proper adherence to techniques, recommended posture, and exercise. Always remember that the most melodic of all music is produced by a healthy mind, body, and spirit.




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