7 case histories

Carpal mechanics

Forearm muscles

Hand muscles

Anatomy for musicians

Pianist

Muscle layers

Shoulder raising muscles

Treatment

Musicians are athletes
Many of us do not realise how physically demanding playing an instrument at professional level can be.

I have been treating musicians problems for over 27 years. These conditions can result directly from playing and indirectly from other reasons including hypertonicity, over-use and RSI, trauma, inappropriate technique, bad posture, and occasionally, disease processes. The vast majority of cases that I have seen have been for muscle and joint problems and were therefore amenable to myo-articulation ( MA ). The application of MA can provide a much accelerated healing process. It combines muscle stretching and softening along the entire length of the individual muscles of the body.

Muscles, especially the deep muscles often become 'musclebound'. In this ultra-tense state the muscles will ache and tire very rapidly. They are being starved of Oxygen. The nervous system has two ways of dealing with tense muscles. If the muscle being irritated for whatever reason is a superficial muscle i.e. one which is in the outer layer of muscles, then weakening and loss of bulk will often occur. However, if the muscles in question are the deep, supportive and postural muscles, they will tighten and shorten in response to irritation.

The deep muscles usually become tight when their associated joints have been used repetitively and, or have an injured joint or joint dislacement along the muscle's length. Every muscle in the body is in contact with at least one joint along its length. In the case of the hand and forearm many of the muscles must traverse multiple joints.

You should try to directly relate what you see on-screen to your own anatomy. If you have any specific questions about any related problem that you may be experiencing, then do not hesitate to email me, I will reply to you as soon as I can.