The violin places the wrist at sustained pressure, and this can result in wrist injury. This is why some violinists use a violin wrist aid in an attempt to prevent these injuries and make their playing easier.
A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is not uncommon among musicians, and happens to players of practically any instrument. It happens when the same specific motion is repeated many times through a sustained period of time, such as weeks or even months. The accumulated effect on the area in use is that the soft tissue (ligaments, tendons and muscles) becomes swollen and painful, and loses movement ability.
RSI are insipid - they develop over time without obvious symptoms. The sudden onset of pain, swelling and loss of movement is not easy to predict. The musician may have no prior awareness of impending injury. But because it has taken so long to develop, it also takes a long time to subside, so they may suddenly be unable to practise properly for an extended period.
Concerning the wrist specifically, the potential for RSI is significant. In order to understand how the wrist gets injured, one needs to know its anatomy. Starting with the skeletal structure, there are the bones of the hand, the two long bones in the forearm, and the bones in the wrist that attached them to each other. These wrist bones are known as the carpals. The carpal area therefore comprises many small bones with irregular shapes that are packed together and joined to each other by ligaments. The forearm bones connect to them on one side, and the metacarpals, or bones of the palm, on the other.
This configuration enables the larger range of movement that the wrist has. But overuse can result in injury to the connecting ligaments of the carpals, such as where the hand is always used for the same motion for hours on end. The ligaments swell and cause pain, and the hand cannot move as widely as it used to.
The technique of violin playing places the violinist at a heightened risk of RSI in their wrist. A ligament cannot be stretched or alter its shape, like muscles and tendons can. Accumulated stress can therefore cause an injury to it. Ligaments have poor circulation, so they take a long time to heal or grow. This is also because their structure is extremely tough, much more so than other tissues. Tendinitis is the name of the condition that arises where a tendon is inflamed. This, too, is not rare among musicians, and not only those who specialize in the violin.
Once injured, the violinist is unable to play without pain. They also have limited motion in the affected hand and wrist. Their playing not only becomes painful, but they are also unable to perform to the same standard.
Devoted musicians may argue that they should continue playing, regardless of pain or discomfort. But this is not as laudable as it may sound. An RSI becomes worse through continued performance of the original problematic exercise. It needs time to heal, and if it has no opportunity to do so, it may become more serious or even result in permanent damage to the affected tissue. In other words, the musician may never recover entirely. Those carrying such injuries should therefore consult a medical practitioner without hesitation and organize a rest interval in their practise routine.
A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is not uncommon among musicians, and happens to players of practically any instrument. It happens when the same specific motion is repeated many times through a sustained period of time, such as weeks or even months. The accumulated effect on the area in use is that the soft tissue (ligaments, tendons and muscles) becomes swollen and painful, and loses movement ability.
RSI are insipid - they develop over time without obvious symptoms. The sudden onset of pain, swelling and loss of movement is not easy to predict. The musician may have no prior awareness of impending injury. But because it has taken so long to develop, it also takes a long time to subside, so they may suddenly be unable to practise properly for an extended period.
Concerning the wrist specifically, the potential for RSI is significant. In order to understand how the wrist gets injured, one needs to know its anatomy. Starting with the skeletal structure, there are the bones of the hand, the two long bones in the forearm, and the bones in the wrist that attached them to each other. These wrist bones are known as the carpals. The carpal area therefore comprises many small bones with irregular shapes that are packed together and joined to each other by ligaments. The forearm bones connect to them on one side, and the metacarpals, or bones of the palm, on the other.
This configuration enables the larger range of movement that the wrist has. But overuse can result in injury to the connecting ligaments of the carpals, such as where the hand is always used for the same motion for hours on end. The ligaments swell and cause pain, and the hand cannot move as widely as it used to.
The technique of violin playing places the violinist at a heightened risk of RSI in their wrist. A ligament cannot be stretched or alter its shape, like muscles and tendons can. Accumulated stress can therefore cause an injury to it. Ligaments have poor circulation, so they take a long time to heal or grow. This is also because their structure is extremely tough, much more so than other tissues. Tendinitis is the name of the condition that arises where a tendon is inflamed. This, too, is not rare among musicians, and not only those who specialize in the violin.
Once injured, the violinist is unable to play without pain. They also have limited motion in the affected hand and wrist. Their playing not only becomes painful, but they are also unable to perform to the same standard.
Devoted musicians may argue that they should continue playing, regardless of pain or discomfort. But this is not as laudable as it may sound. An RSI becomes worse through continued performance of the original problematic exercise. It needs time to heal, and if it has no opportunity to do so, it may become more serious or even result in permanent damage to the affected tissue. In other words, the musician may never recover entirely. Those carrying such injuries should therefore consult a medical practitioner without hesitation and organize a rest interval in their practise routine.
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