I actually used something called a TotalGym (http://www.totalgym.com/<http://www.totalgym.com/>), and the exercises I did are peculiar to that device. This site has what looks to be a decent set of rotator cuff strength and stretching exercises that don't require much in the way of special equipment (just some light barbells): http://www.bodyresults.com/E2RotatorCuff.asp<http://www.bodyresults.com/E2RotatorCuff.asp>.
Guy ----- Original Message ----- From: Stephen Arndt<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu<mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 1:35 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: Body pain (was Re: lute straps) My thanks to all who responded with their stories and suggestions. In particular: 1. Eric, thank you for the book recommendation. I have ordered it and am anxiously looking forward to receiving it and working with it. 2. Sandy, I am very interested in the technique you took over from Hopkinson Smith, but though I can imagine the general outlines of it, I can't picture it well enough in my mind to use it in practice. A photograph would be a wonderful help. Even when I use a strap, I have to use my hands and arms to hold my instrument precisely where I want it, and that extra muscular tension is, I think, contributing to my problem. I would love to have the instrument in place without having to exert any pressure to hold it. 3. Guy and Liz, I am also very interested in the exercises you mentioned, since I would rather do therapy myself than go to someone else for it. Could you describe the exercises you do or post pictures of them? I think they might potentially help many players on the list. 4. Denys, I began looking into Alexander Technique once, but didn't get very far owing to lack of time. Perhaps you can answer the following questions. Is it possible to learn Alexander Technique from books, without a teacher? Can one use it to pinpoint and correct a particular problem? And approximately how long does it take to learn it? 5. Martin, I cannot sustain for very long the position you describe, though it does work for short periods of time. In any event, I would love to hear your MP3 files. Please send me one, and many thanks in advance. Best regards to all, Stephen Arndt ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric Liefeld" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> To: "Stephen Arndt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> Cc: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu<mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>> Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 9:16 PM Subject: Re: Body pain (was Re: [LUTE] Re: lute straps) > And of course I mis-typed the link, try: > http://www.triggerpointbook.com<http://www.triggerpointbook.com/> > > Sorry for the clutter. > > Eric > > On May 3, 2006, at 8:09 PM, Eric Liefeld wrote: > >> Dear Stephen, >> >> I was going to reply privately, but I'll broadcast here in the >> hope this can help others. I too suffer from a variety of pain >> issues in the neck and back, in my case likely caused by >> playing the violin for many years from childhood (in the >> modern school), and exacerbated by computer use. I have >> had frequent severe migraines for at least 35 years. I too >> have been through the gamut of treatments you list (plus >> a few) and I eventually resorted to just taking lots of pain >> medications... not an altogether healthy thing. >> >> In a rather desperate search for help about nine months >> ago I stumbled across a wonderful and well-written book >> ("The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook") that has literally >> saved my life. You can find it at http://www.trigerpointbook.com<http://www.trigerpointbook.com/>, >> and even get a discount when ordering through their site. >> I think its also widely available at the local Barnes and Noble. >> >> The author, Clair Davies, is a former piano tuner, and he >> has some insights into musician's injuries and issues. He >> basically takes you through every muscle in the body and >> teaches you how to work on them yourself with a few simple >> tools. This may sound strange at first, but I have been >> able to bring about *much* more improvement in my pain >> situation by working on myself than with any other method. >> >> Unlike lots of "treatments" that require a belief system of sorts, >> trigger points are very tangible, easy to find, and based on >> published medical literature. Trigger points are basically >> small contractions in muscle that tend to refer pain in predictable >> patterns that are described and illustrated in the book. Once >> you can understand, isolate, and work on the muscles that >> are causing your pain, I have no doubt that you can resolve >> it quickly. In my own case, I am almost completely off the >> pain meds and I can once again move like a human. >> >> I have also found this book particularly helpful with the >> typical repetitive strain issues encountered when playing >> instruments. >> >> Feel free to contact me off-line if you want more information. >> >> Best, >> >> Eric >> >> ps - The knife was in my *left* shoulder blade... >> >> On May 3, 2006, at 7:08 PM, Stephen Arndt wrote: >> >>> Dear Lute List, >>> >>> A long-time reader though infrequent contributor to this list, I was on >>> the >>> verge of posting a related topic when Katherine initiated the thread on >>> lute >>> straps, a thread that I have followed with great interest. >>> >>> Primarily from using a computer keyboard and mouse, I had developed >>> under my >>> right shoulder blade a "knot" that felt like a knife stabbing me in the >>> back. The problem seemed to be exacerbated by reaching around the lute, >>> which is a rather deep-bodied instrument. From my shoulder the pain >>> seemed >>> to radiate all the way down my arm, inflaming the ulnar nerve and my >>> wrist, >>> and numbing the ring and little finger of my right hand. >>> >>> I made several adjustments to my computer equipment (raising the >>> monitor, >>> switching the mouse to my left hand, etc.) and underwent chiropractic >>> treatment, acupuncture, massage, and medication therapy (muscle >>> relaxers and >>> pain pills). Yet, the problem was still so bad that I worried that I >>> would >>> have to give up the lute. >>> >>> Originally, I held the lute more or less in the classical guitar style, >>> i.e., on my left thigh and using a footstool. Once my physical problems >>> developed, I tried using a strap in the "traditional" manner, i.e., >>> tying it >>> to the first peg, wrapping it around my shoulder, and tucking it in >>> under my >>> right thigh, on which I now rested the body of the lute. Doing so >>> helped but >>> did not really solve the problem. In desperation I drove to the nearest >>> "luthier" (a maker of violins, violas, and cellos, but not of lutes), >>> who >>> was two and a half hours away, and had him put two strap buttons on my >>> instrument, since I was afraid of doing so myself and cracking my >>> instrument. I have since used both a regular, guitar-style strap, >>> attached >>> to the first peg and the clasp button, and the "slider-strap" recently >>> mentioned on this list and attached to the clasp button and another >>> button >>> just below the neck. Doing so seems to have improved my tone since I am >>> able >>> to hold the lute higher, so that my forearm is more closely parallel to >>> the >>> strings, and has also alleviated the pain somewhat. At this point, >>> however, >>> I am merely managing the pain but have not been relieved of it. >>> >>> I would like to ask whether any other members of the lute list have >>> experienced similar physical problems and, if so, how they solved them. >>> I >>> would be very appreciative of any help anyone could give me. >>> >>> Thank you in advance, >>> >>> Stephen Arndt >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Katherine Davies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >>> To: <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu<mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>> >>> Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 10:08 AM >>> Subject: [LUTE] Re: lute straps >>> >>> >>>> There are lots of renaissance pictures of people >>>> playing lutes while standing up without any sign of a >>>> strap. Does anyone do this? Any ideas on how - or if - >>>> it could be done? >>>> >>>> I'm not having a go at strap-users; I'm just a bit >>>> puzzled - I have enough trouble keeping the thing in >>>> place when I'm sitting down. >>>> >>>> thanks, >>>> Katherine Davies >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> To get on or off this list see list information at >>>> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html<http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> >>> >>> >>> >> >> --------------- >> Eric Liefeld >> (505) 526-1230 >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> >> --
