[Shaku] RSI injuries and how to make playing larger shaks easier

Hello to all the shakuhachi fanatics!
   =20
      Anyone out there having any type of RSI symptoms
such as numbness or tingling in the hands would do
themselves a big favor by checking out this book by
Barbara Paull entitled "The Athletic Musician".=20
Better yet go see her. She's located in New Market,
Ontario, Canada. The trip is well worth it !!! For
the last five or so years I've been having numbness
and tingling in the ring finger and pinky of my right
hand(it started one day after I was hammering for a
few hours). I was able to keep it at bay by doing
yoga as well as an occasional chiropractic adjustment
along with some massage. Having been sick for about a
year I stopped doing any yoga. Needless to say things
got worse. I decided to go to a physical therapist
who specialized in these types of problems. It only
got worse to where now all my fingers and thumb were
involved. Fortunately none of this stopped me from
playing upright bass, shakuhachi or bansuri, but at
times it would be uncomfortable to say the least.=20
Medical massage, Rolfing and The Alexander Technique
helped get me basically back to where I started before
physical therapy. Still not satisfied I found Barbara
Paull on the internet and made the trip up to Canada.=20
I should mention that over the last five years I had
been to two neurologists (one that stated after an EMG
that the problem was in my elbow and somewhat in my
wrist), and orthopedic surgeon, a chiropractor who
specializes in neurological problems and two physical
therapists. =20
     On the first day Barbara talked to me for about
an hour and diagnosed the problem stating that the
problem was strictly in the neck. The next hour she
examined me and confirmed her diagnosis. On the
second day she spent another two hours with me
examined me some more confirming that I had neither
cubital tunnel syndrome (nerve entrapment in the
elbow) or carpal tunnel syndrome (nerve entrapment in
the wrist) it was all in my neck. I had specifically
asked the neurologist who did the EMG if the problem
could be in my neck and he said no it's not!!! She
also watched me play various different instruments.=20
She showed me what needed to be done to eventually get
rid of the problem. =20
      I noticed a big difference after only a few
days. It's been about two months now and I just keep
getting better. I'm hoping that I will be eventually
be able to get rid of the problem totally. I would
also recommend the Alexander Technique which in itself
is very helpful. =20
      Barbara's book is a MUST READ for every musician
whether you have problems or want to prevent them!!!=20
Her website
is:http://www.stouffvillemusiciansinjuriesclinic.ca/.
The price of the visits are extremely reasonable,
probably less then one visit with a specialist. The
hotel a few minutes away from the clinic is also very
reasonable.
      Anyone who would like to talk to me about my
experience can reach me at:
bblyman2000@yahoo.com.

     =20
      A good idea when sitting is to use a seiza
bench. It puts your lower back in the proper sitting
position and will help with proper alignment of your
head and neck. Here's a site that has some excellent
benches with many variations:
http://www.meditationbench.com/Benches.html
      Also very important is to use a music stand so
that your head is in the proper position.=20
You don not want your head bending forward and down
creating the potential for nerve entrapment. I use
the Hamilton 400N
(http://www.hamiltonstands.com/guitar_stands.htm).
  Just let the legs of the stand lie flat on the
floor. It works great!
      Also for all those people who have a problem
playing the larger shaks due to the weight here's a
solution to your problem. It will probably take you
all of five minutes to get used to. Buy yourself a
Hamilton guitar stand model KB31 (it's the least
expensive model they make). Take the part that
normally holds the guitar neck and bend it back so
that it is almost parallel to the ceiling(or where you
best feel is the proper resting position for the root
end of your shak). Raise it to a height where you can
keep your eyes level and your head and neck in a
neutral position. Then use some duct tape to secure
it in this position. =20

     Good Luck everyone!!!! I can be reached at:
bblyman2000@yahoo.com. Be Well, Bob Blyman.

=20
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Received on Mon Feb 12 21:08 PST 2007