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FretBuzz: Instructional Forum Message |
Hand cramps
Sally James
(345)
Instructional Forum
9/2/2004 12:28:54 PM · 95 Views
[Respond to this Message]
Hi,
I'm practicing a lot of new chords and some are real stretches. I was wondering if its pretty normal to get a cramp in the wrist when doing some difficult chords and is this a permanent condition or will it go away with practice? Thanks.
Sally
[For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.] Proverbs 23:7
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Re: Hand cramps
9/2/2004 3:50:58 PM
Peter Groome
(933) wrote:
Hi Sally, there's something wrong somewhere. Any practice routine can cause MILD discomfort but cramp no! Which chords are causing the problem? |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/3/2004 12:52:04 AM
Sally James
(345) wrote:
Peter,
Maybe cramp was the wrong word. Its not like my wrist actually cramps up, but I'm at a loss to explain what it is. It feels mildly bad like its been bent out of shape? The discomfort is temporary but makes me stop momentarily and sort of shake my hand. I was wondering if such things are normal when you're not used to doing so many chords but gets better with practice which manipulates that hand more than its used to.
Sally
[For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.] Proverbs 23:7 |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/2/2004 9:50:00 PM
Justin Schroder
(756) wrote:
Your wrist is probably too close to your ribs. Which will have you pushing the guitar into the rifle position. |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/3/2004 1:27:59 AM
Steve Cass
(14757) wrote:
Yah, it takes a while to figure out sometimes. But the best thing to follow is to make sure your wrist is always in a neutral position. What I mean is that I'm just expanding on what Justin is talking about.
If you take your hand and just plop it out there palm side up, that's about the position that your hand and your wrist should be in for most of your playing. As you move up the neck, your elbow will be bringing your hand and wrist along for the ride (and as you move up the neck, your elbow may go back and be in your side or along side your body), but they don't go much past neutral, ever.
If they do, and sure the hand and wrist will cramp up after practicing stuff (mine does all the time after practicing repetitious chording), just make sure to 'shake it off' on a regular basis and move your fingers and keep the hand limber.
Steve |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/3/2004 2:49:07 PM
Charles Gacsi
(42523) wrote:
I'm not a doctor but there are some over the counter items that I do use for cramps in other parts of my body. Legs and feet primarily. You can try these and perhaps it will help if true cramps and not over extending exercise. 1) Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc 2) Vitamin E 3) Potassium 4) Quinine On a cold day I will place my hand, palm down, in a sink with some very warm water running over, or just the sink bowl partially filled with the hot - warm water and then press the hand so that the fingers are stretched a little .. with gentle pressure. Perhaps as long as a minute more or less. That seems to help. The supplements I take help the severe cramps to subside. The problem with the cramps I neve know what my body needed. SOmething my body has a shortage of ... and it yells at me. I usually wait about 10 minutes before using one of the other supplements. This is not arthritis. I did have a severe arthritic problem several years ago. Almost to the point where I could not close my hands. I was using medication prescribed by my doctor. Not much help. I then did something I had not done. I had several pieces of fresh citrus fruit every day. This was easy because I have the trees growing in my back yard and they come ripe in the winter months like January - February. I had also taken a supplement called Alfalfa. One of the members at a location mentioned that to me and I was willing to try anything. I really don't know exactly how the arthritis left me but I don't have that problem any more. I am just relating from my personal experience. I recently turned 78. Charlie |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/6/2004 2:52:29 AM
Charles Gacsi
(42523) wrote:
Dear Justin and Paul, Thank you. Charlie |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/5/2004 11:21:08 AM
Sally James
(345) wrote:
Charles,
Alfalfa? Bingo! That explains why COWS NEVER HAVE CRAMPS! (Just chalk it up to a silly mind)
Now the Potassium...Charlie, eat a banana a day and you shouldn't ever get "Charlie horses"! (Get it?) I'll never forget my first one. 7 months pregnant, middle of the night, left calf. I thought I'd die. Then my husband told me to stand up flat on my feet and lean forward. That was the cure. (Stretch that muscle!) And I learned it helps to have a wall or something in front of you. Well, I sure never forgot him buying me bananas the next day.
I hope you never get your arthritis back, especially in your hands.
Thanks for the tips!
Sally
[For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.] Proverbs 23:7 |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/6/2004 2:49:21 AM
Charles Gacsi
(42523) wrote:
The bananna does not do the trick. It helps but the supplement, potassium, is stronger for me. Stretching helps, but not with severe cramps that come along at 2 - 3 - 4 am and wake me up with the pain. It does not make the cramp go away whereas the supplements, do when taken, sometimes. The trouble is that I never know which one is the correct one to remove the cramp. Thanks. Charlie |
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Re: Hand cramps
9/6/2004 2:50:46 AM
Charles Gacsi
(42523) wrote:
The alflafa is in pill form. Concentrated. Charlie |
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