JAVS Fall 1989

27

therapist. Recovery time from even a seemingly minor injury can take some time, so be patient with yourself and use common sense in the use of the injured area. Take breaks in your work, and don't paint half of the house just after or before you practice two hours! The last and most debilitating part of these types of injuries is the psychological drain, the depression, anxiety, uncertainty and anguish over the inability to play or play with the same abandon as before. Now restricted somewhat, you must use caution, which can certainly put a damper on enjoyment! These are legitimate concerns, but it is most helpful to have a positive, or at least determined, attitude. Most people recover fully in time, and doubt can prey on the psyche like a plague. You may not be able to practice as much as you would like, but this cloud also have a silver lining and can be used to advantage. Study the scores! Steven Ansell is violist 0/ the Muir String Quartet, in residence at Boston University .•

extended upward while very slowly and gradually pulling back on the fingers with your other hand, you will stretch the flexor muscles and tendon group. If you assume the same position and instead start to extend your fingers downwards, pointing them toward the ground and taking your hand just below the wrist with the other, you will stretch the extensor, the tennis elbow side of the forearm. For stretching the pronator and supinator, extend either arm out to the side at shoulder height, then, palm rotating either downwards or upwards, try to make a circle with the forearm. Each of these stretches should be held at a point at which you meet resistance, but do not feel pain, for fifteen to thirty seconds before playing or warming up. These elementary stretches can be shown you by any good sports medicine physical therapist, especially one who has experience with or specializes in musicians. Shoulder stretches are more commonly known. These simple exercises, done just before a session with the instru ment, can help prevent pain and anxiety of injury, as well as possible loss of money. Imagine what would happen to Carl Lewis if he didn't stretch regularly, especially just before a sprint! All athletes go through extensive stretching and conditioning programs as a matter of course: what makes musicians think they are any different? Sports Therapist If you have an injury caused by playing, or one that is caused by other activities but affects performance on the instrument, treatment with a good sports medicine physical therapist will get you back on your feet. You may be put on a general condi tioning program, or a specific one, depending on your needs. Icing of the effected area at various intervals is almost universally prescribed. The first task in clearing up the injury is to control the inflammation. Icing does this and increases blood flow at the same time. Taking aspirin or ibuprofin after meals can also help, because these are anti-inflammatory agents. After the inflammation has subsided, you may begin to exercise with caution, usually icing after each workout or playing session. It is generally not a good idea to stop playing if you have tendinitis, because the muscles and tendons involved need exercise; and with disuse, they atrophy and make one even more prone to further injury. Discuss this with your physician or

PREVENTING ULNAR PROBLEMS

by

Don Ehrlich

Editor's Note: This is the second article in JAVS by the author on players' maladies.

In last issue's article on preventing injuries to violists, I failed to mention the ulnar nerve, the problems it gives, and some ways to prevent injury to it. A colleague of mine, a violinist, has an ulnar nerve injury that wasn't diagnosed for a long time. Before she could get treatment for the problem, she lost control of the ring fingers and little fingers of her left hand to the extent that she couldn't play in tune with velocity, or adjust intonation. It took almost two years for the nerve to return to normal after treatment. Injuries to the ulnar nerve can be serious; thus, it is useful to know