Initiated by one players thumb problems the English concertina wrist straps have been focus of some discussion again: http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=19016

It is amusing (?) to notice that inspite of 20+ years trying to spread some information about the related matter(s) in various fora misunderstandings seem to flourish like before. One might expect that I had become wiser in the meanwhile and merely would shut up but that would be giving up - and that'll be the day when I die....

So...traditional English Concertina wrist straps work so poorly that they should hardly be used at all since it is so easy to get things "right" and thus achieve *very much* improved conditions instead of halfmeasures.

The basic points are these:

1. The EC ( but Anglos and Duets also..) has got some inborn conflicts in construction/handling which in principle are *unsolvable*: For "fingering" = choosing the notes of the keyboard, you want as much flexibility as possible,at best a "flying hand" - while for "bellowsing" = pumping air and articulating the notes, you want as much stability as possible (between hand and instrument)

2. You can NEVER get both at the same time, consequently you have to choose, for every occasional situation, for every piece of music, for every particular instrument, for every individual, and for every particular way of performance WHAT is most crucial: flexibility OR stability

3.The trad wrist strap may possibly offer some assistance on pull/draw and with the instrument hanging in a low position if set loose enough to admit acceptable flexibility for most performance. If set tight on the other hand - to achieve better stability - the hand gets so locked up that distant keyboard is not reachable and the wrist gets a hyperextended position which is unphysiological and limits fingering.

In consequence of this it is absolutely necessary to fill up the gap between strap/hand and instrument endplate so that reasonable stability is preserved both on push and pull. This is done by a wrist support. To maintain an acceptable flexibility the hand must be able to move within the "handle" - how much is depending on demand for flexibility by accidental circumstances.

The "finger rest" / "finger plate" has got no sensible function at all - unless used as the inventor intended, as a "rest" for BOTH 3rd AND 4th fingers - and otherwise better be dismissed.