Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 07:50 PM

I would have thought that,if any musician was likely to suffer from a RSI ,it would be John-Joe Kelly...Just watching him hurts !!

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:54 PM

I agree with the material on positioning the muscles and joints - keep the position as 'neutral' as possible - forcing the joints to stay in positions near the ends of natural movement cause stress, fatigue, and often long term problems.

Being able to rest the weight helps too - I have seen 'neck straps' which are attached to each end and slung behind the neck.

With the piano accordion, the main work in moving the bellows comes from the left shoulder joint - which will really let you know you have done too much, especially on 'bellows shake' until you have strengthened the joint, and increased the ability for endurance.

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: Rowan
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 04:56 PM

Playing an anglo three nights per week for dances, plus practising a fourth night, plus general mucking around never gave me tennis elbow. I got minor callouses at the top and bottom of each palm (from constant contact with the straps) and sometimes (after a very long night) a bit of an ache from an abductor muscle in the upper arm but nothing else. Mostly I played standing up but, if I played when seated, I'd have the right hand end resting gently against the inner part of the right knee and the left hand did most of the bellows work.

Being (some lifetimes before) an IV judoka (and something of a tiger in Victorian rockclimbing) I was well practised in the arts of relaxation of all the muscle groups that weren't actually required to move while playing, until you needed to move them. It helps, even for a person known as 'upfront' in his playing.

And I didn't even pick a concertina up until I was 32. Just get stuck into it and learn the relaxation bit as well as keeping tabs on your pre-existing condition and you'll be alright.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: GUEST,Doctor
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 04:07 PM

Tennis elbow can be very painful but I hope you realise that when playing the concertina you run the risk of developing tennis ball, which can be much worse.

Get well soon

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 03:44 PM

apologies.http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 03:33 PM

if you have been playing guitar and understand about chords,Iwould recommend the English.Everything Alan and chris say,I can confirm I have been playing thirty years, with no tennis elbow problems,I rest the concertina on my left knee,and have my thumb straps very loose,so ican move my thumb with the rest of my fingers.
I,ve two tutors,http;//www.dickmiles.com
one which deals specifically with song accompaniments.

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: Alan Day
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:59 AM

I would say no risk of tennis elbow at all.The elbows are usually static.After a lot of playing the shoulder blade muscles ache a bit,but that is where the power comes from to push the bellows in and out.Even this action can be reduced by the type of instrument you play.An English and Duet for example requires very litte bellows movement,normal playing requiring smooth flow of air with very little in out playing that the Anglo requires.Certain techniques may require this action as you progress with the instrument but there is very little if no strain at all on the elbows.
Al

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: GUEST,chris
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 07:51 AM

with an english style concertina you can rest one end on your knee if you play sitting down. I use a piece of non slip material on my knee to prevent the concertina moving around.I think a decent airtight concertina will allow good bellows control which should equal less to and fro movement and less effort.I guess that buying one with stiff bellows would not be to good either
chris

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: Tootler
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:50 AM

Any repetitive action can give you repetitive strain injury (RSI), of which tennis elbow is form. I got RSI from a combination of a lot of computer keyboarding at work and playing my recorders. The Doctor told me to lay off for a month to give the damage time to heal and then to be careful afterwards as there will always be a weakness. I took up concertina about 15 months ago and find occasionally I get problems in my wrist, so I have to go easy. With the concertina, finding a relaxed position for arms and wrists seems to be critical so that they are not strained. If they are the finger movement can aggravate the weakness in the muscles there for me. I play Anglo and I got a tip about putting some foam on the handles under the strap to keep the wrists straight, otherwise they are pulled back a little and that creates problems. English Concertina is held differently - supported by the thumbs and little fingers. The one time I tried it I found it uncomfortable, but but my RSI was playing up a bit at the time which may have aggravated the problem.

I suggest you go to concertina.net to find out more about the different types. Their forum has a section on health problems which is worth looking at. I find the people there very helpful to genuine queries.

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:41 AM

Perhaps only if you lob it over the net?

Subject: RE: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:36 AM

Don't know about playing concertinas or such, but Manitas got tennis elbow from sword dancing until he learned to relax more and use the other hand to lift his pint glass with.

LTS

Subject: Tech: Concertina: Gives tennis elbow?
From: GUEST,stormywhether
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:18 AM

I had to give up playing guitar and mandolin because of symptoms similar to tennis elbow.

I know the range of movements for concertina are pretty different, but don't have access to a loan model.

Is there a good chance playing concertina would bring on the same symptoms, or should I just go for it? Love the concertina sound and don't want to stop playing music altogether.

At 32, I hope there's a bit more life in the old dog yet!!!

Thanks for your tips.

stormy