I recently received an email that I wanted to share with you, since there are many cellists out there who have pain and tension in the bow thumb (I myself struggled with it for almost a decade).
Sometimes these issues can be sorted out with a change in technique, but sometimes they hang on no matter what changes we make.
Sometimes these issues can be sorted out with a change in technique, but sometimes they hang on no matter what changes we make.
Hello Nan,
I am one of your followers and enjoy reading your cello tips and stories.
I am an adult cello student of 5 years in the Cincinnati area and have been taking private lessons all along. I am playing in Suzuki book 4 and other pieces on a similar level.
Recently I have been having difficulty with a trigger thumb in my right hand and I suspect it is due to tension in my bow hand. The problem first started in September and I had a cortisone injection which cleared up the issue until late November, when it resurfaced.
I took a month break over the holidays with very little physical playing but some mental playing and air bowing. I was hoping the rest from playing would help but it didn't.
I would welcome any suggestions you could recommend.
Thank you,
Teresa
I am one of your followers and enjoy reading your cello tips and stories.
I am an adult cello student of 5 years in the Cincinnati area and have been taking private lessons all along. I am playing in Suzuki book 4 and other pieces on a similar level.
Recently I have been having difficulty with a trigger thumb in my right hand and I suspect it is due to tension in my bow hand. The problem first started in September and I had a cortisone injection which cleared up the issue until late November, when it resurfaced.
I took a month break over the holidays with very little physical playing but some mental playing and air bowing. I was hoping the rest from playing would help but it didn't.
I would welcome any suggestions you could recommend.
Thank you,
Teresa
There's nothing more heartbreaking to me than a cellist who can't play without pain! I hope Teresa gets the mystery solved soon. Though no one in my studio has a right trigger thumb, I do have students with arthritis, bone spurs, and various right arm problems that can be exacerbated by thumb tension--and I am hoping the exercise outlined in the following video can help keep tension at bay, no matter what the ailment!
As I mentioned in the video, squeezing the bow between the fingers and thumb can cause problems. If you suspect the way you are holding the bow is hurting you, check out my other blog post on keeping thumb tension at bay HERE.
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