wrist
The Long Pole
It's important that these exercises be taken in the proper context, they are listed here purely for reference, you'll be guided to them throughout the program or by me directly, either through the forum or via an online consultation. Don't work through them without any supervision.
Common injuries of the wrist and hand
For most guitarists the main problem with the hand will be fatigue and the inevitable cramping that follows when we play through it. The left hand tends to suffer more because pressing onto the fretboard requires more work from the muscle.
The main causes are related to technique, excess tension in the hand and simply playing too much. The most immediate problem is that your playing is severely restricted, there is no way you can play your instrument fluently if there is excess myofascial tension in your hand, arm or shoulder.
Wrist biomechanics for guitar players
Apart from contributing to the position of the hand the primary function of the wrist that has relevance for us is its role in adjusting the tension in the extrinsic muscles of the hand. The wrist flexors and extensors described previously insert onto the carpal bones, parallel to these the extrinsic hand muscles cross the wrist and continue onto the fingers.
The Functional Anatomy of the Wrist
Muscles that articulate the wrist
The muscles that articulate the wrist can be broadly grouped according to their action. The flexors originate on the medial epicondyle of the humerus, traverse the inside of the forearm and connect on the carpals of the wrist, the metacarpals of the hand or the phalanges of the fingers and thumb. The extensors originate on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, run down the back of the forearm and again attach on the carpals, metacarpals or phalanges.
