The 6 Common Causes of Hand Strain at the Piano

June 6, 2023

Fancy dressed man sitting at a piano Blake Little / Stone / Getty Images

Learning to play the piano is a fantastic way to express your creativity, but if you’re not careful you can end up with some pretty nasty hand strain. It’s easy to get carried away and forget about relaxation and proper technique.

This helpful guide is here to help you identify the six common causes of hand strain at the piano so that you can play like a pro without any pain!

Can You Strain Your Hand Playing Piano?

Unfortunately, it is possible to develop a hand strain while playing the piano, usually due to one of these issues:

Playing too hard or too fast– It’s easy to get excited when playing the piano, but playing too hard can lead to tension in your hands and wrists which can cause soreness. Try to stay relaxed and focus on accuracy over speed.
Poor posture– Poor posture can put more strain on your hands than necessary, so be sure that you maintain good posture when playing by keeping your back straight, shoulders relaxed and head up. This will help keep your hands in a comfortable position for extended periods of time.
Not using proper technique– Proper technique at the piano requires that you use your fingers rather than relying on arm strength alone. Using proper technique helps reduce hand strain because it allows for more efficient movements while playing which reduces excess tension in the hands and arms.
Holding down keys with excessive force– You don’t need to press down hard on every key; doing so will only tire out your hands faster as it takes extra effort to press down harder than necessary. Learn how little pressure is required for each key so that you don’t waste energy pressing down too hard!
Neglecting warm-ups– Before jumping right into a piece, take some time to warm up gently by stretching out your hands, wrists and forearms before playing any complicated pieces or exercises that require a lot of dexterity from your fingers. This will help prevent unnecessary straining of muscles and tendons in your hands caused by sudden movements during practice sessions or performances .
Not taking breaks– Taking breaks between songs or pieces allows for adequate rest time for both mind and body so that fatigue does not set in quickly during practice sessions or performances . Make sure to take regular breaks throughout practice sessions or performances so that you don’t tire out quickly!

The best way to avoid straining hand muscles or tendons when playing the piano? Sign up for piano lessons with a skilled instructor who will show you how to avoid getting injured in the first place – and even teach you some helpful piano hand strain exercises. You’ll also learn strength exercises to avoid injury, like what you see in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah-fdExgBrY

Can Your Hands Hurt From Playing Piano?

There are two common types of hand strain that you might get from playing the piano – a muscle strain and a strained tendon. Let’s take a look at the symptoms.

Hand Strain Symptoms – Muscle Strain in Hand

Have you been experiencing discomfort, pain or stiffness in your hand? If so, you might be suffering from a hand strain.

Hand strains are caused by overworking your hands. This can include repetitive motions such as typing on a computer, playing an instrument, or gripping tools for long periods of time. It could also be caused by physical activities such as weight lifting or sports that require the use of your hands.

Common symptoms of a hand strain include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected area. You may also experience numbness and tingling in your fingers and thumb due to impaired nerve function. Other signs of a hand strain include weakness in the hands or difficulty gripping objects.

Hand Strain Symptoms – Strained Tendon in Hand

The most common symptom of a strained tendon is pain and tenderness in your wrist or fingers. This pain can range from mild discomfort to severe throbbing. Other symptoms include swelling, stiffness, weakness, and even numbness or tingling in the affected area. It may also be difficult to move your fingers or grip objects firmly with the affected hand.

In some cases, people may experience an audible pop when they sustain an injured tendon. This usually happens when the tendon tears partially away from the bone. In addition, there may be visible signs of injury such as bruising or inflammation around the affected area.

Piano Hand Strain Healing Time

Healing times for hand strain related to playing the piano varies based on the individual and how severe the injury is. Generally though, hand strain can take anywhere from six weeks to several months to heal depending on how restful you make sure your hands are during this time, as well as any other treatments you are undergoing such as occupational therapy or massage.

It is important to not push yourself into playing too quickly as this may cause a reoccurrence of the pain and further delay your return to playing. Working together with an experienced teacher or physical therapist will assist in finding activities that are both helpful and healing for your hands.

Hand Exercises for Repetitive Strain Injury

While taking breaks is important to prevent RSI, there are also some simple hand exercises you can do to reduce the pain and discomfort. Let’s take a look at a few!

Finger Flexion Exercises

Finger flexion exercises are great for strengthening your hands and improving dexterity. To do this exercise, simply make fists with both hands and then spread your fingers wide apart. Repeat this ten times for each hand. If you want to up the intensity of this exercise, try using small objects like marbles or rubber bands while doing the movements.

Finger Extension Exercises

Finger extension exercises involve stretching out each finger individually so that they reach as far as possible away from your palm. Start by making a loose fist with both your hands, then curl each finger down into the palm one at a time before straightening them out again. This exercise requires more strength than finger flexion exercises so make sure not to overdo it! Try repeating this 10 times for each hand.

Wrist Curls

Wrist curls are another great way to help strengthen your hands and prevent RSI from developing further down the line. To do this exercise sit in a chair with good posture and hold both arms out straight in front of you so that they are parallel to the ground with palms facing downwards. Then curl your wrists up towards your chest until they reach shoulder height before returning them back down again without moving any other part of the arm or body. Repeat this 10 times for each hand.

Why Does My Hand Hurt After Playing the Piano?

It might seem strange to talk about injuries caused by playing music, but it can be very real for musicians who play with poor technique, posture or other bad habits. Pianists in particular should pay close attention to their form, in order to prevent strain.

The Piano Career blog has a great post about the six common causes of hand strain for pianists, along with some tips for alleviating and dealing with an injury. Here are the causes the author identified:

1. Tension

Tension is perhaps one of the biggest culprits when it comes to hand strain. Playing with too much tension can lead to not only physical strain but also fatigue and frustration as it makes playing difficult and uncomfortable. To help combat this, make sure that you relax your shoulders and wrists while playing and consciously release any extra tension from your hands whenever necessary.

2. Irregular practice (“lazy student syndrome”!)

Irregular practice (aka “lazy student syndrome”!) can also be a cause for hand strain. If you don’t practice regularly or consistently enough, then your muscles may not be used to the motions required for playing which can lead to pain or discomfort in your hands after a session of playing. Make sure to set aside some time each day for regular practice so that your fingers stay strong and flexible!

3. Playing only with your fingers (overall poor technique)

Playing only with your fingers (aka overall poor technique) is another common cause of hand strain amongst pianists. Not using proper technique when playing can put unnecessary stress on certain muscles in your arms, hands, and wrists which can lead to soreness or injury over time if not addressed promptly. Be sure to use proper posture while playing and keep all five fingers involved in each note as much as possible!

4. Incorrect posture (we can’t say it enough!)

Incorrect posture (we can’t say it enough!) is another major issue when it comes to preventing hand strain at the piano – if you don’t have good posture while playing, then no matter how relaxed or skilled you are, chances are that eventually some sort of strain will occur due to incorrect positioning of yourself relative to the instrument itself. Make sure that you sit upright and close enough so that both arms reach comfortably across the keys without having to stretch too far – this will ensure optimal comfort levels throughout your sessions!

5. Too much “enthusiasm” in your finger stretching exercises

Too much “enthusiasm” in your finger stretching exercises is another common cause of hand strain at the piano – though these exercises are great for improving dexterity and accuracy, be careful not overdo it as this can lead to an overly-tight grip on the keys which can contribute greatly towards developing strains in one’s hands over time! Be sure to start slow and work up gradually during these exercises rather than rushing through them quickly – this will help keep everything in check!

6. Psychological tension, stress and a negative attitude

Psychological tension, stress, and a negative attitude are all factors which should never be overlooked when considering potential causes of hand strain at the piano – if we constantly feel overwhelmed by our tasks or frustrated by our progress (or lack thereof), then we are more likely than ever before to develop physical symptoms such as pain or stiffness due simply because we have built up such negative energy during our sessions!

It’s important always have a positive outlook while practicing- no matter how challenging something may seem- so that we don’t put ourselves at risk for any potentially preventable injuries down the road!

Address That Piano Hand Strain ASAP

Do any of these causes of hand strain on the piano sound familiar to you? If you’re not working with a private piano teacher, they might be harder to notice. Working with an instructor, on the other hand, will give you the individual feedback you need to get rid of any bad habits and avoid injuries.

Already feeling strained? The author suggests several great tips, including taking a break from practicing (1 or 2 days) if necessary, and sticking with a regular practice schedule in order to prevent injuries. You can read the article in its entirety here.

Whether you are an amateur player just starting out or an experienced performer, it’s important to pay attention to how much strain is being placed on your hands when playing the piano! By understanding these six common causes of hand strain at the piano, pianists can ensure they stay injury-free while still enjoying their music-making experiences!

So remember—relaxation, proper posture, correct technique, light pressure on keys, warm-up exercises and regular breaks are all essential components of avoiding hand strain while playing the piano!