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Jackson's Gymnastics for the Fingers and Wrist / being a system of gymnastics, based on anatomical principles, for developing and strengthening the muscles of the hand for musical, mechanical and medical purposes: with thirty-seven diagrams cover

Jackson's Gymnastics for the Fingers and Wrist / being a system of gymnastics, based on anatomical principles, for developing and strengthening the muscles of the hand for musical, mechanical and medical purposes: with thirty-seven diagrams

Chapter 28: Second movement.
By Edwin Ward Jackson
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About This Book

The author sets out a system of exercises grounded in anatomy and physiology to develop and strengthen the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the fingers, hand, and wrist. After describing experimental origins and critiques of standard instrumental training, the work presents practical routines, explanatory diagrams, and apparatus recommendations for musicians, artisans, and those with hand ailments. It explains principles, methods of instruction, and staged exercises for free movement and use of portable and fixed implements, and outlines therapeutic applications such as treatment for rheumatism and contortions, concluding with guidance on instruction, testing, and adoption of these techniques in gymnastic and medical practice.

CHAPTER XI.
FREE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR THE WRIST.[6]

First movement.

Fig. 17.
Fig. 18.

Move the wrist, without moving the arm or elbow, vigorously up and down in a perpendicular direction, from 20 to 40 times, first slowly, then more quickly; finally, as quick as possible. In doing so, let the elbows rest close to the body, so as to bring both hands and wrists into the proper position. As soon as you are tired, leave off.

Second movement.

Fig. 19.
Fig. 20.

Move the hand horizontally or vertically without moving the arm.

To understand the practical utility of this exercise (19, 20), it ought to be borne in mind that the entire action of the wrist is effected by two principal joints, one of which, the smaller of the two, lies at the root of the hand, and is called the “joint of the hand,” by means of which it becomes possible to move the hand, independently of the arm, at its root. The other joint, the larger of the two, rises from the elbow, and is called the rotatory joint of the forearm. Holding, then, all the five fingers close together, move the smaller joint perpendicularly or horizontally, as you please, without in any way moving the arm, and at the same time holding the elbow close to the body.

Third movement.

Fig. 21.
Fig. 22.

Move the wrist in a slanting direction right and left, as above, first slowly, then quicker and quicker. Hold the elbows as before. By this movement, both the joints mentioned above will be put into action, 21, 22.

Fourth movement.

Fig 23.

The young violinist, who generally finds the sideways movement of the wrist of the right hand so difficult, will derive great advantage from all these wrist exercises.

Holding your arm quite still, move the free hand or fist vigorously round in a circle, 20 times to the right, and 20 times to the left, first slowly, then more quickly. By this exercise all the muscles of the hand and the arm will be put into motion, and though the most difficult of all, this is at the same time one of the most important exercises.

All these several free movements of the hand and fingers may be repeated many times, with advantage; still by simply performing them, short though they be, daily and regularly, the prescribed time only, the desired end of strengthening the muscles of the fingers and wrists, and rendering them vigorous and flexible, will be surely attained.

I could mention some other free exercises of the fingers; but since they are neither so practical nor so effective as those I have already described, I prefer to omit them.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] One or two of these exercises may possibly have been mentioned in some former work.