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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 34: 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 XII.
MECHANICAL FINGER-EXERCISES.

First movement.

Fig. 24.
Fig. 25.

Take for each hand three cylinders, three quarters of an inch long, and from half to one inch in diameter, according to the size of the fingers; place them between the upper ends of the fingers, and while gradually and conveniently extending the muscles, by bending the fingers, move the latter as shown by the above figures, 24 and 25.

Second movement.

Fig. 26.
Fig. 27.

Move the cylinders further down, to the roots of the fingers, and perform the exercises according to Figs. 26 and 27. In doing this, put a small round piece of wood between the thumb and the forefinger, at a distance sufficient to extend the former as much as possible.

Leaving the other fingers as before, put a large cylinder between the thumb and forefinger (28 and 29), so as to entirely fill up the intervening space. In doing this, be careful to extend the thumb as much as possible. In case the tension of the fingers is small, take smaller cylinders: or if the latter should be too hard for tender hands, cover them with some soft substance, such as velvet, or the like.

Third movement.

Fig. 28.
Fig. 29.

Perform all these exercises vigorously, and, if possible, just before practising the musical instrument, twice or three times daily, each time for a few minutes, especially in the morning, on getting up. As a matter of course, after eight or 10 hours rest, the muscles of the fingers and wrist, like those of the rest of the body, are somewhat stiff, and ought to be prepared by proper gymnastic exercises, before beginning to play. Besides, provided over-exertion be avoided, there is not, according to the best medical authorities, the least danger to be apprehended, from these exercises, for the joints and muscles of even the very smallest hands.

If players of the piano and the violin should object that, in the act of playing, the fingers need not be as much extended as prescribed here, or assert that the finger-exercises, scales, and études as at present used are perfectly sufficient, and that nothing more is wanted, I can only repeat, that the fingers must be prepared in order to render them strong and flexible; that, for this purpose, it is necessary to exercise them gymnastically, and that, as I have explained before, these preparatory exercises will save much time and trouble, and facilitate the work of both teachers and pupils; further—that, by the diligent practice of these gymnastics, the fingers become elastic and independent of each other; you acquire thereby complete control over them, and when you have done this, you can move them and do with them as you will.

Another most effective mode of stretching and loosening the tendons and ligaments which encompass the large middle-hand bones, or “knuckles,” may be performed as follows:

Place the forefinger of each hand, up to the middle joint, firmly on the table, and in that position press it up and down with a certain degree of force, for a few seconds; then withdraw it, and apply the next finger in a precisely similar manner; then the two other fingers in succession, each finger remaining on the table alone, unaccompanied by any other.

Afterwards apply the 2nd and 4th together, exactly in the same way, for a few seconds; then the 3rd and 5th; lastly the thumb.

The pupil may do this many times a day with great advantage; for by this process the ligaments and tendons of the knuckles are stretched and loosened, and the muscles are set free.

Of course always with due moderation.

Another very important exercise, bearing chiefly on the tendons and ligaments of the large metacarpal joints or knuckles, is the following:

With the thumb and forefinger of the one hand take hold of one finger of the other hand, and shake it up and down, for one minute, to its root. Then take the other fingers in succession in like manner. To be applied equally to both hands, and to be done, especially with the 4th and 5th fingers separately, as often as leisure permits.

To this category belongs also ANOTHER EXERCISE of the metacarpal joints or knuckles. Into the palm of one outstretched hand place the closed fingers or fist of the other: then open and close the latter as fast and as long a time as is agreeable, always continuing to press upon the palm. Change hands and repeat. Ever remember that the difficulties of bringing the fingers into order lie, physiologically, almost all in the middle-hand bones or knuckles; and as the five preceding exercises,—and especially the three last,—act in a very efficient and special manner upon the ligaments, tendons, and muscles of these and the other joints of the fingers, they cannot be made too often.