{"id":1491,"date":"2014-12-19T11:45:56","date_gmt":"2014-12-19T19:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/classicalguitarshed.foureyes.com\/?p=1491"},"modified":"2025-01-06T03:11:21","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T11:11:21","slug":"focal-dystonia-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/focal-dystonia-guitar\/","title":{"rendered":"Focal Dystonia of the Hands: Info for Guitarists"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<h3 id=\"h-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-2MeXB6LxQ4?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;autohide=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Holy Moly! \u00a0Focal Dystonia! \u00a0Of all the bum cards you could be dealt, this one is the bummer of the bunch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>After all the hard work you put into your playing, all the hours and days spent honing this craft, imagine losing it all. \u00a0Imagine your hands not working anymore. \u00a0Imagine doctors not having a clue what to do about it. \u00a0Imagine how tragic, distressing, frustrating and heartbreaking something like this could be. \u00a0Then double it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Focal Dystonia is one of those silent maladies that is all around us that we rarely hear about. \u00a0My musical coach has it (though he staved it off for 15 years since he first got serious symptoms. \u00a0More on that later.) \u00a0And I have been surprised how often I am contacted by guitarists (typically advanced players, well-studied) suffering from the effects of Focal Dystonia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-table-of-contents\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><a href=\"#focal-dystonia\">What is Focal Dystonia<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"#treatments\">Treatments<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"#the-basics\">Revisit the Basics<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"#more-resources\">More Resources<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"focal-dystonia\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">What is Focal Dystonia?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n<address>Disclaimer: I am not a medically certified anything. \u00a0I don&#8217;t even know CPR. \u00a0If you suspect you may have focal dystonia, widen your research to beyond this guitar blog!<\/address>\r\n\r\n<address>\u00a0<\/address>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In a nutshell, focal dystonia is an affliction where your brain sends your muscles too many commands at once. \u00a0The result is a total traffic jam of muscle movements, which creates a clinching spasm.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Instead of playing an arpeggio pattern, say, P<a title=\"AIM Arpeggio Pattern\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/aim-arpeggio-pattern\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">IMA<\/a>, You instead have a cluster of fingers all at once. \u00a0Like this:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-1494 size-thumbnail\">\r\n<figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"wp-image-1494\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA1-150x150.png\" alt=\"FDPIMA1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA1.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nice and tidy<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-1495 size-thumbnail\">\r\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"wp-image-1495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA2-150x150.png\" alt=\"FDPIMA2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA2-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/FDPIMA2.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All jumbled together<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"treatments\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focal Dystonia Treatments<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>People and doctors are experimenting with many different cures and treatments. \u00a0(Surprisingly, Botox is a common treatment! \u00a0Though the effects are temporary.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>One treatment, that could also help as a preventative, is practicing<strong> slow, exaggerated movements<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For this, you would break down all the separate motions that go into a stroke, such as an arpeggio, or I and M alternation. \u00a0Then you would play each in turn, slowly, exaggerating the follow-through.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>(I was happy to learn that my methods for I and M alternation, and for playing arpeggios, jive well with this, because I suggest breaking down the movements to begin with. \u00a0I got lucky on that one!)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>This is how my coach was able to continue performing publicly for 15 years after first diagnosing his focal dystonia. \u00a0He went back to square one, and practiced slowly, examining and retraining every movement involved with basic technique. \u00a0Never underestimate the power of patience and a serious work ethic!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"the-basics\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Re-visit your basic technique<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>For us all, this is one more reason to slow down and focus on good technique. \u00a0If you haven&#8217;t in a while, this would be a great time to set aside a practice or two to re-visit your basic movements, and re-train any non-optimal habits you may find.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a title=\"Fundamental Concepts of Classical Guitar Technique\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here is a lesson on fundamental movement.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a title=\"5 Top Classical Guitar Technique Mistakes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/mistakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here are 5 common mistakes guitarists make.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/how-to-learn-classical-guitar-arpeggios-right-hand-technique\/\">Here is the course on arpeggio technique.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a title=\"I and M Alternation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/m-alternation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Here is the lesson on I and M alternation. <\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"more-resources\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">\u00a0Other resources<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Other avenues that may prove helpful:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>1. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amsatonline.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Alexander Technique<\/a> &#8211; I have studied this for years, and it is probably the absolute best thing I have ever done for my daily quality of life and bodily health. \u00a0It&#8217;s not easy to talk about unless you have some experience with it, but it&#8217;s well worth the investment for lessons. \u00a0(For US residents, make sure you get an AmSAT-certified teacher. \u00a0There are others, but the AmSAT standards are miles higher. \u00a0If you are not in the US, I am sure you can do an internet search for a teacher nearby.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>2. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexandertechnique.com\/articles\/bodymap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Body-Mapping<\/a> &#8211; Body Mapping teaches the basic fundamentals of movement. \u00a0Some people compare it to the Alexander Technique, but that would be like comparing a story with an actual experience. \u00a0It&#8217;s a whole different thing. \u00a0Still, Body Mapping is quick and cheap to learn (AT is not) and is valuable for what it is. \u00a0 It is simply intellectual knowledge, whereas AT teaches through bodily experience (i.e. you could learn all about a peach, or you could learn about a peach while actually eating one.) \u00a0If you get the opportunity to take a Body-Mapping workshop, I would encourage you to sign up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>3. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thepoisedguitarist.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0The Poised Guitarist<\/a> &#8211; Thanks to Sasha Ahuja for turning me on to this guy. \u00a0He&#8217;s a guitarists who used Body-Mapping in his teaching, and specializes working with people with focal dystonia and repetitive stress injuries. \u00a0There are some great videos on his home page that are worth a watch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>4. Do you have others that belong on this list? \u00a0Let me know, please, either <a title=\"Contact\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via a note<\/a> or in the comments below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Conclusion<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you have focal dystonia, you have my complete sympathies, and I encourage you to stay patient and dedicated to slow practice.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>If you are all clear, I encourage you to thank your lucky stars and periodically return to fundamentals and basics.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Do you have any experience or knowledge on focal dystonia? \u00a0Please share it below!<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Holy Moly! \u00a0Focal Dystonia! \u00a0Of all the bum cards you could be dealt, this one is the bummer of the bunch. After all the hard work you put into your playing, all the hours and days spent honing this craft, imagine losing it all. \u00a0Imagine your hands not working anymore. \u00a0Imagine doctors not having a clue what to do &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/focal-dystonia-guitar\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-1491","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-pain"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Focal Dystonia: Basic Facts for Guitarists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Focal Dystonia can be a life-altering condition. This article gives some basic facts about it, and makes suggestions for treatment and prevention.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/basics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Focal Dystonia of the Hands: Info for Guitarists\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Focal Dystonia can be a life-altering condition. 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