PLAYING THE VIOLIN is not a natural bodily activity. Holding the instrument correctly under the chin, and sitting or standing in the right position to play, you can place unusual strains on the body.
So a violinist has to learn to deal with these difficulties, either by anticipating them, so that aches and pains do not occur, or by knowing what to do when they strike.
One particularly common condition that violinists and other string players find they develop is RSI, or repetitive strain injury. This has been looked into a great deal in recent years, and there is a lot of medical advice about how to deal with it. One essential thing is rest – but the best advice is not to court disaster by doing too much in the first place. This may sound difficult advice, as when young there is a lot of work to be done and maximum practice seems the best way forward. Just remember that that's not always the case.
Bad playing habits can also develop – and Lucy suggests here some of the things she does to make sure she is making the right moves on the violin.
