This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi,

I'm a musician, in addition to the normal numbness in the fingers of my right hand I'm noticing a weakness in my right hand when playing the piano. Can anyone recommend me a good hand strengthener (exercise machine) that I could use to keep playing competently for as long as possible?

Thank you!

Abe

My hand/finger exercises have given me enough control that I no longer hit double letters with every stroke of my left hand and I can now play every note of a piano piece, although more slowly than pre-tremor. It's been nothing short of amazing to see the difference that hand exercises have made in my life.

Here's a link to a thread where I gave my experiences:
http://www.thisisms.com/ftopicp-66953-ball.html#66953
Here's a link to the brand of ball I've been using (I get no profits from this one either.) You can find them at all different prices on the net, however, but the main link gives the different resistance weights.

http://www.thera-band.com/store/product ... oductID=21

I'm trying to decide which resistance strength to pick on the one you suggested [Prohands], so I made a list to compare yours to the ones I use... I actually bought the balls for everyone in my family for Christmas one year. (If you can believe it, I've been the healthiest person in my family for awhile. )

Thera-Band ball:
yellow - 1.5 lb (super SOFT - great to squeeze between fingers)
red - 3 lb
green - 5 lb
blue - 8 lb (the original one I got at a PT session. It was pretty stiff until I got used to it. I would start with a lower weight, like a 5 lb.)
black - 17 lb (Yikes. Too hard.)

Prohands exerciser (piano version):
light - 4 lb
med - 6 lb
or 5 lb & 7 lb

I'm kinda excited to see how these work - may try different strengths of this one, too. My left hand is much weaker.

Sending, healthy, stable, non-shaky wishes to all this morning.

P.S. I have arthritis in all my fingers and haven't had any pain in them whatsoever in the last few years - since I started exercising them twice a day. Amazing!