Ira Glass, host of NPR's excellent program This American Life, offers some excellent advice to those who do any kind of creative work.
Thanks to Mano Singham for this link.
Showing posts with label Art Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art Talk. Show all posts
Friday, July 11, 2008
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
To Students of Art
In every drawing or painting you create, there is a stroke of genius. As a teacher, it is my duty to show you where and how you accomplished it; as a student, your duty is to strive to repeat it.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
I first purchased an Apple Macintosh computer when it was introduced in 1984, and have been clicking a mouse and pounding a keyboard ever since. Still, it came as a surprise to me when, three years ago, I developed a numbness in my right forearm. This soon expanded to both forearms and I knew I had it: the dreaded Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel disorder results from inflammation of the fibro-osseous tunnel on the palmar surface of the carpal bones of the wrist, a hole through which several tendons and the median nerve passes. Repetitive motion (such as typing or mouse clicking) causes the inflammation that squeezes the nerve. This in turn causes numbness, tingling, pain, or other nasty symptoms. If left unchecked, permanent nerve damage may result.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can sometimes be relieved by surgery—a procedure designed to widen the carpal tunnel, lessening pressure on the median nerve. But results are mixed. In my case, this alternative was neither welcome nor inevitable.
Working first with a physical therapist, I learned several techniques that don't cure my Carpal Tunnel problem entirely, but keep it in check. I offer these tips to those of you who may be experiencing similar symptoms. If your problem persists, see a doctor.
1. Wear a wrist splint. I can't stress this enough. Each and every time you use a computer, wear a splint. If you have symptoms in both wrists, wear a splint on each hand. Avoid drug-store splints. The best quality splints are found in pharmacies associated with hospitals and medical centers. Expect to pay about $25 for a good splint.
2. Give your wrists a break. Every 15 minutes or so, relax your hands. When at work, do these few stretching exercises: place your palms together in a praying position; gently press, hold, and release. Do this several times. Rotate your wrists slowly 360 degrees.
3. Do mild weight lifting each and every day to increase blood circulation through the shoulders. These are the exercises that work the best for me (2 sets, 10 or more repetitions each): bench press (or pushups); military press (lifting weight above the head); chair lift (bend over and place one palm on the seat of a chair. With the other hand, raise a dumbell to your chest, lower and repeat). Here's a good web site for more information about working with dumbells.
4. Doorway stretch: several times each day, stand within an open doorway; interlace your fingers behind your head so your elbows stick out from side to side and contact the door frame. Step gently forward with one leg and slowly stretch your arms backward, against the door frame. Move in, hold for 20 seconds, then release. Do not "bounce" against the door frame or stretch too hard or too fast. The idea here is to stretch in small, comfortable increments daily.
5. For quick relief, use ice compresses to help reduce swelling. I find that a bag of frozen peas works especially well.
Follow these guidelines daily and I'm confident that soon you will feel significant relief from your symptoms. With any luck, your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will be—if not cured—comfortably managed.
Carpal Tunnel disorder results from inflammation of the fibro-osseous tunnel on the palmar surface of the carpal bones of the wrist, a hole through which several tendons and the median nerve passes. Repetitive motion (such as typing or mouse clicking) causes the inflammation that squeezes the nerve. This in turn causes numbness, tingling, pain, or other nasty symptoms. If left unchecked, permanent nerve damage may result.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can sometimes be relieved by surgery—a procedure designed to widen the carpal tunnel, lessening pressure on the median nerve. But results are mixed. In my case, this alternative was neither welcome nor inevitable.
Working first with a physical therapist, I learned several techniques that don't cure my Carpal Tunnel problem entirely, but keep it in check. I offer these tips to those of you who may be experiencing similar symptoms. If your problem persists, see a doctor.
1. Wear a wrist splint. I can't stress this enough. Each and every time you use a computer, wear a splint. If you have symptoms in both wrists, wear a splint on each hand. Avoid drug-store splints. The best quality splints are found in pharmacies associated with hospitals and medical centers. Expect to pay about $25 for a good splint.
2. Give your wrists a break. Every 15 minutes or so, relax your hands. When at work, do these few stretching exercises: place your palms together in a praying position; gently press, hold, and release. Do this several times. Rotate your wrists slowly 360 degrees.
3. Do mild weight lifting each and every day to increase blood circulation through the shoulders. These are the exercises that work the best for me (2 sets, 10 or more repetitions each): bench press (or pushups); military press (lifting weight above the head); chair lift (bend over and place one palm on the seat of a chair. With the other hand, raise a dumbell to your chest, lower and repeat). Here's a good web site for more information about working with dumbells.
4. Doorway stretch: several times each day, stand within an open doorway; interlace your fingers behind your head so your elbows stick out from side to side and contact the door frame. Step gently forward with one leg and slowly stretch your arms backward, against the door frame. Move in, hold for 20 seconds, then release. Do not "bounce" against the door frame or stretch too hard or too fast. The idea here is to stretch in small, comfortable increments daily.
5. For quick relief, use ice compresses to help reduce swelling. I find that a bag of frozen peas works especially well.
Follow these guidelines daily and I'm confident that soon you will feel significant relief from your symptoms. With any luck, your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will be—if not cured—comfortably managed.
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