I have to make an effort to be as light on the keys as possible, and also added that theory to fretting some time back. I spend long hours at work typing and that too takes a toll. For me personally it helps a lot and I too have to be careful of my left thumb and actually all my fingers. It seems to decrease the feeling that one needs to use the thumb as an opposing force. One trick for barre chords which often feel like one needs to press harder is to actually add a tiny little bit of downward pull to the fretting finger (down as in following the angle of the fret). It will be hot for a few hours, but never seems to take more than two applications over 24 hours to fix it up. I slather that on, put a layer of cayenne ointment over that, and some Tiger Balm over THAT so I won't notice the sting of the cayenne as much. Anything with those compounds in it will help me a lot on sore joints, even a bad knee. I have some left over from my last horse, a lot of people using it as a liniment rub on their horse's legs accidentally found out it helped joint pain in their hands, it has glucosamine in it and cayenne. I don't know if it encourages the body to remove / reduce inflammatory reactions in the joint, but it helps me.Ī really great thing to try is a horse liniment called Grand Flex, lol.
![ukulele ten thumbs ukulele ten thumbs](https://davetalsma.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ukulele_player_logo.png)
Not too icy and of course not scalding hot, but say a minute in one and then the other, just soaking the hand, for a few transitions back and forth.
![ukulele ten thumbs ukulele ten thumbs](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/78/96/a1/7896a1fdfad5be55c1994d8d35124a33.jpg)
It definitely makes handling the neck and making transitions easier.Īlso try alternating soaking in ice water and hot water.
![ukulele ten thumbs ukulele ten thumbs](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8e/66/1e/8e661e794ca13e8af990c7e69ddba8ce.jpg)
One thing I found that really helps with that is using Lori's Uke Leash. I do take care now to hold my uke as lightly as possible on the neck, and fret gently as possible. I have the same thing but it moves around all my fingers and other joints so I think it's basically age and hard use = arthritis for me.