In the past, mandolin and piano haven’t hurt my wrists. I haven’t got my mandolin out yet, and from the small amount of piano playing I’ve tried it’s not clear to me yet whether it’s a problem.
Hypothesis: When you learned playing piano, you learned proper technique for pushing the keys. That’s why it’s easy on your wrists. In contrast, when you type on a keyboard, you do it with improper technique (ulnar and dorsal deviation/hand bent out and up) and that puts more stress on your wrists.
I taught myself to both type and play piano and my technique isn’t actually all that different. In both cases I’m careful to keep my wrist totally straight.
My best guess is that when I play piano I find it very relaxing, and this has some sort of effect on how tense my wrists are?
Another potentially important difference is that when I play piano my hands move side to side as I play (the keyboard is very wide) which might spread things out some? Since I work standing up I could try typing while stepping left and right...
Not sure. There are other differences, too. – In the way the keys respond, and the fact that on a piano key you have much more freedom in choosing a convenient place for your finger. – This could all lead to less crampiness. So again, talking to an expert is the best bet. I’ve had good experiences with online PT consultations for weightlifting-related aches and pains.
Hypothesis: When you learned playing piano, you learned proper technique for pushing the keys. That’s why it’s easy on your wrists. In contrast, when you type on a keyboard, you do it with improper technique (ulnar and dorsal deviation/hand bent out and up) and that puts more stress on your wrists.
I taught myself to both type and play piano and my technique isn’t actually all that different. In both cases I’m careful to keep my wrist totally straight.
My best guess is that when I play piano I find it very relaxing, and this has some sort of effect on how tense my wrists are?
Okay, that speaks against my hypothesis.
Another potentially important difference is that when I play piano my hands move side to side as I play (the keyboard is very wide) which might spread things out some? Since I work standing up I could try typing while stepping left and right...
Not sure. There are other differences, too. – In the way the keys respond, and the fact that on a piano key you have much more freedom in choosing a convenient place for your finger. – This could all lead to less crampiness. So again, talking to an expert is the best bet. I’ve had good experiences with online PT consultations for weightlifting-related aches and pains.