Jackson's Gymnastics for the Fingers and Wrist / being a system of gymnastics, based on anatomical principles, for developing and strengthening the muscles of the hand for musical, mechanical and medical purposes: with thirty-seven diagrams

by Edwin Ward Jackson

FOOTNOTES:

[2] Luther Holden, Manual of Anatomy (London, 1861), Lecturer on Anatomy in Bartholomew’s Hospital. Hermann Meyer: Lehrbuch der Physiologischen Anatomie. Leipzig, 1856.

[3] William Cowper, Myotomia reformata. London, 1724. Richard Quain, Professor of Clinical Surgery, Surgeon Extraordinary to the Queen.

CHAPTER III.
EFFECTS OF THIS GYMNASTIC TREATMENT ON THE MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS, AND JOINTS OF THE FINGERS AND THE HAND.[4]

After the explanations just given, it may readily be conceived what effects the cylinders placed between the fingers and the gymnastic staff must produce on the joints and ligaments of the hand.

1. The ligaments connecting the bones of the middle-hand amongst themselves and with the fingers (Fig. 2 aa) are extended and stretched (Fig. 3 bb), and thus those joints, so important in playing on musical instruments, are rendered more moveable.

2. The connecting links between the bones of the middle-hand and the bones of the wrist are loosened (Fig. 2 bb).

3. Almost all the ligaments of the cavity of the hand are made flexible.

4. At the same time, all the muscles of the hand, and particularly the muscles situated between the bones (Fig. 4 b), generally so little practised, are stirred into activity by the cylinders, the stick, the staff, and the free exercises.

From the diagrams (Fig. 2 and 3) it may be plainly seen, what was mentioned before, viz., that the movement of the middle-hand and of the bones of the wrist in general, unless specially practised, is very inconsiderable; while through the cylinder gymnastics prescribed in this work, that limited movement of the bones is rendered more easy. It may also be seen from the diagrams that, if both the great and the small tight transversal ligaments remain still and firm, they impede and render more difficult the free movement of the fingers in every direction; and these ligaments will always remain stiff and tight, unless they be specially trained.

Fig. 4.

For this reason the cylinder exercise, just mentioned, is particularly intended to loosen the impeding transversal ligaments, as well as to exercise and strengthen all the muscles of the hand and fingers.

To convince yourself that this opinion is correct, extend your fingers for two minutes only with the cylinders alluded to, and you will find that the fingers instantaneously move much more easily, and that the muscles, liberated from their tight, stiff neighbours, act with much greater freedom.

In the same manner as with the cylinders, the greatest advantage may be experienced from the use of the gymnastic staff or stick.

The principle on which these movements are founded is, that by them almost all the muscles of the hand and the fingers, the smallest as well as the largest, which in playing musical instruments and all the other occupations of the fingers bear the chief part, are stirred into action. At the same time, the extraordinary effect of the free exercises on the large finger-joints and on the ligaments and tendons is increased. And further—every portion of the hand and fingers, ligaments, tendons, joints, and particularly the muscles, are well practised, strengthened, and rendered flexible, by the fingers being stretched and extended on, pressed and exercised against, a solid body. Finally, while imparting to the muscles of the fingers and hand far greater strength and ease than the continued quick movement on the musical instrument is calculated to affect, all these exercises affect the nerves in a lesser degree, and prepare the fingers for all kinds of work.

These results, observed and tested by me countless times, are of the greatest importance to all those who work with their fingers, but more particularly to those engaged in musical pursuits, who, instead of being overwhelmed with fatiguing work as before, will find that by these exercises their studies are facilitated and divested of much of their previous trouble and vexation.

The Wrist.

This joint, which for players on the piano and other instruments is of such great importance (Fig. 2 c), should also be exercised gymnastically; since, by means of the gymnastic exercises here recommended, strength and flexibility will be gained in a very short time, and a great deal of trouble saved. Nor ought it to be overlooked that for all those who work with their fingers, a flexible, pliant wrist is a great help, and that by it all the joints of the hand are made to act harmoniously together.