Finger problem

[Foil Girl]

Hi
I use a pistol grip and fence foil. In my experience, usually whyen you get an injury or a problem from fencing, you're doing somethign wrong and it's not an accident. I just found out I have trigger finger in my middle finger (Which means I have developed a cyst on my tendon from overuse). I think it might be that I've been holding the grip too tightly with my fingers not used for controlling the weapon. I haven't had any problem with my pistol grip before and I've had it since christmas. Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do to fix it? Thanks a bunch to anyone who responds. The way I found out something was wrong with it, was that if I bend my finger all the way and try to extend it all the way back, the joint gets caught up for a moment, then pops and the finger goes straight. Kind of gross... I taped my joint so I couldn't bend it all the way.


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-Foil Girl
"Nadie nace sabiendo"

[This message has been edited by Foil Girl (edited 05-20-2001).]

[aussie]

Hi,

i will explain how i was told to use the french grip and it might shed some light on your finger problem?

the french grip is used with the thumb and index finger, softly pinching to hold the foil. The rest of the fingers are used to direct the blade in counter repostes.

i.e. hold the sword grip between thumb and index finger, lightly, as holding a live bird tight enough to contain it, but not squishing it. The three remaining fingers are lightly closed around the rest of the grip with the bend of the grip resting alond the shape of the hand. To move the point down push forward with the thumb, to move the point up pull back with the thumb. to move the point to either side release the three remaining fingers and simultanously move the point down and up. This takes a lot of practice to scribe a circle the size you want!!

The use of pistol grips i dont have experience of but i have been told that it relies on the use of wrist, forearm and shoulder?

im not sure why you have a middle finger problem unless you are holding the foil to tight and not releasing your thumb slightly on circular movements?

hope this helps

[Mr_Jones]

If you're holding your grip too tightly, you'll have various problems, including the one you describe, FG. When I started using mine, I kept clipping the tip of my third finger on the back bar of the Visconti causing one heck of a blood blister.

You're doing what you should at the moment. Tape it, and try to relax your hand as much as posssible, and stretch it out before you use it. If you don't stretch, the popping in your joint will get worse.

Work with Chinese melody balls (you can find them at any Oriental Store) and get a racketball and practice squeezing it using only the index finger and thumb.

When the muscles in your index finger and thumb (racketball) become stronger and more fluid (melody balls) you'll be less prone to overuse your middle finger.

To alleviate some of the pain temporarily, I switched to a smaller Visconti, but I don't necessarily recommend doing that. It might hurt your game in the long run by causing your entire grip to be stiff, and more prone to blade actions. It will, however, make your hand cramp when you do grip it too tightly.

[damianip]

Originally posted by aussie:
The use of pistol grips i dont have experience of but i have been told that it relies on the use of wrist, forearm and shoulder?

The use of the fingers with an ortho should be similar to the use employed with the French.

The manipulation is still mainly done with the finger and thumb with the ortho shape adding strength and support to parries and beats.

If you are using the "wrist, forearm and shoulder" because you are using an ortho (particularly in foil, less so in épée), you are making a mistake.

Paolo

[Boo Boo Too]

Used to have the same problem when I started fencing (about 8 years ago) - I think that it was because I gripped so hard. Can't think of an easy way to solve it (apart from not gripping so hard) - its sort of an occupational hazard (if you fence, use an orthopedic grip and grip your handle hard).

One thing I can recommend is if your work/study is computer intensive, then use your non-fencing hand as your mouse hand. I am an intensive fencer and a systems analyst. I got tendon problems in my right hand (I am right handed) - the tendons used to stiffen up. So I trained myself to use my mouse in my left hand (a proper ergonomic, left handed mouse). It took a while to get used to, but now fencing incurred tendon problems don't effect work and vice versa: separating mouse use and fencing has meant no problem in either hand (for the past 18 months that I have done this).

Boo Boo Too

[Boo Boo Too]

Used to have the same problem when I started fencing (about 8 years ago) - I think that it was because I gripped so hard. Can't think of an easy way to solve it (apart from not gripping so hard) - its sort of an occupational hazard (if you fence, use an orthopedic grip and grip your handle hard).

One thing I can recommend is if your work/study is computer intensive, then use your non-fencing hand as your mouse hand. I am an intensive fencer and a systems analyst. I got tendon problems in my right hand (I am right handed) - the tendons used to stiffen up. So I trained myself to use my mouse in my left hand (a proper ergonomic, left handed mouse). It took a while to get used to, but now fencing incurred tendon problems don't effect work and vice versa: separating mouse use and fencing has meant no problem in either hand (for the past 18 months that I have done this).

Boo Boo Too

[Purple Fencer]

I have the exact same problem...same finger, as a matter of fact.

I got a couple of cortesone shots, and they helped for a time, but I still have it. I just deal with it now.

Here's what was happening, and why I'm just dealing with it.

Even though I feel the discomfort in the middle knuckle, the actual injury point is int he first one, right at the palm. more significantly, it's where the grip rests when I'm holding it. The problem isn't so much how tightly I'm gripping the weapon, it's due to the fact that there's so much impact force being transmitted down the blade and into my hand -- far, far more than the average person gets in a week or more, and without the constant all-day banging of weapons. The actual force is quite small...but added up over time, it ends up irritating the joint. If you keep tapping the same spot with your finger repeatedy, eventually damage occurrs. Same thing here.

I tried switching from Belgian to German grips, but it didn't reduce the problem for me. In fact, my hand was getting more fatigued because I WAS gripping tighter. I hand a more secure feel with a Belgien, so I stick with it.

For what it's worth, the problem's stabilized. it only really bothers me in the morning while I'm waking up.

The only real way to get rid of it would be to stop fencing and, thus, eliminate the irritating action.

Nope.

My 2 cents worth.

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Sam Signorelli -- Boldly going forward...'cause I can't find reverse!

[This message has been edited by Purple Fencer (edited 05-21-2001).]

[mango fever]

to grip or not to grip
this seems to be the enduring question.
i think the answer to this is variety, being the spice of life. I like to use both the french and the pistol grip. If I use the french grip well then the pistol grip is easier - next time i fence competitively i'll use the pistol grip exclusively and see what happens. but, i used to only use the pistol grip at one time, and did very well with it, on the other hand two of my competitors used only the french grip including an instructor and he and his wife pommelled me on a regular basis -

by the way, before i go completely crazy: what is a watery tart. I was going to ask my teacher but there were too many other people around, and i'm not sure how he would have liked the question, anyway. thanks

[stuwatts]

Originally posted by mango fever:

by the way, before i go completely crazy: what is a watery tart. I was going to ask my teacher but there were too many other people around, and i'm not sure how he would have liked the question, anyway. thanks

Erm...you haven't seen "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", have you? Michael Palin as the mud collecting Socialist peasant, questioning King Arthur's (who has just asked him for directions) authority. "You can't claim to wield supreme power just because some watery tart [the lady of the lake] goes round distributing swords (Excalibur]".
And before any of you try and correct that, I wasn't attempting to quote verbatim (I know what you lot over the pond are like for your Python ) - you get the idea Mango Fever (is that some sort of tropical disease, btw?? )
watery - self-explanatory
tart - derogatory term for a lady of dubious morals (don't what the US slang equivalent would be...**** ?! )
I'm waffling a bit here....I'll stop.