Pistol grips and RSI

I'd like y'alls thoughts on this as I am at my wits end( rather easy
when one uses the 'word' "y'alls".

Anyway the subject is pistol grips and repetitive stress injuries.

I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various manufacturers
and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones of
the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.

I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
function of the grip.

Anyone else out there feel similar pains? I'd like to know what you
did about it.

Also, those protrusions that fit between thumb and forefinger seem to
get in the way of my thumb being able to lay flat along the axis of
the tang...which really frigging bugs me. any suggestions?


Thanks,

Phillip J. Inoy

PS: I'm really at my wits end about this and am ready to have my
machinist friend cdc me some grips

debergerac@ziplip.com (Phillip Inoy) wrote in
news:97b3a9dd.0302240848.2c665f7f@posting.google.c om:

> I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various manufacturers
> and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
> radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones of
> the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
> and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.
>
> I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
> function of the grip.
>

Have you tried any non-visconti pistol grips? I know they're the most
popular, but there are others. In fact, I can't stand how the viscontis
feel: I use a belgian myself for foil. It feels significantly different
from a visconti in terms of pressure points and where the knobby thing
in the middle of the grip is.

If you haven't tried a belgian, I suggest it; see how it feels. I know
that when I hold my foil, there is no pressure at all on the *joint* of
the index finger: the pressure is on the space between the middle joint
and the fingertip joint, and I've never had any hand pain.

--Holly

"Phillip Inoy" <debergerac@ziplip.com> wrote in message
news:97b3a9dd.0302240848.2c665f7f@posting.google.c om...
> I'd like y'alls thoughts on this as I am at my wits end( rather easy
> when one uses the 'word' "y'alls".
>
> Anyway the subject is pistol grips and repetitive stress injuries.
>
> I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various
manufacturers
> and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
> radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones
of
> the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
> and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.
>
> I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
> function of the grip.
>
> Anyone else out there feel similar pains? I'd like to know what you
> did about it.
>
> Also, those protrusions that fit between thumb and forefinger seem
to
> get in the way of my thumb being able to lay flat along the axis of
> the tang...which really frigging bugs me. any suggestions?

Try other types of pistol grips. I for one cannot hold a Visconti
grip, for reasons similar to what you describe. I use Belgian for
foil, and Russian for epee -- someday I may switch to Russian for foil
as well, but somehow I've never gotten around to it. The Russian will
definitely let you put your thumb where it belongs, and the Belgian
probably will. There are other grips as well -- you may as well try
them all.

--

Dirk Goldgar

(to reply via e-mail, remove NOSPAM from address)

In article <97b3a9dd.0302240848.2c665f7f@posting.google.com >,
debergerac@ziplip.com (Phillip Inoy) writes:

>I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various manufacturers
>and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
>radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones of
>the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
>and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.
>
>I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
>function of the grip.

Are you holding it, or GRIPPING it to death?

>Anyone else out there feel similar pains? I'd like to know what you
>did about it.

I had some similar trouble the first couple years I fenced, although it was
mainly with 'Belgian' grips;
Partly, I think it was gripping too hard, and partly, maybe I needed to cant
the blade - initially, I didn't cant at all - now I cant a moderate amount,
(maybe 5-7 degrees). This can make a significant difference in the position
your hand will be in when taking various engagements.

Also, remember that moderate soft-tissue trauma can still take several days to
manifest, and it can certainly be chronically aggravated by repetitive use (I
once sprained my right index finger, and didn't realize it, for several days -
though I write left-handedly, I tend to use right hand/arm for power, and
lifting, and this injury took the better part of a year to really go away: it
wouldn't bother me for a couple days, then I'd carelessly go do something,
overstress it, and it would flare up again, but I can definitely trace it back
to the time I tried to flip an errant sock into the dryer, without interupting
the cycle...) so it's possible that this isn't an RSI...

If it IS RSI, you didnt' get it overnight, and it still going to take a fairly
equal time to go away, IF aggravation is removed.

I might recommend borrowing one of Zivkovic's handles, if you can (they are a
llittle 'different', and thus, fairly low-volume, and a little more expensive
than, say, a handle from Blue-Gauntlet, so you might want to be sure you want
it before plunking down $15-18.00)

Perhaps try a smaller sized handle, or one that is not so thick, at the hilt
end.

ALSO, perhaps try fencing Sabre for a year...
Good Luck!

thanks for the advice; does anyone know whwre I can get a good look at
a Belgian grip? Anwyas its been 3 weeks since the injury occurred.

Also, here's how the injury occurred.

After about 6 unanswered beat attack/touche against a lefty to right
flank I went for a 7th ..touche... but he brings his blade whipping
down on the back of my of my hand just as I feel all my knuckles crack
simuntaneously. So I hyperextended it and there is blunt trauma. Now,
most of the pain radiates down from the index finger knuckle down the
back of the hand.

No broken bones per x-ray, but I haven't hand much chance to rest it
cuz I'm training for arlington. After March it WILL rest but now it
seems a new grip, ingenious tape jobs on my hand, ibuprofen and
R.I.C.E will have to do.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks much,

Phillip J. Inoy



"Dirk Goldgar" <dgoldgar@NOalumni.SPAMprinceton.edu> wrote in message news:<_2A6a.1585$c95.546264103@news.netcarrier.net >...
> "Phillip Inoy" <debergerac@ziplip.com> wrote in message
> news:97b3a9dd.0302240848.2c665f7f@posting.google.c om...
> > I'd like y'alls thoughts on this as I am at my wits end( rather easy
> > when one uses the 'word' "y'alls".
> >
> > Anyway the subject is pistol grips and repetitive stress injuries.
> >
> > I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various
> manufacturers
> > and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
> > radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones
> of
> > the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
> > and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.
> >
> > I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
> > function of the grip.
> >
> > Anyone else out there feel similar pains? I'd like to know what you
> > did about it.
> >
> > Also, those protrusions that fit between thumb and forefinger seem
> to
> > get in the way of my thumb being able to lay flat along the axis of
> > the tang...which really frigging bugs me. any suggestions?
>
> Try other types of pistol grips. I for one cannot hold a Visconti
> grip, for reasons similar to what you describe. I use Belgian for
> foil, and Russian for epee -- someday I may switch to Russian for foil
> as well, but somehow I've never gotten around to it. The Russian will
> definitely let you put your thumb where it belongs, and the Belgian
> probably will. There are other grips as well -- you may as well try
> them all.

Santelli's website has a good photo. Click on Parts, then Grips. It's black
and labeled BA. www.santelli.com.


"Phillip Inoy" <debergerac@ziplip.com> wrote in message
news:97b3a9dd.0302250030.a74f528@posting.google.co m...
> thanks for the advice; does anyone know whwre I can get a good look at
> a Belgian grip? Anwyas its been 3 weeks since the injury occurred.
>
> Also, here's how the injury occurred.
>
> After about 6 unanswered beat attack/touche against a lefty to right
> flank I went for a 7th ..touche... but he brings his blade whipping
> down on the back of my of my hand just as I feel all my knuckles crack
> simuntaneously. So I hyperextended it and there is blunt trauma. Now,
> most of the pain radiates down from the index finger knuckle down the
> back of the hand.
>
> No broken bones per x-ray, but I haven't hand much chance to rest it
> cuz I'm training for arlington. After March it WILL rest but now it
> seems a new grip, ingenious tape jobs on my hand, ibuprofen and
> R.I.C.E will have to do.
>
> Any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks much,
>
> Phillip J. Inoy
>
>
>
> "Dirk Goldgar" <dgoldgar@NOalumni.SPAMprinceton.edu> wrote in message
news:<_2A6a.1585$c95.546264103@news.netcarrier.net >...
> > "Phillip Inoy" <debergerac@ziplip.com> wrote in message
> > news:97b3a9dd.0302240848.2c665f7f@posting.google.c om...
> > > I'd like y'alls thoughts on this as I am at my wits end( rather easy
> > > when one uses the 'word' "y'alls".
> > >
> > > Anyway the subject is pistol grips and repetitive stress injuries.
> > >
> > > I've tried large medium and small viscontis from various
> > manufacturers
> > > and all of them hurt the knuckle of my index finger and the pain
> > > radiates into the back of my hand. Nearest I can tell is the bones
> > of
> > > the knuckle are compressed at an odd angle towards the middle finger
> > > and the muscles of the hand are of course working hard.
> > >
> > > I don't believe I'm holding the grip incorrectly but that its a
> > > function of the grip.
> > >
> > > Anyone else out there feel similar pains? I'd like to know what you
> > > did about it.
> > >
> > > Also, those protrusions that fit between thumb and forefinger seem
> > to
> > > get in the way of my thumb being able to lay flat along the axis of
> > > the tang...which really frigging bugs me. any suggestions?
> >
> > Try other types of pistol grips. I for one cannot hold a Visconti
> > grip, for reasons similar to what you describe. I use Belgian for
> > foil, and Russian for epee -- someday I may switch to Russian for foil
> > as well, but somehow I've never gotten around to it. The Russian will
> > definitely let you put your thumb where it belongs, and the Belgian
> > probably will. There are other grips as well -- you may as well try
> > them all.