Cynthia Gehr on thu 3 dec 98
Hi everyone. Unfortunatley sometimes when I throw on the wheel my wrist will
get sore. I was wondering if anybody out there has some ideas on techniques
to put less pressure on my wrists when I throw.
Thank you!
Cyndi Gehr
cyngehr@ufl.edu
a.k.a. the goblet lady
James Norton on sat 5 dec 98
Cynthia Gehr wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi everyone. Unfortunatley sometimes when I throw on the wheel my wrist will
> get sore. I was wondering if anybody out there has some ideas on techniques
> to put less pressure on my wrists when I throw.
>
> Thank you!
> Cyndi Gehr
> cyngehr@ufl.edu
> a.k.a. the goblet lady
Cyndi,
Make sure that your clay is soft enough. Test it before throwing by indenting
with your thumb. You should be able to do this easily. Throwing should not be
a strain.
Jim
John K. Dellow on sat 5 dec 98
Cynthia , I would first say try and use softer clay. The flower pot maker who
taught me said to use clay as soft as the shape will take, then learn to throw.
I am at the moment relearning to throw in different manner as i am now doing
part time thrown for my friend Geoff Walker of Cronulla pottery. He uses a fine
white stoneware and this needs to stiffer than the terracotta I have been using
for the last 12 years.
Now as to the pain in your wrist. If it is your right wrist and you are
are a right handed thrower then use a closed fist when pushing down on the lump
when centring. If you are having trouble with the left , I would have to see
your technique to give an answer.
Keeping your wrist supple by gentle excursuses such as those suggested for
suffers of RSI. Check the old list for these. someone posted a url 2-3 mth ago.
I have had trouble with my left, but this was due to a combination of
years of throwing large flower pots and 10yrs AIKIDO , which gives much
enforces on wrist techniques. I was taught to centre large lumps using the
torque of the wheel & not strength. The left arm is locked into the side and the
thrower leans in toward the clay with the left palm pushing onto the clay. The
right hand in 3 steps , a pushing down , 2 then pulling in on the side of
the lump from the , opposite and adjacent to the left , 3 again pushing down
to finnish centring.
Now the problem with this was that the soft tissue between the many bones in
the wrist was being compressed & so inflamed . My doctor who was a sports
injury specialist said it was a similar injury to that caused to boxers . this
was solved by revloveing my left wrist from the lillle finger being horzontal ,
i.e. being on the same plane as the wheel head , to being about 45 degrees .
Hope this helps John Dellow the flower pot man
http://welcome.to/jkdellow
http://www.cronulla-pot.com.au/
Elizabeth Swann on sun 6 dec 98
>Cyndi Gehr
>cyngehr@ufl.edu
>a.k.a. the goblet lady
Are you tensing them too much. Did you try putting your elbows on your
thighs? (I always forget) I've torn all the ligaments in both my hands
and wrists and I've broken one of the bones in my right hand. ( If it's
an old injury wear a tensor bandaid or tensor tape) I find that if I
avoid odd angles (IE point your hands down) it's not too bad. If the
muse tells you to throw a narrow form then you might want to try a
throwing stick. It might take a while to get use to, but your wrists
will hurt less.For me centring is the wrost part.Didn't someone post
something about a Korean women who centred clay with her legs? Might
want to give it a go.
Hope they hurt less.
Liz
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Deborah L. Blackwell on sat 12 dec 98
Cyndi,
I too used to struggle, with centering especially, and always ended up
with sore wrists, arms, back, etc. Until I met Linda Christianson. She
was a visiting artist at UW Whitewater. She had us make her clay "wetter
than you think you need it". Soft clay has been an enormous help. Also
when centering 10-15 pounds of clay I will use my forearm when pushing
down on top. Patting the clay slowly on wheel to almost center helped
to. To elevate the stress I was feeling in my arms and back I started
using my legs muscles as well. Because I am only 5'2" none of the wheels
and chairs seemed to fit right. So I would prop my feet up on boards
until my knees were high enough to use as leverage. Of course that was
when my clay was stiffer. Now that I am using softer than soft clay I
don't use my legs as much.
Hope these help to reduce the stress, if you're like me you'll want to do
this the rest of your life!
Deborah
deborah98@juno.com
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