numb left thumb

[telkim]

Hi. I've played the alto for over 3 years now.

Recently, as I practiced some fast music, I'v noticed that my left thumb, on one side that touches the thumb rest, gets numb after an hour's practice or so. It seems to get worse in time. Today, I've noticed that my thumb is still a little numb after one full day's rest. I know that, as a beginner, I put excessive force on my left hand. Given that I cannot suddenly fully relax as experts do, I wonder what I should do about it.

Please give me some advices.

[RS]

What kind of horn is it. Some older model horns have a small thumbrest button that I find digs into the left thumb and an octave key that is in a less than ideal position. If you're playing such a horn this could be the problem. If you're playing a modern horn with a wide thumbrest button and the octave key to the right of the button like on a Mark VI (a comfortable arrangement in my opinion) then you're probably using too much pressure with your left thumb. Not sure what the solution to this would be except maybe spend more time practicing slowly and taking particular care to keep the thumb from tensing up.

[MS]

Telkim
Spend part of your practice time in fromt of a mirror. Pay attention to level shoulders and straight spinal column. Give serious consideration to RS's post. Sometimes an unbalanced posture can put a little pressure on you sensory nerves, and especially in the spinal area which eventually go to arms and other parts of the body. I suppose that you might be pressing your thumb hard enough that it might impede blood circulation in your thumb, but what you describe sound more like pressure on a nerve. Good Luck.

[MS]

Take a break every 30 minutes to an hour, and take the sax weight off your neck. You might actually massage the back of your neck some to make sure blood flow is adquate. If you're not using a padded neck strap, consider finding one. Some have reported good progress with the Neo-Tech type padding. :D

[jazzbluescat]

...I'v noticed that my left thumb, on one side that touches the thumb rest, gets numb after an hour's practice or so. It seems to get worse....

I'd say you're using the thumb(and probably the fingers) to hold the horn, push/hold out from your body; which can slow you down.
Let the horn hang from your neckstrap, balance it with your right thumb, keep your fingers and left thumb relaxed for fingering the tones. Don't grip or hold the horn, per se.IMHO

[bari_sax_diva]

You know, I'm having the same problem. I'm practicing about 2 hours a day (unless I've got an evening rehearsal, which usually goes around 2 1/2 hours). I switch between my Yamaha tenor and bari, and the left side of my thumb is still numb this morning after practicing last night. Good thing I'm right-handed.

I'll have to watch how I'm holding the horn. Anyone tried padding the thumbrest? At least these horns don't have the god-awful button there that my Conn does...

-Leanne

[MS]

The nerves to your arms/hands probably exit the spine in the neck area. Most neckstraps will impede blood circulation if you don't take the horn off every 30 to 45 minutes. An unbalanced posture will probably exert pressure in places not to your advantage, especially if you contort body posture to conform to the horn. Best to adjust the many parts of the horn to conform to your balanced posture. :D

[danodownunder]

Study the Alexander Technique an d learn how relax your body