Hand Cramping

[Willowandme]

I know hand cramping comes from holding the pen too tightly, but for some reason I can't seem to shake that habit. Mostly I use an Esterbrook with a 9128 flexible nib and I do have to press a bit hard to get shading. I know there are people who will say that's not a true flex nib, but that's not my question. I have the same problem with the "real" flex nibs.

 

How can I modify my grip so I don't hold the pen so tightly I cramp up? I am right handed and have what I would call a "normal" grip. By that I mean I hold the pen as I was taught in school: Holding it between my thumb and first finger with it leaning/resting against my middle finger.

 

Like this:

[Lyander0012]

Hmm, short version:

 

Let the pen rest on the webbing between your index finger and thumb (forgot the proper term for this), then just touch your thumb and index finger to the sides of the grip section, supporting the pen from beneath with your middle finger. Unlike what the name implies, you don't actually *grip* the grip section, not unless you're not interested in developing the feather touch necessary to work with fine flexes and fountain pens in general.

 

The Estie is a good pen for this practice. Light as it is, you'll hardly feel any fatigue holding in in the prescribed manner. You're actually just keeping the pen in place, rather than holding it.

 

 

Hope that made sense!

 

Kevin

[Nanny]

I remember Sheila Waters saying that she presses with her non-dominant hand while writing. Also, try this: Pause from time to time, reach out the arm with the writing hand and give it a good shake. (Put the pen down first!) Then return to your writing. You migh also find something in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s”F7FqCe6To

[dr saleem ali]

As a doctor , I would suggest that the section part of pen should not be too thin (such as often with ball points ) and not too broad , ( as in some broad heftier pens ) as they promote writers hand fatigue .you may use flexible nibs that require very light pressure . and finally exclude carpal tunnel syndrome , by consulting your physician .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Willowandme]

Thank you all. I will try the suggestions. Unfortunately, for some reason, I can't watch the video.

 

I don't think it's to the point of carpal tunnel, more just my hand gets tired before I get tired of writing.

[GClef]

Here's a suggestion: get a glass dip pen. Hold one of those things too tight, and...well, let's just say it won't be pleasant.

[Mickey]

Here's my solution. Use the forefinger to lock the pen into position. The pressure between the forefinger and the edge of the thumb is greater than the pressure between the forefinger and the pen, which should be negligible. Apply the shade by rotating the hand, not by pressing with the forefinger, which will naturally firm up enough to keep the pen in place. You can achieve dramatic shades this way, even with fairly rigid nibs (like the Gillott 1068A Rigid), without ever stressing your fingers.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Mickey

[Inkling13]

Your cramping is due to the fact your hand muscles are overexerting themselves, not from holding the pen, but from each other. You tense up one finger, and the others need to do the same to mantain the pen's position. Now the only way to go around this, is by consciously loosening your grip... it's the only way.

[BBU]

Earlier today was my first time handling a fountain pen, and I'm getting hand cramps and wrist pain too. All it takes is less than a minute of writing and it already begins hurting. I practiced light grips and minimal pressure with a rollerball before receiving the fountain pen, but I can't figure out how to prevent this new pain. It comes up even when I put practically no pressure on the grip; any less and it would slide out of my hand. I've narrowed it down to a few culprits:

 

-the grip section is too narrow or not parallel (it tapers in to create an hourglass-like shape)

-the pen is too light

-consciously angling the pen at a lower angle than it really needs to be at to prevent nib damage

-my hand is going into shock from the new experience of writing with a nib (it's a stub and maybe the muscles are automatically tensing to keep the "sweet spot" in place to prevent skipping, which has been happening often)

-nib feedback due to crappy paper

 

I never had problems with narrow grips or light pens and even thought I preferred them, so either those are non-issues or my preferences were wrong. Thankfully, the pain subsides some time after I stop writing, but it'll be hard to write anything more than a short paragraph in one go.

[Inkling13]

Earlier today was my first time handling a fountain pen, and I'm getting hand cramps and wrist pain too. All it takes is less than a minute of writing and it already begins hurting. I practiced light grips and minimal pressure with a rollerball before receiving the fountain pen, but I can't figure out how to prevent this new pain. It comes up even when I put practically no pressure on the grip; any less and it would slide out of my hand. I've narrowed it down to a few culprits:

 

-the grip section is too narrow or not parallel (it tapers in to create an hourglass-like shape)

-the pen is too light

-consciously angling the pen at a lower angle than it really needs to be at to prevent nib damage

-my hand is going into shock from the new experience of writing with a nib (it's a stub and maybe the muscles are automatically tensing to keep the "sweet spot" in place to prevent skipping, which has been happening often)

-nib feedback due to crappy paper

 

I never had problems with narrow grips or light pens and even thought I preferred them, so either those are non-issues or my preferences were wrong. Thankfully, the pain subsides some time after I stop writing, but it'll be hard to write anything more than a short paragraph in one go.

might it be helpful that you show us HOW you hold your pen? something seems fishy, as a light pen means less effort and strength, thus less pain with use. Holding a narrow pen might be, but what model is your pen? most FP's are just right for most people. Feedback shouldn't be an issue, as you learn to lighten up your grip. Like i said, I don't think its caused by any other reason than how you hold your pen, most likely from the tensing. That will wear out any pen. LOOSE grip. It doesn't matter if you start with loose grip if 3/4 of the time, you have a death grip on your pen.

[pmhudepo]

Don't write with your pen!

 

Instead, use it to draw, doodle, sketch, create big circles, ovals, wavy things. Use your pen, hold it as if you were writing, but don't write. Don't aim for precision but for fluid motion. You may simply have developed a bad habit over the years, which is unconsciously coupled to writing. By using your pen for something else you can uncouple the habit from the writing action. Slowly move towards writing, and return to doodles when you feel your hand cramping up.

 

So, "waste" a few sheets of paper every now and then. Try the Palmer drills, perhaps not so much to learn Palmer but for the movements they require.

 

The above works well for me.

[Randal6393]

I notice you are working on right-handed flex writing with a normal, straight holder and a fairly stiff nib. That seems to promise extra work by the hand and extra cramping. Would suggest an elbow oblique holder, matched to a flex-nib. After mastering that, the flex fountain pen gets a lot easier.

 

Enjoy,

[Mickey]

I notice you are working on right-handed flex writing with a normal, straight holder and a fairly stiff nib. That seems to promise extra work by the hand and extra cramping. Would suggest an elbow oblique holder, matched to a flex-nib. After mastering that, the flex fountain pen gets a lot easier.

 

Enjoy,

 

Using straight holders or semi-flexible FPs doesn't promise extra work and cramping, even with fairly stiff nibs. (I started out learning Copperplate and Spencerian with semi-flexible FPs.) Bad technique does. The shade should not be applied by the fingers, but by the arm and wrist. The fingers secure the pen in the grip. If the grip is sound, very little of the force applying the shade will be felt by the muscles animating the fingers, ergo no reason to tighten up and cramp. One can 'get by' with faulty technique if one uses very soft nibs, but I think it's almost impossible to get authentic looking results if the fingers are over active.

 

Practicing the standard oval and spiral exercises at speed will discourage drawing and quiet the fingers, removing a (the?) principal cause of hand cramping. BTW, what I mean by 'at speed' is no slower than one 2-3 cm oval per heartbeat.

Edited February 3, 2014 by Mickey

[Randal6393]

 

Using straight holders or semi-flexible FPs doesn't promise extra work and cramping, even with fairly stiff nibs. (I started out learning Copperplate and Spencerian with semi-flexible FPs.) Bad technique does. The shade should not be applied by the fingers, but by the arm and wrist. The fingers secure the pen in the grip. If the grip is sound, very little of the force applying the shade will be felt by the muscles animating the fingers, ergo no reason to tighten up and cramp. One can 'get by' with faulty technique if one uses very soft nibs, but I think it's almost impossible to get authentic looking results if the fingers are over active.

 

Practicing the standard oval and spiral exercises at speed will discourage drawing and quiet the fingers, removing a (the?) principal cause of hand cramping. BTW, what I mean by 'at speed' is no slower than one 2-3 cm oval per heartbeat.

Will defer to your knowledge and experience as copperplate is a second hand for me and I have not attempted Spencerian. So the bottom line is that the arm and the wrist applies the shade, the fingers hold the pen and (maybe) shape the letters? And practice should be done at speed, no slowly drawing the oval is allowed?

 

Enjoy,

[Mickey]

And practice should be done at speed, no slowly drawing the oval is allowed?

 

Enjoy,

 

Exactly. The idea is get the fingers out of the process. At speed, snags are a near certainty if the fingers get busy. Think of it as avoidance therapy mixed with the embedding characteristic shapes. The only thing I would add is that it is useful to practice the spirals with and without shades, in both directions and rotations (Clockwise R-L, Anti-clockwise R-L, Clockwise L-R, Anti-clockwise L-R), eventually with alternating shades and unshaded strokes, and shrinking and expanding spirals.

 

I'm not suggesting that OP or monoline is written at this sort of pace, but the basic strokes should be executed with the sort lightness of touch and quiet fingers these sorts of exercises help develop.

 

For me, the fingers are very quiet. They most definitely don't shape the letters, they hold the pen and guide the arm (i.e., I neurologically bootstrap on the well developed connection between eyes and fingers). My most obvious technical fault is an over active wrist, probably the result of 30 years writing italic, where more wrist movement is (probably) acceptable. On some majuscules, I particularly need to quiet the wrist, otherwise the arm gets lazy and the left side curves flatten as the hand gets 'caught' on the right side of the letter. Fingers can gradually 'pull' the hand (and arm) right, but they can't push the hand back left. (SNAG!) That requires the arm.

[zemof]

i hold my fountain pens like @willowandme, not issues there but for flex fountain pens and dip pens, my muscles do stiffen up quite a lot. When expected to flex, I hold the pen/holder with my 4 fingers (save the pinkie) at the section for better control.

 

Flex fountain pens: my pressure’s on the muscle between the forefinger and thumb but I rely a great deal on my index finger as well for more precision and control of my lines/letters and well, I’m a ringtop lover—smaller pens means lesser muscle support.

 

Holders: I will be getting a Sull holder soon but my pressure/stress point is in different spots for different holders. The thumb and forefinger for my slim oblique, the thumb for my fatter oblique, but pretty comfy for my brass straight holder.

 

Yet to move on to the whole arm movement exercise for I’m still learning to get my letterforms right… Every conscious effort to shift the pressure from my fingers to my arm slips 10mins into writing…! Is it really all a matter of habit or am I holding my pens wrong too?