We rely on them so much in everyday life, and even more than most as musicians, but how much do you really understand about what happens when you reach out for your guitar ?
What works so miraculously, and what can so easily go wrong. A marvel of natures engineering.
A fascinating program from BBC Scotland
"Dissecting a real hand, taking it apart layer by layer to reveal what makes it unique in the animal kingdom. We discover what gives our hands an unrivalled combination of power and precision, and meet people who use their hands in extraordinary ways - from magicians to rock climbers - to discover what gives them such astonishing abilities."
the BBC in their infinite wisdom, have taken down the original YT posting, the new one here is 10mins shorter, I'm not sure what was cut out. And pulled by the BBC again, so here is another one, not very good sound quality and small video window* I am afraid this time (*presumably to deter YT's copyright algorithms). If you find a better version on YT, please let me know.
It is a shame, as a good understanding of the mechanics of the hand can help us all to maximise what we can achieve with this marvel of evolutionary bio-engineering, and to avoid unnecessary injuries too. It is in the public interest to keep these programs easily accessible, they were broadcast into the public domain, which is where that should stay IMHO.
MUCH better to watch on iPlayer if you can though...
Duration 1 hour
https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToM51CO0Lyc
(old YT address) https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIKjRtN5pSI
Duration 59:00
Part two is available on the same YT channel and is about the incredible human foot
Comments
Hands are incredible -- they were my first interest and my first physio gig was in a hand unit. Still fond of them.
Q: Which Football commentator had the biggest hands ever?
A: Hugh Johns.
(Brummies will get this, no-one else will)
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
But it is a sobering thought for all of us, certainly some of us, that tommorow you could develop arthritis in just the little finger of your fretting hand......and you are in trouble.
Will watch it over the weekend though as I've had hand problems over the years and it may provide some insight.
Recently started taking Glucosamine Sulphate supplements that have really helped with my left hand problems. Joints/ Tendonitis.
Utterly astonishing, I did all the extras on the audio guide and loved it.
The one in London was actually my first ever date. Nothing like dead people and animals to set the mood for a good old fashioned.
Ah, cocktails. Such a sophisticated way to end a date.
Oh wait... you meant...
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
Man up and watch from behind the sofa,
or now with the safety net of good old Auntie Beeb's iPlayer 8-X
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p01mv2md/dissected-1-the-incredible-human-hand
only available for 25 days from the date of this post...
And that's before arthritis type problems
Isn't that just the fragility of the whole human condition, physical and psychological (including the limitations of intelligence, both emotional (as alluded to) and otherwise). The brain is likewise a wonderful thing, but you only have to experience everyday life to see extraordinary limitations :-B
Yet our very existence is so very precious...