Musicians with Dystonia Bulletin Board

Ok, I think you are missing the point or maybe misunderstanding me. I had problems with my fingers curling in too, but these weren't the dystonic ones.

I think this point is crucial in understanding one's own FD, and ultimately recovering. Perhaps rather than getting hung up on semantics - which finger is dystonic -is it the one curling in etc., - it is more important to understand which finger you have lost control of, and which finger(s) may be trying to overcompensate as a result (by trying to do what its lazy neighbour isn't), in whatever direction (flexion or extension).

Most people new to FD wouldn't have a clue about this, FD is deceptive, and incorrect patterns - involving a whole chain of unwanted movements - can quickly become part of the problem.

Trying to execute an arpegio or even a simple alternation between a pair of fingers may be too complex to see what is actually happening. You have to move each finger, individually, without any intention to be preparing/placing any others, in several directions by itself and see whether you have full control of that individual finger.

If you have other fingers involuntarily curling in (flexion)or extending at this point, what happens when you try and control them, individually? If you can control the latter as individuals (without effects on other fingers), your main problem is not with them, your problem is lack of control of the first finger. Looking at it from a neurological perspective, the represention of that finger is no longer distinct, and overlaps with the areas controling the other fingers.