I'm sure there was a thread on these but I can't find it! I have very weak fingers but can't always get to the piano. Has anyone used one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Medium-Tension...ref=pd_sim_sg_2 ?

Any good? Or does it risk doing more damage than good?

Thanks!

Id have though you could equally use a spongy ball.

If you want to develop a grip strong enough to crush all your friends handshakes then go for it.

But it will do nothing for your piano playing. It develops the wrong muscles, in the wrong way. If anything it will make your playing worse.

That thing looks scary! Someone mentioned some kind of ball exerciser once before - I think it may have been spongy.

Don't waste your time and your money.

If you can't get to a piano, you can still do useful practice on a tabletop to practise your fingering, moving your fingers independently and so on.

Yes I have used this and the spongy ball.
I have RSI (at one time impossible to use the computer or even write more than my name!) and these were recc by the physio and certainly helped. My OH and daughter also used them for strengthening the finger muscles as they are regular rock climbers. I dont think they are a waste of money at all.

I dare say they are great for rock climbers, but they're not going to do anything for fine motor control and co-ordination which is what pianists need. Pianists need more piano time, not gadgets.

Of course one would prefer to increase the time at the piano if possible. The OP, Toretellini, said they were not always able to get to the piano.

I would never have used this with out the rec from the physio. Further she showed me a variety of ways to use them. I used three of various strengths, building up gradually to the more resistant one. I also used a ball which came with five smaller rings that attached to each finger to assist with strenghtening and stretching out the finger muscles. The physio said that quite a few musicans that she worked with also used them. The advantage was it could be used on the train, in front the TV and during any similiar 'down' time. My OH also plays several brass instruments (as well as rock climbing) said it certainly was not detrimental to his fingering. Indeed using this on a 2 hour train journey he would arrive ready for the gig with his fingers quite warmed up.

Having been a brass player (French horn, tenor horn) and pianist both - I found that the horn fingering is much "cruder" in a way than piano because it requires much less fine control. Not trying to be offensive in any way! I just couldn't think of a more descriptive term. Basically to play horn "all I had to do" in terms of fingering was move my fingers up and down vertically (just at a different angle for French horn than tenor horn, the latter is much closer to trumpet hand position). For piano, I have to move my hand around in much more different ways.

Point of my waffle is, I could see how the finger exerciser could be not detrimental to a brass player in terms of fingering but not help a pianist and in fact possibly hinder him/her. But I haven't tried it, so I can't specifically say.

That's a very crucial point. I wonder if it would be best to find a physio who has worked with musicians and ask them if this would be good for pianists. Otherwise we are all just giving our own opinions and going with our gut instinct, which may not be helpful in this circumstance. Tortellini, there are physios who specialise in dealing with musicians. It might be best to have a consultation or see if you can email an enquiry to someone before going ahead. My gut instinct - for what it's worth! - is that this looks like a fairly serious bit of kit and I would be inclined to check with an expert first. The hands are so delicate - and corenfa is right - it is easy to do damage and that would be terrible.

If you really need this, get the device with lowest tension, otherwise you may end up with bulky muscles that may reduce the independent movement of fingers.