Leave piano moving, tuning and maintenance to the piano technicians unless you are trained in these areas. The injuries you can sustain from these activities are not worth it. Playing piano is just like driving a car that you share with someone else; you must check certain areas before you begin playing. Check the piano wheels to ensure they are locked. Check all covers and music racks to ensure that they will not slip. Adjust your piano bench or stool so that your feet are flat on the floor and your elbows are slightly above the keybed, according to the Piano Play It website.
The correct posture for piano playing, according to the Piano Play It website, is sitting at the edge of the bench with your feet flat on the floor, your back straight, your elbows slightly above the keybed, and your hands curved over the keyboard. Your wrists should not be bent inward or outward at an extreme angle. Have an observer check your posture for you on a regular basis.
Do warm-up exercises, such as scales or Czerny or Leschetizsky exercises. These exercises are single- or double-hand exercises that will strengthen your fingers and improve speed and agility. Many of them are are based on music scales. Attack forte passages and chords from your shoulders so you don't jam your wrists or fingers. Use a rolling motion on chords that are larger than your natural handspan. Do not endlessly repeat difficult passages until you feel pain.
Set practice time limits to prevent injuries. Take breaks during your piano practice, and do not play through any pain, as this can cause permanent injuries. Ice any sore spots, and see a doctor if your piano practice is causing you pain. Alice G. Brandfonbrener, M.D., editor of "Medical Problems of Performing Artists," states, "...we need to encourage skills and techniques that may prevent such problems [injuries]." Gongbing Shan and Peter Visentin, co-authors of "Medical Problems of Performing Artists," agree: "By setting practice time limits that are considerate of the intensity of each specific task, performers can improve their performance on a daily basis."