1,255 research outputs found

    Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries in orchestra musicians

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    Playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are very common in musicians and, depending on their severity, they could potentially endanger their whole career. Understanding the main risk factors leading to their development or relapse is one of the very first milestone for developing useful assessment tools, treatment guidelines or preventive programmes. Although research and clinical practice have evolved considerably and have increased our ability to manage musicians’ injuries, there is still a lack of detailed understanding of risk factors leading to potential injuries. The overall purpose of this work was to increase knowledge of injury risk factors predisposing musicians for developing playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in order to better prevent these injuries. The first study aimed to develop a comprehensive theoretical model about the risk factors for developing injuries related to the instrumental practice while being an orchestra musician. This model classified risk factors into nine categories and fifty-five different items to consider when looking after musicians. The main aim of this first step was to provide foundations to then develop tools to better investigate and assess musicians’ health, providing useful resources to both healthcare practitioners and musicians (professionals, students, teachers, etc.) to enhance preventive interventions for playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. Based on this model, two separate tools were developed and tested to assess musicians’ health: the Injury Risk Factors Questionnaire for Musicians, a self-report survey to screen a large number of risk factors and a comprehensive physical examination. Moreover, based on this risk factor model and on a literature review, the Postural Analysis Tool for Musicians has been described in order to better investigate musicians’ posture and playing technique. Among psycho-social factors, pain beliefs are described in the general population as being potentially associated with chronic pain. The third study focused on investigating pain beliefs in musicians, which highlighted the potential need to explain better to musicians, and particularly musicians who report PRMDs, what really are pain mechanisms. Finally, the extraordinary situation we lived through in the past two years has overwhelmed the music industry to a dramatic extent. In order to monitor how the Covid-19 pandemic affected musicians’ health, questionnaires were sent to orchestra musicians before and after their return-to-work following the first lockdown. Pain prevalence were lower than those reported in literature, as well as number of playing hours per week which showed a significant reduction.This study highlighted the need to plan the return-to-work in order to avoid an important PRMDs emergence by increasing the musicians’ playing load suddenly. These findings provide important knowledge about injury risk factors and expand the possibilities for protecting musicians’ health

    Playing related musculoskeletal disorders in instrumental musicians

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    PLAYING-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG MUSIC STUDENTS IN EUROPE

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    Background and aims: The achievement and improvement of musical competences and technical abilities to reach the highest levels of performance may expose music students to a wide range of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). The main aim of the present thesis was to longitudinally identify the factors associated with increased risk of PRMD onset among music students enrolled in different pan-European music institutions. Further goals were to determine the prevalence and incidence of PRMDs amongst music students during their training, as well as to describe and characterise the study population. Methods: 850 students from 56 European conservatories and music universities completed a web-based questionnaire on lifestyle and physical activity participation levels, musical practice habits, behaviours toward prevention, health history and PRMDs, as well as psychological distress, perfectionism and fatigue. The onset of PRMDs was assessed prospectively at 6 and 12 months. Results: At baseline, 560 participants (65.0%) self-reported a positive history of MSK complaints in the previous 12 months, 408 (48.0%) of whom self-reported PRMDs. Self-reported PRMDs were significantly associated with coming from West Europe (RRR=4.524; RRR>1), being a first- or a second-year Masters student (RRR=2.747; RRR>1), having more years of experience (RRR=1.040; RRR>1) and higher rates of perceived exertion after 45 minutes of practice without breaks (RRR=1.044; RRR>1). The incidences of PRMD onset at 6 and 12 months were 28.8% and 49.0%, respectively. Longitudinally, changes in physical activity level (both increase and decrease; 6-month AOR=2.343, 12-month-AOR=2.346; AOR>1), increased levels of fatigue (6-month AOR=1.084, 12-month-AOR=1.081; AOR>1) and increased level of socially-prescribed perfectionism (6-month AOR=1.102; AOR>1) were significantly associated with PRMD onset. The presence of MSK complaints at baseline (6-month AOR=0.145, 12-month-AOR=0.441; AOR<1), as well as changes to BMI and to levels of psychological distress (12-month AOR=0.663 and 0.914, respectively; AOR<1) retarded the onset of PRMDs. Conclusions: Cross-sectional and longitudinal findings showing high prevalence and incidence of PRMDs amongst music students, have been critically appraised as potential correlates, determinants and factors in the development of PRMDs. The findings offer contextualisation for revisiting contemporary evidence-based preventive strategies and optimisation of tailor-made interventions aimed at minimising the impact of PRMDs

    Playing-related health risks among students and teachers of music department at the Koper Art School

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    The study of a musical instrument demands several hours of practicing on a daily basis as well as playing and performing. Consequently, the musician can be subjected to various health risks during his or her study process but also afterwards. Health problems depend on the individual physical and mental fitness, but also on the features and structure of the instrument as well as on the playing technique, which consists of repeated movements and mainly of static body position. Because of the possibility of chronic injuries, especially neuromuscular disorders but also others, it is important for the musician to regularly maintain his or her physical and mental fitness and movement performance by preventive and compensating activities and immediate action in case of pain or when noticing the first signs of medical problems or limitations. The study included 43 students (16.7 ± 1.5 year, 31 females and 12 males) and 15 teachers (36.9 ± 8.8 years, 7 females and 8 males) that attend and teach at the Music Department of The Koper Art School, which is a part of The Koper High School. The aim of the study was to recognize the risk factors in health status that occur as a consequence of playing a music instrument. A questionnaire consisting of 26 questions was used in the research. The results of the study showed that a half of the interviewed students practices every day but teachers practice less (p = 0.04). Therefore, teachers value the importance of physical (p = 0.013) and mental (p = 0.000) fitness more than students. Teachers also estimate their current physical and mental fitness to be higher (p = 0.003). 89.7 % of the respondents feel pain of discomfort during or after playing, out of these 95.3 % are students, and 73.3 % are teachers. These musicians state that they most frequently feel pain in the back and neck area and in the shoulders and wrists. 36.2 % of the musicians, 41.9 % of students and 20 % of teachers, affirmed to have had strains or pain, both of physical and psychological nature. It is indispensable for both students and teachers to be aware of suitable preventive, practicing and therapeutic measures. Preventive activities and control over risk factors can contribute significantly to the motivation for playing, to the quality of producing and reproducing musical works and to the absence of pain, discomfort and injury occurrences among musicians

    Evaluation and Treatment of Musicians from a Holistic Perspective

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    Throughout the past 3 decades, treatment of injured musicians in a health care setting has been reported; however, the quality of care from a musician’s standpoint is poor. As musicians are speaking up more about their pain, the profession of occupational therapy has the capacity to make an impact on the way musicians are treated from a rehabilitative perspective. Musicians often do not trust medical practitioners who follow the traditional medical model because their symptoms and concerns are not addressed. Occupational therapists, especially those working in the realm of hand rehabilitation, are well equipped to treat injured musicians using our unique activity analysis skills and holistic frame of reference; the goal is to return them back to their prior levels of playing. To support the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process’s vision, this article discusses evaluation and treatment of the unique musician emphasizing the musician’s point of view through an occupation-based, client-centered, and evidence-based practice

    Evaluation of a trial of an e-health promotion course aimed at Australian tertiary music students

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    ABSTRACT Playing a musical instrument is an inherently risky occupation. Student musicians face high levels of competition and must practice long hours each day to constantly refine their technique and musical expression. This puts them at high risk of physical and psychological strain. Despite this, student musicians are essentially left to their own devices to manage their health. A review of the literature pertaining to student musicians shows high levels of playing-related injury and poor psychological health. The Australian Learning and Teaching Council has awarded a $220 000 grant to address occupational risk factors for performance-related health shortfalls in Australian musicians. This has been used to develop a web-based health promotion course aimed at tertiary music students, written by experts in the field of performing arts medicine. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of this course in a group of elite student musicians at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). This was done through the use of 2 questionnaires to evaluate Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) and psychological health. Qualitative feedback was also sought from participants. 25 students completed the questionnaires initially. 88% of the participants reported a current PRMD. A significant number of participants also reported moderately or higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Students reported to be in strong favour of institutionalising a health promotion course related to their music performance. Participation in the web course was very low, with only 4 students completing the course. Organisational, timing and accessibility issues were cited as contributing to this. However, it was postulated that these issues relate to a culture of neglect with regard to performance-related physical and mental health. This study has added to the growing body of literature that has identified the need for music institutions to take a proactive and holistic approach to preventing performance related injuries and preparing students physically and mentally for peak musical performanc

    Evaluation of a trial of an e-health promotion course aimed at Australian tertiary music students

    Get PDF
    ABSTRACT Playing a musical instrument is an inherently risky occupation. Student musicians face high levels of competition and must practice long hours each day to constantly refine their technique and musical expression. This puts them at high risk of physical and psychological strain. Despite this, student musicians are essentially left to their own devices to manage their health. A review of the literature pertaining to student musicians shows high levels of playing-related injury and poor psychological health. The Australian Learning and Teaching Council has awarded a $220 000 grant to address occupational risk factors for performance-related health shortfalls in Australian musicians. This has been used to develop a web-based health promotion course aimed at tertiary music students, written by experts in the field of performing arts medicine. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of this course in a group of elite student musicians at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). This was done through the use of 2 questionnaires to evaluate Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) and psychological health. Qualitative feedback was also sought from participants. 25 students completed the questionnaires initially. 88% of the participants reported a current PRMD. A significant number of participants also reported moderately or higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. Students reported to be in strong favour of institutionalising a health promotion course related to their music performance. Participation in the web course was very low, with only 4 students completing the course. Organisational, timing and accessibility issues were cited as contributing to this. However, it was postulated that these issues relate to a culture of neglect with regard to performance-related physical and mental health. This study has added to the growing body of literature that has identified the need for music institutions to take a proactive and holistic approach to preventing performance related injuries and preparing students physically and mentally for peak musical performanc

    Fit to Perform: A Profile of Higher Education Music Students’ Physical Fitness

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    Musicians are often called athletes of the upper body, but knowledge of their physical and fitness profiles is nonetheless limited, especially those of advanced music students who are training to enter music’s competitive professional landscape. To gain insight into how physical fitness is associated with music making, this study investigated music students’ fitness levels on several standardized indicators. 483 students took part in a fitness screening protocol that included measurements of lung function, flexibility (hypermobility, shoulder range of motion, sit and reach), strength and endurance (hand grip, plank, press-up), and sub-maximal cardiovascular fitness (3-min step test), as well as self-reported physical activity (IPAQ-SF). Participants scored within ranges appropriate for their age on lung function, shoulder range of motion, grip strength, and cardiovascular fitness. Their results for the plank, press up, and sit and reach were poor by comparison. Reported difficulty (22%) and pain (17%) in internal rotation of the right shoulder were also found. Differences between instrument groups and levels of study were observed on some measures. In particular, brass players showed greater lung function and grip strength compared with other groups, and postgraduate students on the whole were able to maintain the plank for longer but also demonstrated higher hypermobility and lower lung function (FEV1) and cardiovascular fitness than undergraduates. 79% of participants exceeded the minimum recommended weekly amount of physical activity, with singers the most physically active group and keyboard players, composers, and conductors the least active. IPAQ-SF scores correlated positively with lung function, sit and reach, press-up and cardiovascular fitness suggesting that, in the absence of time and resources to carry out comprehensive physical assessments with musicians, this one measure alone can provide useful insights. The findings indicate that music students have adequate levels of general health-related fitness, and we discuss whether adequate fitness is enough for people undertaking physically and mentally demanding activities such as making music. We argue that musicians could benefit from strengthening their supportive musculature and enhancing their awareness of strength imbalances
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