In addition to gathering injury incidence information, the survey asked musicians to identify the site of the injury and which, if any performance-related factors had contributed to the injury. Unsurprisingly, the rates of injury per body part varied by instrument group: back, neck , and both shoulders for brass; right arm for woodwinds; back and right shoulder for lower strings; back and both arms for upper strings; back, neck, and right shoulder for percussion. More than three-quarters of the respondents identified risk factors related to training and playing load, including practice and performance. Among the most common responses identified as being important risk factors by the musicians were excess muscle tension, muscle fatigue, insufficient rest, and long practice sessions. The results of this study indicate that playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are exceedingly common among professional musicians, that these disorders interfere with the ability to perform, and that many musicians experience pain for several weeks at a time. The information provided in this study highlights the importance of patient education, emphasis on completing injury rehabilitation, and an attempt at changing the culture surrounding professional orchestral schedules.
Tips and insights for medical professionals caring for performer patients
3.06.2014
Research: Musculoskeletal Pain and Injury in Professional Orchestral Musicians in Australia
A survey of the members of Australia’s eight fulltime professional orchestras examining performance-related musculoskeletal disorders found that 84% of the respondents had experienced pain or injuries that interfered with playing or with participating in normal rehearsals and performances. This number is slightly higher than the previously reported 70%-80% rate of performance-related injury. In this study, the most commonly injured sites were the back, right upper extremity and neck, left upper extremity and neck, and the neck alone. Perhaps the most important finding from this study was that less than half of the injured musicians reported recovering completely from their injuries. Additionally, half of the 377 respondents were experiencing an injury at the time of the survey and more than 50% of these performers reported that their current pain had been present for more than 12 weeks.
In addition to gathering injury incidence information, the survey asked musicians to identify the site of the injury and which, if any performance-related factors had contributed to the injury. Unsurprisingly, the rates of injury per body part varied by instrument group: back, neck , and both shoulders for brass; right arm for woodwinds; back and right shoulder for lower strings; back and both arms for upper strings; back, neck, and right shoulder for percussion. More than three-quarters of the respondents identified risk factors related to training and playing load, including practice and performance. Among the most common responses identified as being important risk factors by the musicians were excess muscle tension, muscle fatigue, insufficient rest, and long practice sessions. The results of this study indicate that playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are exceedingly common among professional musicians, that these disorders interfere with the ability to perform, and that many musicians experience pain for several weeks at a time. The information provided in this study highlights the importance of patient education, emphasis on completing injury rehabilitation, and an attempt at changing the culture surrounding professional orchestral schedules.
In addition to gathering injury incidence information, the survey asked musicians to identify the site of the injury and which, if any performance-related factors had contributed to the injury. Unsurprisingly, the rates of injury per body part varied by instrument group: back, neck , and both shoulders for brass; right arm for woodwinds; back and right shoulder for lower strings; back and both arms for upper strings; back, neck, and right shoulder for percussion. More than three-quarters of the respondents identified risk factors related to training and playing load, including practice and performance. Among the most common responses identified as being important risk factors by the musicians were excess muscle tension, muscle fatigue, insufficient rest, and long practice sessions. The results of this study indicate that playing-related musculoskeletal disorders are exceedingly common among professional musicians, that these disorders interfere with the ability to perform, and that many musicians experience pain for several weeks at a time. The information provided in this study highlights the importance of patient education, emphasis on completing injury rehabilitation, and an attempt at changing the culture surrounding professional orchestral schedules.
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