“I’m Just In the Band”

Discussion Instrumental music, either as an avocation or profession, provides great pleasure for those performing and listening. Unfortunately it can also cause health problems. Many of the problems are musculoskeletal or neurological in etiology due to overuse and the musician may experience pain. Prelude to pain can include stiffness or tingling or other skin sensations. Musicians may experience weakness, loss of function, control (accuracy) and ability (speed) as well as problems with tone. “The most prevent problems involve overuse of muscles resulting from repetitive movements of playing, often in combination with prolonged weight bearing in an awkward positions.” String players have the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal problems. Musculoskeletal strain can also be caused by transporting large or awkward instruments and equipment inappropriately. Other common health problems of instrumental musicians include peripheral neuropathies, dermatitis and other otolaryngological problems. In prevalence studies of school-age children (7-17 years) learning and performing instrumental music, 67% reported at least one time during their lifetime an instrument-related musculoskeletal problem, 56% had an experience in the past month, and 30% reported being unable to play their instrument at least once because of the problem. Of those reporting a problem, within the past month, 5% had taken medication for the problem and 4% had sought medical attention for the iss...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news