Musicians' playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: An examination of risk factors

• Published in: American journal of industrial medicine Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 292 - 300
• Main Authors: Zaza, C., Farewell, V.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.1997; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; case-control study; Data Collection - methods; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; epidemiology; Female; Hand - anatomy & histology; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases - etiology; Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology; musculoskeletal system; Music; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - physiopathology; occupational health; Ontario; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Canada; North America; America; Ontario; Human; Musician; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Risk factor; Case control study; Occupational exposure; Epidemiology; Trauma; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 0271-3586; 1097-0274
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199709)32:3<292::AID-AJIM16>3.0.CO;2-Q

Several studies have shown that playing‐related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) present a significant health problem for musicians. To examine physiological, psychological, and behavioral risk factors of musicians' PRMDs, data for a case‐control analysis were collected from classically‐trained professional and university student musicians in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1994. Two‐hundred and eighty‐one subjects completed a self‐report questionnaire and hypermobility and hand‐span measurements. Cases were identified according to an operational PRMD definition developed by musicians and health care professionals in a qualitative study. Logistic regression was used to compare data from 44 prevalent PRMD cases who had no previous history of a PRMD, and 90 controls who had never experienced a PRMD. Data from all subjects were analyzed to examine the role of a prior PRMD on the risk of a current PRMD. This study suggests that females and string players were at a higher PRMD risk. A number of other individual characteristics were also important determinants of the development of a PRMD. Warming up before and taking breaks during practice sessions protected the subject from a PRMD. Given the high proportion of musicians who experience PRMDs, prevention programs are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:292‐300, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.