Violinists living and working in the state of Rio de Janeiro have a high prevalence of PRMD, especially women and older musicians.

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OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to adapt and validate the self-report tool named Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM-Br) into the Brazilian Portuguese language for professional orchestra musicians. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation process was divided into nine steps. Five experts evaluated the equivalences among versions and the content validity ratio (CVR). The structural validity was verified by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Construct validity was checked by convergent/divergent validity by comparing the results obtained by the MPIIQM-Br, the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire–optional module (DASH-PAM), and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). Finally, reliability was tested with internal consistency and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: In total, 273 professional orchestra musicians (137 males) participated. The researchers found good equivalence among versions, and the CVR reached 0.99. EFA (n=212) showed that the MPIIQM-Br had two factors that explained 70% of the total variance. The convergent validity confirmed a strong positive correlation (r<0.7) and the divergent validity established a low correlation (r<0.4). Both internal consistency (Cronbach’s a=0.90) and temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.84) obtained high values. DISCUSSION: The psychometric evaluation showed a two-dimensional structure, internal consistency, and temporal stability similar to the original tool and the German and Polish versions of the MPIIQM. However, the pain prevalence rates among Brazilian musicians were higher. Extreme informality and the growing demotivation may explain these findings. CONCLUSIONS: The MPIIQM-Br is a transcultural equivalent, reliable, and valid tool for the measurement and evaluation of pain and pain interference among professional orchestra musicians.

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OBJECTIVE: First and second violinists in orchestras use identical instruments, but the motor patterns used to execute the different notes may vary between the two groups and the biomechanical gestures may influence musculoskeletal complaints. The primary objective of this study was to compare the pain intensity and interference in musical performance of first and second violinists of professional youth chamber orchestras. Second, to investigate the correlation between pain and the musical practice profile in this population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 74 violinists, aged 12 to 17 years, from three professional youth chamber orchestras in Brazil. Participants completed a validated self-administered questionnaire, the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians–Brazilian version (MPIIQM-Br). Variables related to musical practice profiles were also recorded. Data analysis applied t-tests for independent samples and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The sample of first violinists (n=39) presented 23 males and 16 females, and the second violinists (n=35) included 23 females and 12 males. The mean age was 13.9 yrs (SD 1.1) and 14.1 yrs (1.0) for the first and second violinist groups, respectively. Most participants (n=66, 89%) reported pain in at least one moment of their career, and 54 (76%) reported pain at the time of data collection. A higher pain prevalence was identified in the right shoulder (37.7%), in 28.2% of the second violinists and 9.4% of the first. The second violinists presented higher scores for most variables related to pain intensity and pain interference in performance (p < 0.05). A correlation was observed between time working at a professional level and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.30; 95% CI 0.23–0.42) and between the hours of daily practice and the number of affected areas on the body pain map (r=0.39; 95% CI 0.29–0.45). CONCLUSION: Second violinists had more complaints of pain and difficulty in playing their instrument compared to the first violinists. The study also found a correlation between the number of body areas with pain complaints and variables linked to the violinists’ practice profile.