Clinical and Epidemiological Correlates of Task-Specific Dystonia in a Large Cohort of Brazilian Music Players

Abstract

Musician’s dystonia is a task-specific dystonia (TSD) worldwide disabling disorder, and most of the affected individuals may have severe difficulty to play their instrument. Many professional music players may have to quit working as a player. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and frequency of TSD in Brazilian music players and to promote awareness of this condition among musicians. We visited orchestras and music schools delivering lectures on TSD and about the scope of our survey. Musicians were invited to answer a questionnaire, and those with possible neurological dysfunction associated with musical performance were recorded by video while playing the instrument. We visited 51 orchestras and music schools in 19 Brazilian cities between March 2013 and March 2015. We collected 2,232 questionnaires, and 72 subjects with suspicion of dystonia were video recorded during specific tasks and evaluated regarding motor impairment. Forty-nine individuals (2.2%) were diagnosed as having TSD (mean age 36.4 years; 92% male). The instruments most associated with TSD were acoustic guitar (36.7%) and brass instruments (30.6%). We concluded that Brazilian TSD music players are mainly male, classical music professionals, around 30 years of age, with arms, hands, or oromandibular muscles affected. TSD is a neurological condition that can impair musical performance and should receive more attention from musicians, teachers, and health professionals.

Study addiction among musicians: Measurement, and relationship with personality, social anxiety, performance, and psychosocial functioning

“…Professional musicians often suffer from physical and psychological problems related to the combination of strenuous training and psychological vulnerability (Spahn, Voltmer, Mornell, & Nusseck, 2017). These problems include musculoskeletal pain (Jacukowicz, 2016), hearing loss (Hasson, Theorell, Liljeholm-Johansson, & Canlon, 2009), dystonia (Iltis et al, 2016; Moura, de Carvalho Aguiar, Bortz, & Ferraz, 2017), depressive states (Vaag, Bjørngaard, & Bjerkeset, 2016), and mental disorders (Mula & Trimble, 2009). Alcohol and illegal drugs (e.g.…”

Dystonia in Performing Artists: Beyond Focal Hand Dystonia

“…Among 22 wind players, 16 reported ED (70%). 11 In another study of 119 musicians with musician dystonia (MD), ED was observed in 19% of the patients. 12 In a study of 585 brass musicians, 68% of musicians reported embouchure problems.…”

Oro-Pharyngeal Dysphagia in Parkinson’s Disease and Related Movement Disorders

“…Task-specific dystonia (TSD) is a focal dystonia of a body part that is associated with a specific activity. For example, focal dystonia of the arms and hands or oromandibular muscles was observed most frequently in players of acoustic guitar or brass instruments during their performance, which is often called musician’s dystonia [109]. Isolated lingual dystonia induced by speaking [110] or OMD induced by praying [111] are also found in TSD.…”

“…Since dystonia usually does not occur during other tasks, dysphagia in TSD is less frequent even in patients whose oromandibular muscles are affected. However, the symptoms can progress and involve swallowing functions over time [109].…”