Patterns of pain location in music students: a cluster analysis

Abstract

Background According to existing literature, musicians experience high rates of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders involving different anatomical areas. The aim of the study was to identify patterns of pain location in a sample of music students enrolled in different pan-European music institutions. A further goal was to explore the association between the identified pain patterns and students’ characteristics. Methods A total of 340 music students (mean age 23.3 years, 66.2% female) with current MSK pain completed a web-based questionnaire including both background information (i.e. lifestyle and physical activity, practice habits) and clinical features (i.e. pain characteristics, disability, pain self-efficacy, psychological distress, perfectionism and fatigue). Results Five patterns of pain location were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis: wrist pain (WP) representing 22.6% of the total sample, widespread pain (WSP) (16.9%), right shoulder pain (RSP) (18.5%), both shoulders pain – left concentrated (LSP) (23.2%), neck and back pain (NBP) (18.8%). Amongst the identified patterns of pain location, bivariate analysis identified the WSP cluster as containing the largest number of associated variables. Participants in this cluster reported a higher percentage of women (p < .05), a higher perceived exertion (p < .01) and psychological distress (p < .001), as well as a lower level of self-efficacy (p < .01). Similarly, a higher percentage of participants included in the WSP cluster perceived their musical activity as the main cause of their MSK pain (p < .01). Additionally, a higher level of disability in relation to playing-related activity was reported by participants included in the WP and WSP clusters (p < .001). The RSP cluster was characterised by a higher percentage of participants playing an instrument in a neutral position (p < .001) and lower levels of socially prescribed perfectionism (p < .01). A higher percentage of participants playing an instrument with both arms elevated in the left quadrant position were included in the LSP cluster and a higher percentage of singers were included in the NBP cluster (p < .001). Conclusions Five distinct patterns of pain location were identified and their associations with the students’ characteristics were explored. These findings may be helpful in the exploration of different aetiologies of MSK pain among musicians and in the development of targeted preventive strategies and treatments.

Correction to: Patterns of pain location in music students: a cluster analysis

“…Following the publication of the original article [1] an error was introduced into Fig. 1 during production, such that the numbers of participants reporting MSK pain in each anatomical area were not visible.…”

Factors associated with increased risk of playing-related disorders among music students. Results of the Risk of Music Students (RISMUS) longitudinal study

“…As mentioned in previous works [14][15][16] , participants were allocated into six categories according to the classi cation of Kok et al 37 , based on the study by Nyman et al 38 focused on elevation of the arm while playing (i.e. ≥40° abduction and/or ≥40° forward exion).…”

“…diagnosed severe borderline personality disorders); an accidents in the past 12 months (e.g. motor vehicle accident) and/or surgery of the upper limbs and/or the spine in the past 12 months [14][15][16]28 .…”

“…PRMDs might have signi cant effects on musical practice, performance and sometimes even on music students' career-pathways, being present already at the very beginning of university-level training education [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . As current music students are going to be future teachers and professors, preventive strategies should be considered fundamental in order to rearrange musicians' attitudes toward health 23 .…”

Musculoskeletal Health Complaints and Associated Risk Factors in Freshmen Music Students

“…Playing-related health complaints may impact practice, rehearsals, performances, and even the musical careers of music students; these complaints are a consequence of a complex interaction of physical, psychological, and psychosocial factors [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Among physical playing-related health complaints, musculoskeletal problems are of major importance [ 5 , 6 ].…”