The high prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) and its associated factors in amateur musicians playing in student orchestras: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveDespite the high number of amateur musicians in the general population, little is known about the musculoskeletal health of amateur musicians. Playing a musical instrument is supposed to be a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletal complaints. This study aimed to evaluate playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) among amateur musicians playing in student orchestras.DesignA cross-sectional study.Participants357 members of eleven Dutch student orchestras across the Netherlands were included in this study.InterventionA paper-based questionnaire on PRMDs was used.Outcome measuresSociodemographic characteristics and PRMDs were evaluated using an adaptation of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the music module of the Disabilities of Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.ResultsThe year prevalence of PRMDs among amateur musicians was 67.8%. Female gender, younger age, higher BMI and playing a string instrument were independently associated with a higher prevalence of PRMDs. The left shoulder was affected more frequently in violinists and violists, whereas the right hand and wrist were more frequently affected in woodwind instrumentalists. Of the subjects with PRMDs during the last week, the score of the music module of the DASH was 18.8 (6.3–31.2)DiscussionThis study is the first to report on PRMDs and its associated factors in a large group of amateur musicians. The prevalence of PRMDs in amateur musicians is high, however the DASH scores reflect a confined impact of these PRMDs on their functioning as a musician. Preventive measures are needed aiming at reducing PRMDs among amateur musicians.

Patterns of pain location in music students: a cluster analysis

“…Indeed, PAS-QuickDASH scores of 37.5 recorded for both WP and WSP clusters, and 25.0 for both LSP and NBP clusters (Table 6) showed a wide range of scores compared to the median of the total sample (31.3). Overall, reported disability levels were high in comparison to other studies using this outcome measure among music students [40][41][42], professional orchestra musicians [6,43] or among other populations [44]. Even though this difference could be attributed to the fact that participants included in our sample were all music students with current MSK pain, the mechanisms regarding the impact of MSK pain on their functional and the relevant implications on their playing ability deserve further exploration.…”

Patterns of Pain Location in Music Students. A Cluster Analysis 

“…Indeed, PAS-DASH scores of 37.5 recorded for both WP and WSP clusters, and 25.0 for both LSP and NBP clusters (Table 6) showed a wide range of scores compared to the median of the total sample (31.3). Overall, reported disability levels were high in comparison to other studies using this outcome measure among music students (39)(40)(41), professional orchestra musicians (6,42) or among other populations (43). Even though this difference could be attributed to the fact that participants included in our sample were all music students with current MSK pain, the mechanisms regarding the impact of MSK pain on their functional and the relevant implications on their playing ability deserve to be explored further.…”

Relationship between Neuromuscular Mechanosensitivity and Chronic Neck Pain in Guitarists: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…It has been shown that playing an instrument can lead to PRmDs (41–93% for professionals and 67.8% for amateurs) due to repetitive actions or sustained positions [ 31 ], which could lead to an increase in mechanosensitivity of several tissues. Recent studies have shown a positive association between pain and mechanosensitivity [ 12 , 32 , 33 ].…”