Medical problems of performing artists
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Med Probl Perform Art · Mar 2022
LetterRecognizing Microcirculatory Disorders in Musicians to Preserve a Good State of Health and the Best Artistic Performance.
We read with great interest, in the December 2021 issue of the journal, three papers by Clorinda Panebianco, Ari Cantuária Vilela et al., and Tamara Borger et al. concerning musculoskeletal complaints in musicians. These authors have successfully addressed the topic of the highly prevalent complaints and disorders among musicians that impact their wellbeing and performance abilities. Unfortunately, even if musculoskeletal disorders are among the most frequent and painful, we must also remember other occupational disorders that affect musicians, often overlooked and underestimated, can have the same clinical and performance impact. Among these "forgotten" diseases, it seems important to remember the microcirculation disorders.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Dec 2021
Prevalence of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Problems Among Professional Orchestra Musicians in South Africa: A Study Using the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM).
The prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal problems (PRMPs) in professional musicians is well documented in the literature, but few studies have been done on South African professional musicians. ⋯ This study, the first to make use of a validated self-report instrument, shows that musculoskeletal problems are common among full-time and part-time professional orchestral musicians in South Africa.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Dec 2021
Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Complaints in Female Musicians: A Systematic Review and Exploration for Future Studies.
Female musicians are prone to the development of musculoskeletal complaints (MSC). The etiology of this increased risk is poorly understood. As the number of professional female musicians increases, so does the importance of understanding female-specific risk factors for MSC in musicians. ⋯ At this moment, no evidence-based deductions can be made about female-specific risk factors for MSC in musicians. There is a lack of high-quality studies in this field and a need for studies with a different focus and a prospective study design.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Dec 2021
Novel Ultrasonographic Thickness and Strength Assessments of the Flexor Digitorum: A Reliability Analysis.
Clinical conditions such as focal dystonia often require the assessment of atrophy and weakness of the finger muscles. However, due to a lack of well-established protocols, the current investigation focused on assessing the reliability of thickness and strength assessments of the flexor digitorum (FD) muscle, including both the superficialis and profundus components. As a secondary assessment, the reliability of the strength measurement of the extensor digitorum muscle was examined as well. ⋯ Results indicated an excellent relative and absolute reliability, for both hands, for the mean thickness and strength assessments of the flexor digitorum muscle and for the mean strength of the extensor digitorum (measured for both hands). These measurements can be used for future investigations and can contribute to the establishment of more precise methods for assessing the muscles in the forearms which serve the hand.
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Med Probl Perform Art · Dec 2021
Musculoskeletal Pain and Musical Performance in First and Second Violinists of Professional Youth Chamber Orchestras: A Comparative Study.
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. ⋯ 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.