Musculoskeletal, hearing and skin problems related to playing the instrument
Background Physical demands, exposure to noise and intense contact of skin with musical instruments – inevitable in musicians’ job – influence the development of musculoskeletal, hearing and skin problems. This paper aims at identifying playing-related health problems among Polish musicians and pote...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Medycyna Pracy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Wystepowanie-dolegliwosci-miesniowo-szkieletowych-sluchowych-i-skornych-zwiazanych,85128,0,2.html |
| Summary: | Background
Physical demands, exposure to noise and intense contact of skin with musical instruments – inevitable in musicians’
job – influence the development of musculoskeletal, hearing and skin problems. This paper aims at identifying playing-related
health problems among Polish musicians and potential differences in this regard between students and professional musicians.
Material and Methods
This questionnaire study involved 255 musicians who volunteered to participate – 104 students
and 151 professional musicians having music education. The study sample included 61% of women. Mean age of the participants
equaled 31 years old, mean playing experience – 23 years old.
Results
From 10% to 79% (depending on the affected body part)
of the studied musicians experienced musculoskeletal problems. Hearing (41% – tinnitus; 43% – hearing impairment and 52% –
hyperacusis) and skin problems (69% – callosities, 58% – abrasions and 26% – allergic reactions) were reported less frequently
and were assessed as less severe than musculoskeletal symptoms. The studied professionals assessed their hearing problems (hyperacusis,
hearing impairment and tinnitus) as significantly more severe than reported by students. Young musicians, in turn,
experienced more severe abrasions than the studied professional musicians. We found no significant differences between students
and professionals as regards their musculoskeletal problems.
Conclusions
Playing-related health risks translate into relatively
high prevalence of musculoskeletal as well as hearing and skin problems among musicians. Hence, it is essential for future studies to
search for risk factors for these health problems as well as effective corrective and therapeutic measures. Med Pr 2018;69(4):383–394 |
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| ISSN: | 0465-5893 2353-1339 |