Evaluation and Treatment of Musicians from a Holistic Perspective

• Main Authors: Annie Ting, Janice Rocker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Western Michigan University 2019-10-01
• Series: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Subjects: hand; health; health behavior; occupational science; occupational therapy practice framework; patient-centered care; quality of life; work
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1581&context=ojot

Throughout the past 3 decades, treatment of injured musicians in a health care setting has been reported; however, the quality of care from a musician’s standpoint is poor. As musicians are speaking up more about their pain, the profession of occupational therapy has the capacity to make an impact on the way musicians are treated from a rehabilitative perspective. Musicians often do not trust medical practitioners who follow the traditional medical model because their symptoms and concerns are not addressed. Occupational therapists, especially those working in the realm of hand rehabilitation, are well equipped to treat injured musicians using our unique activity analysis skills and holistic frame of reference; the goal is to return them back to their prior levels of playing. To support the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process’s vision, this article discusses evaluation and treatment of the unique musician emphasizing the musician’s point of view through an occupation-based, client-centered, and evidence-based practice.