Chartered Physiotherapists

Specialists in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy

Musician Related Injuries

Whether it is in the form of singing or playing a musical instrument, a musician’s performance can be very physically challenging. Demanding compositions, sustained postures, and the repetitive nature of practice routines and performance can place repeated and prolonged stresses on the body.

The physical demands on the body are often compounded by the fact that many musicians continue to play their instrument despite experiencing symptoms of pain. It is not surprising that nearly 90% of musicians will suffer from a playing related musculoskeletal disorder (PRMD) at some point in their career.

A playing related disorder has been defined as ‘Pain, weakness, tingling, or other symptoms which interfere with a musician’s ability to play their instrument at the level they are accustomed to.’ The overwhelming majority of PRMD are repetitive strain or overuse injuries accounting for up to 80% of all reported musician related injuries. Commonly injured areas include Hand and wrist 41%, shoulder 35%, lumbar spine 26%, forearm and elbow 21%, Scapulo thoracic 15%. Below is a link to some of the most common PRMD’s.

Wrist Tendonitis, Focal Dystonia, De Quervains Tenosynovitis, Lateral Epicondylitis, Medial Epicondylitis, Rotator Cuff Tendonitis, Lower back pain, Temporo-mandibular Jaw disorder, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Sciatica.

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