Abstract
ObjectivesDuring their lifetimes, a majority of musicians experience playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD). PRMD prevalence is tied to instrument choice, yet most studies examine heterogeneous groups of musicians, leaving some high-risk groups such as oboists understudied. This paper aims to (1) ascertain the prevalence and nature of PRMDs in oboists, (2) determine relevant risk factors, and (3) evaluate the efficacy of treatment methods in preventing and remedying injuries in oboe players.MethodsA 10-question online questionnaire on PRMDs and their treatments was completed by 223 oboists. PRMDs were compared across gender, weekly playing hours, career level, age, and years of playing experience.ResultsOf all respondents, 74.9% (167/223) reported having had at least one PRMD in their lifetime. A majority of these injuries (61.9% of all respondents) were of moderate to extreme severity (5 or higher on a scale of 1 to 10). Females (mean = 5.88) reported significantly more severe injuries than males. No significant effects of career level (i.e., professional vs. student vs. amateur), age, or years of playing experience were observed. We found significant non-linear relationships between weekly playing hours and PRMD prevalence and severity. Injuries were most commonly on the right side of the body, with the right thumb, wrist, hand, and forearm being most affected in frequency and severity. Of those injuries for which recovery information was provided, only 26.1% of injuries were “completely recovered.” The perceived effectiveness of a few treatments (physical therapy, rest, stretching, occupational therapy, massage) tended to be ranked more highly than others.ConclusionThe oboists in this study experienced high rates of PRMD, particularly in the right upper extremities. Females and those playing 7-9 and 16-18 h per week reported a significantly higher severity of injuries than other groups.
Highlights
At some point in their careers, most musicians experience the painful and disabling effects of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD)
One study to date has had a large enough sample size to infer anything about demographic predictors of PRMD in oboists, yet this study only examined the effects of gender, and did not collect data on the many other possible demographic risk factors (Thrasher and Chesky, 2001)
(3) Lastly, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of various treatment methods in preventing and remedying these injuries in oboe players
Summary
At some point in their careers, most musicians experience the painful and disabling effects of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) For professional musicians, these injuries can mean lost income and increased financial precarity, social stigma and strain on relationships, and the psychological and emotional hardships of not being able to make music (Guptill, 2011). Personal communication, November 13, 2020), and this entire weight is supported by the right thumb, leading to possible strain and injury in the right upper extremities Despite their elevated risk, oboists are typically underrepresented in studies (three largest sample sizes: n = 60, 28, and 12) (Thrasher and Chesky, 2001; Nemoto and Arino, 2007; Stanek et al, 2017), and there is little consensus on the precise nature and prevalence of PRMD in this population. We present the results of the first large-scale survey of oboists designed to capture variation across the spectrum of career level, experience, age, and gender
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