Risk Of Playing-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Articles

Exploring the Impact of Occupational Adaptation-Focused Interventions on Music Student Health.

Music students are at an elevated risk of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. This study aimed to explore the impact of occupational adaptation-focused interventions on music student health. A quasi-experimental one-group pretest/posttest design was used. Music students received occupational therapy services grounded in the Occupational Adaptation model of practice. Assessment tools included the Performing Arts Module of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and an occupational adaptive process evaluation. Twelve music students, ages 19 to 32 years old, participated in this study. Results indicated a significant decrease in current pain intensity (Z = -2.038, p < .042), 24-hr pain intensity (Z = -2.94, p < .003), and DASH scores (Z = -2.81, p < .005). Strong correlations were found between participants' adaptive capacity and improved DASH scores and 24-hr pain. Occupational adaptation-focused interventions can improve university-level music student health by addressing body functions affecting music performance and increasing their adaptive capacity.

Prevalence and associated factors of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders among music students in Europe. Baseline findings from the Risk of Music Students (RISMUS) longitudinal multicentre study.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions among professional musicians and music students are frequent and may have significant physical and psychosocial consequences on their lives and/or on their playing abilities. The Risk of Music Students (RISMUS) research project was set up in 2018 to longitudinally identify factors associated with increased risk of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) in a large sample of music students enrolled in pan-European institutions. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the prevalence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) in this novel population at baseline of the RISMUS project. A further goal was to begin to identify variables that might be associated with the self-reported presence of PRMDs among music students. Eight hundred and fifty students from fifty-six conservatories and music universities in Europe completed a web-based questionnaire on lifestyle and physical activity participation levels, musical practice habits, health history and PRMDs, psychological distress, perfectionism and fatigue. A total of 560 (65%) out of 850 participants self-reported a positive history of painful MSK conditions in the last 12 months, 408 (48%) of whom self-reported PRMDs. Results showed that coming from West Europe, being a first- or a second-year Masters student, having more years of experience and higher rates of perceived exertion after 45 minutes of practice without breaks were factors significantly associated with self-reported presence of PRMDs. According to the authors' knowledge, a large-scale multicentre study investigating prevalence and associated factors for PRMDs among music students at different stages of their education (from Pre-college to Masters levels) has not been conducted before. The high prevalence of PRMDs among music students, especially those studying at university-level, has been confirmed in this study and associated factors have been identified, highlighting the need for relevant targeted interventions as well as effective prevention and treatment strategies.

A longitudinal investigation of the factors associated with increased RISk of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders in MUsic students (RISMUS): a study protocol

BackgroundThe achievement and improvement of skills in musical techniques to reach the highest levels of performance may expose music students to a wide range of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs).In order to establish effective solutions for PRMDs and to develop future preventive measures, it is fundamental to firstly identify the main risk factors that play a significant role in the development of musculoskeletal conditions and symptoms.The aim of the study is to identify those factors associated with increased risk of PRMDs among music students.A further goal is to characterise this population and describe the clinical features of PRMDs, as well as to determine the evolving course of PRMDs in music students during their training.MethodsOne hundred and ninety schools have been invited to participate in this study, sixty of which have already confirmed officially their support for the investigation’s recruitment procedures, by means of a subsequent distribution of the link to a web-based questionnaire to their student groups (total potential student numbers available: n = 12,000 [based on ~ 200 students per school on average, and 60 volunteering schools]; expected number of students: n = 3000 [based on a 25% response rate from the 12,000 students attending the 60 volunteering schools]).The web-based questionnaire includes questions about any PRMD that students have experienced during their training, and different potential risk factors (i.e. lifestyle and physical activity, practice habits, behaviour toward prevention and health history, level of stress, perfectionism, fatigue and disability).Overall recurrence or new onsets of PRMDs will be assessed at 6 and 12 months after the first data collection to investigate and record the development of new incidents within a period of a year and to enable characterisation of the nature and the evolving course of PRMDs.DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, no other longitudinal studies on risk factors for PRMDs among music students have been conducted so far. Therefore, this study can be considered as an opportunity to begin filling the gaps within current research in this field and to generate new knowledge within musical contexts in education and employment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03622190), registration date 09/08/2018.

Music performance anxiety in skilled pianists: effects of social-evaluative performance situation on subjective, autonomic, and electromyographic reactions

Music performance anxiety (MPA), or stage fright in music performance, is a serious problem for many musicians, because performance impairment accompanied by MPA can threaten their career. The present study sought to clarify on how a social-evaluative performance situation affects subjective, autonomic, and motor stress responses in pianists. Measurements of subjective state anxiety, heart rate (HR), sweat rate (SR), and electromyographic (EMG) activity of upper extremity muscles were obtained while 18 skilled pianists performed a solo piano piece(s) of their choice under stressful (competition) and non-stressful (rehearsal) conditions. Participants reported greater anxiety in the competition condition, which confirmed the effectiveness of stress manipulation. The HR and SR considerably increased from the rehearsal to competition condition reflecting the activation of sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. Furthermore, participants showed higher levels of the EMG magnitude of proximal muscles (biceps brachii and upper trapezius) and the co-contraction of antagonistic muscles in the forearm (extensor digitorum communis and flexor digitorum superficialis) in the competition condition. Although these responses can be interpreted as integral components of an adaptive biological system that creates a state of motor readiness in an unstable or unpredictable environment, they can adversely influence pianists by disrupting their fine motor control on stage and by increasing the risk of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Effects of Psychological Stress on State Anxiety, Electromyographic Activity, and Arpeggio Performance in Pianists

The present study examined the effects of psychological stress, as manipulated by performance evaluation, on the cognitive, physiological, and behavioral components of music performance anxiety (MPA) and performance quality. Twelve skilled pianists (five women, seven men) aged 21.9 ± 3.3 yrs performed arpeggios on a digital piano at the metronome-paced fastest possible tempo under the evaluation and no-evaluation conditions. Measurements were made of self-reported state anxiety, heart rate (HR), sweat rate (SR), and electromyographic (EMG) activity from eight arm and shoulder muscles, and MIDI signals were obtained. The increases in self-reported anxiety score, HR, and SR in the evaluation condition confirmed the effectiveness of stress manipulation. The EMG activity of all the muscles investigated significantly increased from the no-evaluation to evaluation condition, suggesting that psychological stress can add to the risk of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. Furthermore, the elevated muscle activity in the forearm was accompanied by increased key velocities. We also obtained the first evidence of increased arm stiffness associated with MPA by estimating the cocontraction levels of antagonist muscles in the forearm and upper arm. Consistent with the three systems model of anxiety, the three MPA components were moderately intercorrelated. Participants with high trait anxiety showed stronger correlations between the self-reported anxiety score and other objective measures, which indicated their heightened perceptual sensitivity to physiological and behavioral changes caused by psychological stress. These results provide some practical implications for understanding and coping with MPA.