Musicians' Medicine: Musculoskeletal Problems in String Players.
10.4055/cios.2013.5.3.155
- Author:
Han Sung LEE
1
;
Ho Youn PARK
;
Jun O YOON
;
Jin Sam KIM
;
Jae Myeung CHUN
;
Iman W AMINATA
;
Won Joon CHO
;
In Ho JEON
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jeonchoi@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Upper extremities;
String players;
Musculoskeletal problems
- MeSH:
Cumulative Trauma Disorders/*etiology;
Humans;
Musculoskeletal Diseases/*etiology;
*Music;
Neuromuscular Diseases;
Occupational Diseases/*etiology
- From:Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
2013;5(3):155-160
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
There is increasing attention to medical problems of musicians. Many studies find a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians, ranging from 73.4% to 87.7%, and string players have the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal problems. This paper examines the various positions and movements of the upper extremities in string players: 1) basic postures for holding instruments, 2) movements of left upper extremity: fingering, forearm posture, high position and vibrato, 3) movements of right upper extremity: bowing, bow angles, pizzicato and other bowing techniques. These isotonic and isometric movements can lead to musculoskeletal problems in musicians. We reviewed orthopedic disorders that are specific to string players: overuse syndrome, muscle-tendon syndrome, focal dystonia, hypermobility syndrome, and compressive neuropathy. Symptoms, interrelationships with musical performances, diagnosis and treatment of these problems were then discussed.
