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Musicians' playing‐related musculoskeletal disorders: An examination of risk factors
Author(s) -
Zaza C.,
Farewell V.T.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199709)32:3<292::aid-ajim16>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - medicine , logistic regression , physical therapy , family medicine
Several studies have shown that playing‐related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) present a significant health problem for musicians. To examine physiological, psychological, and behavioral risk factors of musicians' PRMDs, data for a case‐control analysis were collected from classically‐trained professional and university student musicians in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1994. Two‐hundred and eighty‐one subjects completed a self‐report questionnaire and hypermobility and hand‐span measurements. Cases were identified according to an operational PRMD definition developed by musicians and health care professionals in a qualitative study. Logistic regression was used to compare data from 44 prevalent PRMD cases who had no previous history of a PRMD, and 90 controls who had never experienced a PRMD. Data from all subjects were analyzed to examine the role of a prior PRMD on the risk of a current PRMD. This study suggests that females and string players were at a higher PRMD risk. A number of other individual characteristics were also important determinants of the development of a PRMD. Warming up before and taking breaks during practice sessions protected the subject from a PRMD. Given the high proportion of musicians who experience PRMDs, prevention programs are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 32:292‐300, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.