Almost two-thirds of classical musicians suffer from playing-related muscular pain

A survey of 120 young Irish musicians has detected high rates of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs).

PRMDs are defined as pain and other symptoms that are chronic, beyond the control of the sufferer, and are an interference to one’s ability to play a musical instrument at the usual level.

Of the 120 people who responded to the survey, recently published in the Irish Medical Journal, 103 were classical musicians, while the remaining 17 were traditional musicians. The study found a 61 per cent rate of PRMDs among classical musicians surveyed.

Given that musicians “engage in repetitive motions for many hours each day”, they are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, according to the study, with the lifetime prevalence of PRMDs among classical musicians internationally ranging between 62 per cent and 93 per cent.

The respondents were third-level students, with 71 per cent female, and had a median age of 19.

Among the classical players, the most commonly-played instruments were keyboards (47 people) and string instruments (30 people}. Of the classical musicians who played a string instruments, 83 per cent reported a lifetime prevalence of PRMDs.

The most common site for PRMDs in the classical cohort was the upper back, followed by the lower back and the right hand or wrist.

Of the 17 traditional musicians survey, nine said that they suffered from PRMDs. Among the nine – two concertina players, two flute players, and bodhrán, bouzouki, harp, tin whistle and uilleann pipes players – the hand or wrist was the most common site for PRMDs.

The survey identified playing a string instrument and the female gender as risk factors for developing PRMDs.