Upper extremity disorders in performing artists.

Abstract

Studies in the past decade have shown that a significant proportion of instrumentalists report musculoskeletal problems severely affecting their musical performance. Musicians endure daily intensive use of their upper extremities, frequently placing them in bizarre positions. Their training schedules are rigorous and long term Predisposing factors to, and treatment for, overuse syndromes, tendinitis, and tendon trauma commonly encountered by musical performers are discussed at length. Nerve entrapment has also surfaced as a major problem in musicians, and the means of evaluation and treatment and the role of surgery are put forth. Techniques for studying and analyzing the difficulties faced by instrumentalists are summarized.