By: Matthew Higuera, OTD, OTR/L
Musicians are athletes who deserve care!
When we think of the word “athlete”, we often associate the term with basketball players, soccer players, football players, and all the traditional sports in-between. It is widely known that athletes benefit from physical therapy to stay in top condition for their game, but did you know that musicians are also athletes who can greatly benefit from physical therapy? Performing for a concert symphony, recording a song in the studio for a motion picture, touring with your favorite singer, or even garage band heroes can all experience discomfort when performing the repetitive motions and effort required to play music at a high level.
What injuries are common for musicians, and how can they be helped?
From guitarists to bassoonists, each musician faces unique challenges that can impact their performance and overall well-being. Playing a musical instrument involves intricate movements and repetitive actions, often in uncomfortable positions while practicing/performing, which can strain the body. Whether strumming a guitar or blowing into a bassoon, each instrument places specific demands on different parts of the body that can become painful over time. And while many musicians have a “push-through” type mentality to get to the next practice or show, injuries from playing can affect their livelihood, both creatively and financially, if not treated at the onset of symptoms.
Important factors that contribute to musicians’ injuries can include posture, how the instrument is being held, and repetitive movements which can then in turn lead to overcompensation made by the body to avoid pain. It is estimated that up to 76% of professional musicians have sustained a musculoskeletal injury. Common injuries seen are cumulative trauma disorders and musician’s dystonia.
Hand therapists can help by completing a movement assessment for musicians. Musicians can bring their instruments into the clinic, and show their hand therapist how they are playing to provide context for the body positions they are often playing in. This helps to simulate their real-life movement, to help provide care just like any other injury treated in the clinic. Hand therapists can analyze movement and assess for deficits to create a customized and personally tailored plan to help address and heal the musicians’ pain.
How to know when to come see a hand therapist
If a musician is having the same types of aches and pains for more than 2 weeks, that is a good indicator that there is an injury present and that it is time to go see a hand therapist. Although no musician wants to experience an “intermission”, it is a good idea to stop the motion that is injuring the body and seek care from a professional immediately. Hand therapists have many tools when it comes to treating an injury, such as custom orthoses, and specific strategies relating to how to play without furthering the injury. Hand therapists can look at the injury objectively to treat the pain and cause so that musicians can return to playing the music they love!
If you are experiencing pain and want to see a hand therapist, Schedule your free 15-minute assessment to see how you can move better, feel better, and in turn play better!