The meaning of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders to classical musicians

In creating and performing music, musicians can experience health problems from the high physical and psychological demands of their profession. Muscu loskeletal disorders related to playing are painful, chronic and disabling conditions which are prevalent among classical musicians. The widespread st udy of the prevalence, etiology, and management of playing-related musculos keletal disorders (PRMDs) is a recent development known as performing ar;ts medicine. Despite the rapid development of this new field, it is unclear h ow musicians identify themselves as injured, and how they make decisions ab out what, if anything, to do about these disabling injuries. The aims of ou r study were twofold. First, we aimed to provide musicians with the opportu nity to define a PRMD in their own wards. Second, we sought to understand t he subjective meaning of the PRMD experience to musicians. Two key informan ts identified 30 study participants in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. As a for m of data triangulation, participants included 27 musicians and three healt h professionals. Data were collected in semi-structured interviews which la sted, on average, 40 min. Data were transcribed, and were manually coded an d analyzed. Participants defined a PRMD as pain and other symptoms which ar e chronic, are beyond their control, and which interfere with their ability to play their instrument at their usual level. Participants distinguished between "normal", mild everyday aches and pains, and a PRMD. Although a PRM D is not a medically serious or life-threatening illness; it is devastating to musicians physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. The overa ll theme of suffering captures the meaning of these problems which threaten the identity of the musician. The findings of this study are consistent wi th other studies of the experience of work-related musculoskeletal disorder s, and other illnesses. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.