Health problems of musicians
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Musicians can experience a number of health problems related to the practice and performance of music.{{Cite journal |last1=Hatheway |first1=Melissa |last2=Chesky |first2=Kris |date=December 2013 |title=Epidemiology of health concerns among collegiate student musicians participating in marching band |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24337037 |journal=Medical Problems of Performing Artists |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=242–251 |issn=0885-1158 |pmid=24337037}} The differences in career paths, occupations and performance scenarios are some of the determinants of a wide range of possible health effects.
Health conditions
The most common injury type suffered by musicians is repetitive strain injury. A survey of orchestral performers found that 64–76% had significant repetitive strain injuries.{{cite web |publisher=Pittsburg State University | vauthors = Mitchell T | veditors = Longyear S |title=A painful melody: repetitive strain injury among musicians | date = 2010 | url = http://www.working-well.org/articles/pdf/Musicians.pdf }} Other types of musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and focal dystonia, are also common.{{cite journal | vauthors = Heinan M | title = A review of the unique injuries sustained by musicians | journal = JAAPA | volume = 21 | issue = 4 | pages = 45–6, 48, 50 passim | date = April 2008 | pmid = 18468369 | doi = 10.1097/01720610-200804000-00015 | s2cid = 36408486 }}{{Cite journal|last1=Blanco-Piñeiro|first1=Patricia|last2=Díaz-Pereira|first2=M. Pino|last3=Martínez|first3=Aurora|date=2017|title=Musicians, postural quality and musculoskeletal health: A literature's review|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28167172|journal=Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies|volume=21|issue=1|pages=157–172|doi=10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.06.018|issn=1532-9283|pmid=28167172}}{{Cite journal |last1=Wallace |first1=Eric |last2=Klinge |first2=Derek |last3=Chesky |first3=Kris |date=June 2016 |title=Musculoskeletal Pain in Trombonists: Results from the UNT Trombone Health Survey |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27281379 |journal=Medical Problems of Performing Artists |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=87–95 |doi=10.21091/mppa.2016.2016 |issn=0885-1158 |pmid=27281379}}
Non-musculoskeletal problems include:
- contact dermatitis,
- hearing problems due to exposure to loud music, such as tinnitus, hearing loss, hyperacusis and diplacusis,{{Cite web |url=https://www.audiology.org/sites/default/files/publications/resources/Musicians%20Consensus%20Doc_Final_1.23.20.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 November 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022093422/https://www.audiology.org/sites/default/files/publications/resources/Musicians%20Consensus%20Doc_Final_1.23.20.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/wp-solutions/2015-184/pdfs/2015-184.pdf|title=Workplace Solutions: Reducing the Risk of Hearing Disorders among Musicians| vauthors = Kardous CA, Themann CL, Morata TC, Reynolds J, Afanuh S |date=2015|website=National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|access-date=12 July 2016}}{{cite journal | vauthors = Behar A, Chasin M, Mosher S, Abdoli-Eramaki M, Russo FA | title = Noise exposure and hearing loss in classical orchestra musicians: A five-year follow-up | journal = Noise & Health | volume = 20 | issue = 93 | pages = 42–46 | date = 2018 | pmid = 29676294 | pmc = 5926315 |doi = 10.4103/nah.NAH_39_17 |doi-broken-date = 1 November 2024 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite journal|last1=Di Stadio|first1=Arianna|last2=Dipietro|first2=Laura|last3=Ricci|first3=Giampietro|last4=Della Volpe|first4=Antonio|last5=Minni|first5=Antonio|last6=Greco|first6=Antonio|last7=de Vincentiis|first7=Marco|last8=Ralli|first8=Massimo|date=2018|title=Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Diplacusis in Professional Musicians: A Systematic Review|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|volume=15|issue=10|pages=2120|doi=10.3390/ijerph15102120|issn=1660-4601|pmc=6209930|pmid=30261653|doi-access=free}}
- respiratory disorders or pneumothorax,
- increased intraocular pressure,
- gastroesophageal reflux disease, and
- psychological issues such as performance anxiety.
They are also at an increased risk of having problems with the stomatognathic system, in particular the mouth and teeth, which may in some cases lead to permanent injuries that prevent the musicians from playing.{{cite journal | vauthors = Rodríguez-Lozano FJ, Sáez-Yuguero MR, Bermejo-Fenoll A | title = Orofacial problems in musicians: a review of the literature | journal = Medical Problems of Performing Artists | volume = 26 | issue = 3 | pages = 150–6 | date = September 2011 | pmid = 21987070 | doi = 10.21091/mppa.2011.3024}}
There is little consistency across the hearing healthcare sector with respect to the care of musicians' hearing and the provision of hearing protection.{{Cite journal|last1=McGinnity|first1=Siobhan|last2=Beach|first2=Elizabeth Francis|last3=Mulder|first3=Johannes|last4=Cowan|first4=Robert|date=2018|title=Caring for musicians' ears: insights from audiologists and manufacturers reveal need for evidence-based guidelines|journal=International Journal of Audiology|volume=57|issue=sup1|pages=S12–S19|doi=10.1080/14992027.2017.1405288|issn=1708-8186|pmid=29192525|s2cid=24276596|url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/221243/4/Caring%20for%20musicians%20ears%20insights%20from%20audiologists%20and%20manufacturers%20reveal%20need%20for%20evidence%20based%20guidelines.pdf.jpg|url-access=subscription}} However, the American Academy of Audiology has published a consensus document regarding best practices for hearing loss prevention with musicians.{{Cite web|date=19 November 2019|title=Musicians and Music Industry|url=https://www.audiology.org/publications/guidelines-and-standards/musicians-and-music-industry|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Audiology|language=en}}
Playing a brass or woodwind instrument puts the musician at greater risk of inguinal hernia.{{cite journal |last1=Okoshi |first1=Kae |last2=Minami |first2=Taro |last3=Masahiro |first3=Kikuchi |last4=Tomizawa |first4=Yasuko |title=Musical Instrument-Associated Health Issues and Their Management |journal=The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine |date=2017 |volume=243 |issue=1 |pages=49–56 |doi=10.1620/tjem.243.49 |pmid=28931767 |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/243/1/243_49/_html/-char/ja#sec07 |access-date=31 December 2020|doi-access=free }} Woodwind instrumentalists, in rare cases, suffer a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also referred to as saxophone lung, caused by Exophiala infection. It is held that this can occur if instruments are not cleaned properly.{{Cite web| first = Marc | last = Lallanilla | name-list-style = vanc |url=http://www.livescience.com/41057-what-is-saxophone-lung-hypersensitivity-pneumonitis.html|title=What Is Saxophone Lung?|publisher=Live Science|date=8 November 2013|access-date=16 January 2017}}
The risks for disc jockeys working in nightclubs with loud music include noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19194290/|pmid = 19194290|year = 2009|last1 = Potier|first1 = M.|last2 = Hoquet|first2 = C.|last3 = Lloyd|first3 = R.|last4 = Nicolas-Puel|first4 = C.|last5 = Uziel|first5 = A.|last6 = Puel|first6 = J. L.|title = The risks of amplified music for disc-jockeys working in nightclubs|journal = Ear and Hearing|volume = 30|issue = 2|pages = 291–3|doi = 10.1097/AUD.0b013e31819769fc|s2cid = 21433591}} Nightclubs constantly exceed safe levels of noise exposure, with average sound levels ranging from 93.2 to 109.7 dB.{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17487670/|pmid = 17487670|year = 2007|last1 = Santos|first1 = L.|last2 = Morata|first2 = T. C.|last3 = Jacob|first3 = L. C.|last4 = Albizu|first4 = E.|last5 = Marques|first5 = J. M.|last6 = Paini|first6 = M.|title = Music exposure and audiological findings in Brazilian disc jockeys (DJs)|journal = International Journal of Audiology|volume = 46|issue = 5|pages = 223–31|doi = 10.1080/14992020601188575|s2cid = 41798256}} Constant music exposure creates temporary and permanent auditory dysfunction for professional disk jockeys, with average levels at 96 dB, which is above the level at which ear protection is mandatory for industry. Three-quarters of disk jockeys have tinnitus{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14979949/|pmid = 14979949|year = 2004|last1 = Bray|first1 = A.|last2 = Szymański|first2 = M.|last3 = Mills|first3 = R.|title = Noise induced hearing loss in dance music disc jockeys and an examination of sound levels in nightclubs|journal = The Journal of Laryngology and Otology|volume = 118|issue = 2|pages = 123–8|doi = 10.1258/002221504772784577|s2cid = 19542748}} and are at risk of tenosynovitis in the wrists and other limbs. Tenosynovitis results from staying in the same position over multiple gigs for scratching motion and cueing; this would be related to a repetitive strain injury.{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21435409/|pmid = 21435409|year = 2011|last1 = Suttle|first1 = A. L.|last2 = Wallace|first2 = E. A.|title = Disc jockey tenosynovitis|journal = The American Journal of Medicine|volume = 124|issue = 4|pages = e1|doi = 10.1016/j.amjmed.2010.09.025}} Gigs can last 4–5 hours in nightlife and the hospitality industry; as a result there are potential complications of prolonged standing which include slouching, varicose veins, cardiovascular disorders, joint compression, and muscle fatigue.{{Cite journal|pmid = 25041875|year = 2015|last1 = Waters|first1 = T. R.|last2 = Dick|first2 = R. B.|title = Evidence of health risks associated with prolonged standing at work and intervention effectiveness|journal = Rehabilitation Nursing |volume = 40|issue = 3|pages = 148–65|doi = 10.1002/rnj.166|pmc = 4591921}}{{Cite journal|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21846281/|pmid = 21846281|year = 2012|last1 = Bahk|first1 = J. W.|last2 = Kim|first2 = H.|last3 = Jung-Choi|first3 = K.|last4 = Jung|first4 = M. C.|last5 = Lee|first5 = I.|title = Relationship between prolonged standing and symptoms of varicose veins and nocturnal leg cramps among women and men|journal = Ergonomics|volume = 55|issue = 2|pages = 133–9|doi = 10.1080/00140139.2011.582957|s2cid = 6791057}} It is also common for other staff to experience these, such as bartenders and security staff.
The World Health Organization launched the Make Listening Safe initiative as part of the celebration of World Hearing Day on 3 March 2015.{{Cite journal |last1=Shrivastava |first1=SaurabhR |last2=Shrivastava |first2=PrateekS |last3=Ramasamy |first3=Jegadeesh |date=2015 |title=Joining hands with World Health Organization initiative Make Listening Safe |journal=Noise and Health |language=en |volume=17 |issue=76 |pages=173–174 |doi=10.4103/1463-1741.155854 |issn=1463-1741 |pmc=4918650 |pmid=25913558 |doi-access=free }} WHO reviewed existing noise regulations for various entertainment sites – including clubs, bars, concert venues, and sporting arenas and released a global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events as part of World Hearing Day 2022.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite journal |last1=Okoshi |first1=Kae |last2=Minami |first2=Taro |last3=Masahiro |first3=Kikuchi |last4=Tomizawa |first4=Yasuko |title=Musical Instrument-Associated Health Issues and Their Management |journal=The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine |date=2017 |volume=243 |issue=1 |pages=49–56 |doi=10.1620/tjem.243.49 |pmid=28931767 |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjem/243/1/243_49/_article |access-date=31 December 2020|doi-access=free }}
- National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Advisories on Hearing Health. [https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/publications/brochures-advisories/nasm-pama-hearing-health/]
- [https://www.makelisteningsafecampaign.com/ Make Listening Safe Campaign UK]