Elena-Romana Gasenzer Richard Parncutt 1 How do musicians deal with their medical problems? their medical problems? Elena-Romana Gasenzer and Richard Parncutt University of Graz, Austria

2 Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems? Introduction: Incidence and awareness of music-medical problems Possible reasons for increase in incidence:  Begin: early age  Health: low priority and awareness  Competition, stress: increasing  e.g. conservatory entry level We aim to investigate musicians‘  interest  knowledge  strategies

3 Method: Participants  27 classical western performers  50 performers were approached via telephone  of which 24 participated  90 performer-teacher were asked to approach their students  of which 3 students participated  age: 18 to 65 years  musical experience: 12 to 55 years Number of participants per instrument: RecorderFluteViolinPianoClarinet/SaxophonHorn Double Bass Cello Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?

4  Age, sex, instrument, education, professional activities  Duration and frequency of practice  Nutrition  Chronic diseases  Music-medical problems, pain while playing  Hobbies, non-musical activities (prevention, sports)  Interest in relevant instrumental modifications  Experience with music-medical treatment  Strategies for coping with stress and performance anxiety Method: Survey questions Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?

5 Results: Problems by medical discipline Number of musicians Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems? Orthopedic problems: musculoskeletal pain, overuse syndromes Psychological problems: depression, performance anxiety, fear of failure

6 Results: Problems by instrument 5 violinists  Shoulder problems  Neck problems 2 cellists  Pain in the left shoulder  Pain in bowing arm 1 double bass player  Pain in the left shoulder 6 pianists  Back and hand problems  Overuse syndroms in arms & hands 12 woodwind players  Inflamation of finger joints  Allergic reactions 1 brass player  Orthopedic problems  Dental problems Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?

7 Results: Reasons given for problems Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?

8 Results: Participants‘ strategies  Preventional literature  12 participants  Instrumental modifications  2 participants  Sport and relaxation  all participants  Music-medical treament  2 participants Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?

9 Conclusion: Prevention  Teachers should consider the health of their students and be trained to do so.  Prevention is better than cure and can begin with the first lesson.  Conservatories should teach music medicine & anatomy/physiology.  Instruments can and should be adjusted to fit to their players.  Not all sports are suitable, e.g. swimming is better than tennis. Gasenzer & Parncutt: How do musicians deal with their medical problems?