NEUROMUSCULOSKELETAL PROBLEMS OF UPPER EXTREMITIES IN MUSICIANS A LITERATURE REVIEW
ABSTRACT Background Objectives Music, though, considered as a safe occupation but like other professions musicians too can experience variety of health problems due to high physical and psychological demands inherent to their profession. Musicians suffer different set of work related musculoskeletal problems which have been designated with special term known as Playing Related Musculoskeletal Disorders(PRMDs) which include range of problems such as tendinitis, overuse syndrome, focal dystonia and deQuervain tenosynovitis, muscle tendon syndrome, hypermobility syndrome, compressive neuropathy. The purpose of present study was to carry out review of existing literature about the injury profile, types and pattern of injuries sustained by musicians Methodology An English language literature search on Medline, PubMed and Google Scholar was carried out by typing following words and sentences neuromusculoskeletal problems in musicians, soft tissue injuries in musicians, overuse injuries in musicians, medical problems in musician. Results Total 18 studies could be located and retrieved from different search engines.14 studies were included in literature review. Conclusion Literature review suggests musicians sustain various neuromusculoskeletal injuries during their career which have been attributed to poor posture, long hours of practice, excessive force, static loading of instruments. There is need to generate awareness amongst musicians about types of injuries they are predisposed to so that appropriate preventive measures could be taken to preclude these injuries. Keywords Soft tissue injuries, Musicians, Neuromusculoskeletal problems, Overuse injury.