Suffering for one's art: Performance related musculoskeletal disorders in tertiary performing arts students in music and dance

The study reports the results of an intake questionnaire assessing point prevalence of performance related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD) and pain in 151 tertiary level performing arts students in music and dance. Forty percent reported having received a medical diagnosis for a condition related to playing their instrument or performing their dance style. The most common diagnoses for music students were repetitive sprains and strains such as tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, ten- donitis, tenosynovitis, and muscle tightness, including temporo-man- dibular joint syndrome, tight embouchure, muscle spasm, numbness, and cramping. Sixty-four percent of the dance students had serious inju- ries such as broken bones, joint dislocations, cruciate ligament and me- niscus tears and strains, other muscle tears, and sprains/strains in biceps, hamstrings, and ankles, tightening in hamstrings and hips, and bunions. Only 27% of the total sample reported no current pain from a PRMD; 11.3% reported suffering daily or almost daily from a PRMD. Given the high injury rates among performing arts students, injury sur- veillance systems may be a cost effective way to identify high risk injuries in specific cohorts, and to apply appropriately specific management and prevention strategies for musicians and dancers during their training in order to assist in the development of sustainable careers.