Prevalence for musculoskeletal pain in music students: a cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2317-0190.v32i1a230617Keywords:
Prevalence, Musculoskeletal Pain, MusicAbstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among undergraduate music students at a Brazilian university, considering factors such as physical activity levels, sleep quality, and psychosocial influences. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using an internet-based survey to assess musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate music students. Participants were recruited from all music programs at a southern Brazilian university. We developed an original questionnaire incorporating established measures (Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questionnaire, Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians, Örebro Questionnaire, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand), in addition to questions regarding psychosocial factors related to pain, level of physical activity and characteristics of the practice and study of the instrument. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze participant demographics and survey responses. Correlations between the variables studied, were conducted with the Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: Among 45 participants, musculoskeletal pain prevalence was 88.89%. Wrist and hands are the regions with the highest pain prevalence, while the ankle/foot is the region with the greatest painful intensity. Women experienced significantly higher pain prevalence and intensity compared to men. Despite experiencing pain, most participants continue their musical activities. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal pain was high prevalent among Brazilian music students, primarily affecting the wrists, hands, neck, and shoulders. Understanding the profile of musculoskeletal complaints in this population is crucial for developing effective prevention, assessment, and treatment strategies.
Downloads
References
Stanhope J, Tooher R, Pisaniello D, Weinstein P. Have musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms been thoroughly addressed? A systematic mapping review. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(3):291-31. Doi: https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01340
GBD 2019 Diseases and Injuries Collaborators. Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204-1222. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9
Barros EN, Alexandre NM. Cross-cultural adaptation of the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Int Nurs Rev. 2003;50(2):101-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1466-7657.2003.00188.x
Berque P, Gray H, McFadyen A. Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Problems Among Professional Orchestra Musicians in Scotland: A Prevalence Study Using a Validated Instrument, the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians (MPIIQM). Med Probl Perform Art. 2016;31(2):78-86. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2016.2015
Liu S, Wang B, Fan S, Wang Y, Zhan Y, Ye D. Global burden of musculoskeletal disorders and attributable factors in 204 countries and territories: a secondary analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. BMJ Open. 2022;12(6):e062183. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062183
Kok LM, Vlieland TP, Fiocco M, Nelissen RG. A comparative study on the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among musicians and non-musicians. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2013;14:9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-14-9
Zaza C, Charles C, Muszynski A. The meaning of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders to classical musicians. Soc Sci Med. 1998;47(12):2013-23. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(98)00307-4
Assel C, Nugraha B, Kallusky N, Faßnacht-Lenz S, Altenmüller E, Gutenbrunner C, et al. Effect of manual therapy on music students with playing-related musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective study. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2023;4:1151886. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2023.1151886
Zalpour C, Ballenberger N, Avermann F. A Physiotherapeutic Approach to Musicians' Health - Data From 614 Patients From a Physiotherapy Clinic for Musicians (INAP/O). Front Psychol. 2021;12:568684. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.568684
Kok LM, Huisstede BM, Voorn VM, Schoones JW, Nelissen RG. The occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints among professional musicians: a systematic review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2016;89(3):373-96. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1090-6
Silva AG, Lã FM, Afreixo V. Pain prevalence in instrumental musicians: a systematic review. Med Probl Perform Art. 2015;30(1):8-19. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2015.1002
Stanhope J, Pisaniello D, Cook A, Weinstein P. Are music students at 'high-risk' of experiencing musculoskeletal symptom outcomes compared with other students? Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2023;29(3):1080-1087. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2022.2111846
Chan C, Driscoll T, Ackermann BJ. Effect of a musicians' exercise intervention on performance-related musculoskeletal disorders. Med Probl Perform Art. 2014;29(4):181-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2014.4038
Rodríguez-Gude C, Sousa CM, Taboada-Iglesias Y, Pino-Juste M. Musculoskeletal pain in musicians: does playing more than one instrument have more effect? Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2023;29(4):1273-1278. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2022.2120260
Rodríguez-Romero B, Pérez-Valiño C, Ageitos-Alonso B, Pértega-Díaz S. Prevalence and Associated Factors for Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability Among Spanish Music Conservatory Students. Med Probl Perform Art. 2016;31(4):193-200. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2016.4035
Chan C, Ackermann B. Evidence-informed physical therapy management of performance-related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians. Front Psychol. 2014;5:706. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00706
Nawrocka A, Mynarski W, Powerska-Didkowska A, Grabara M, Garbaciak W. Musculoskeletal pain among Polish music school students. Med Probl Perform Art. 2014;29(2):64-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2014.2015
Furuya S, Nakahara H, Aoki T, Kinoshita H. Prevalence and Causal Factors of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremity and Trunk among Japanese Pianists and Piano Students. Med Probl Perform Art 2006;21:112–7. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2006.3023
von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gøtzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP, et al. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. J Clin Epidemiol. 2008;61(4):344-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.11.008
Sharma A, Minh Duc NT, Luu Lam Thang T, Nam NH, Ng SJ, Abbas KS, et al. A Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS). J Gen Intern Med. 2021;36(10):3179-3187. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06737-1
Eysenbach G. Improving the quality of Web surveys: the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). J Med Internet Res. 2004;6(3):e34. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6.3.e34
Paarup HM, Baelum J, Holm JW, Manniche C, Wedderkopp N. Prevalence and consequences of musculoskeletal symptoms in symphony orchestra musicians vary by gender: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011;12:223. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-223
Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18(3):233-7. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(87)90010-x
Zão A, Coimbra D, Aguiar-Branco C, Altenmüller E, Azevedo L. The Portuguese version of the musculoskeletal pain intensity and interference questionnaire for musicians (MPIIQM-Pt): Translation, cultural adaptation, and multicenter validation study in professional orchestra musicians. Pain Pract. 2023;23(4):368-377. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/papr.13200
Linton SJ, Boersma K. Early identification of patients at risk of developing a persistent back problem: the predictive validity of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire. Clin J Pain. 2003;19(2):80-6. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002508-200303000-00002
Fagundes FR, Costa LO, Fuhro FF, Manzoni AC, de Oliveira NT, Cabral CM. Örebro Questionnaire: short and long forms of the Brazilian-Portuguese version. Qual Life Res. 2015;24(11):2777-88. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-0998-3
Hudak PL, Amadio PC, Bombardier C. Development of an upper extremity outcome measure: the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) [corrected]. The Upper Extremity Collaborative Group (UECG). Am J Ind Med. 1996;29(6):602-8. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(199606)29:6<602::AID-AJIM4>3.0.CO;2-L
Orfale AG, Araújo PM, Ferraz MB, Natour J. Translation into Brazilian Portuguese, cultural adaptation and evaluation of the reliability of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2005;38(2):293-302. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-879x2005000200018
Collins D. Pretesting survey instruments: an overview of cognitive methods. Qual Life Res. 2003;12(3):229-38. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1023254226592
Xavier de Araujo F, Schell MS, Rosa CG, Ribeiro DC, Silva MF. Knowledge and use of extrinsic feedback characteristics: A survey of current practice among Brazilian physical therapists. Physiother Theory Pract. 2023;39(2):384-394. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.2010246
Lonsdale K, Boon OK. Playing-related health problems among instrumental music students at a university in malaysia. Med Probl Perform Art. 2016;31(3):151-9. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2016.3028
Stanek JL, Komes KD, Murdock FA Jr. A cross-sectional study of pain among U.S. College Music Students and Faculty. Med Probl Perform Art. 2017;32(1):20-26. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2017.1005
Stanhope J, Pisaniello D, Tooher R, Weinstein P. How do we assess musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms?: a review of outcomes and tools used. Ind Health. 2019;57(4):454-494. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2018-0065
Burns SA, Cleland JA, Rivett DA, Snodgrass SJ. Examination procedures and interventions for the hip in the management of low back pain: a survey of physical therapists. Braz J Phys Ther. 2019;23(5):419-427. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2018.09.007
Güeita-Rodríguez J, García-Muro F, Cano-Díez B, Rodríguez-Fernández ÁL, Lambeck J, Palacios-Ceña D. Identification of intervention categories for aquatic physical therapy in pediatrics using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth: a global expert survey. Braz J Phys Ther. 2017;21(4):287-295. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2017.05.007
Stanhope J, Pisaniello D, Weinstein P. The effect of strategies to prevent and manage musicians' musculoskeletal symptoms: A systematic review. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2022;77(3):185-208. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2020.1860879
Ajidahun AT, Myezwa H, Mudzi W, Wood W-A. A Scoping Review of Exercise Intervention for Playing- Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) among Musicians. Muziki. 2019;16:7–30. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/18125980.2019.1606675
Roos M, Lamontagne ME, Desmeules F, Dionne C, Savard I, Pinard AM, et al. Workplace Injury Prevention and Wellness Program for Orchestra Musicians: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2024;54(9):584-593. Doi: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2024.12277
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Acta Fisiátrica
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
