Austin is the live music capital of the world, with a regular stream of headliners in town. Just this month, we’ve seen great groups come through for ACL and more recently performing at the Circuit of the Americas’ Formula One racing events.
Much like athletes, musicians’ bodies suffer a great deal of wear and tear from their profession.
Musculoskeletal disorders plague 73.4% to 87.7% of all musicians, with string players reporting the highest prevalence.
Tickling the ivories, strumming a guitar, or playing drums repetitively through a grueling rehearsal schedule and back-to-back performances can do a number on fingers, wrists, the neck, and shoulders. And then there’s the added stress of hauling heavy instruments and equipment from one gig to the next.
Bones and joints can become easily fatigued from this repetitive use, leading to pain, inflammation, and potentially serious conditions like arthritis. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage between joints breaks down resulting in weakened bones, and decreased flexibility and range of motion.
Other common issues facing musicians include:
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De Quervain’s Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist)
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Shoulder Impingement (irritated tendons in the shoulder)
Whether you’re a pro or amateur musician, here are a few ways to ensure that your body stays healthy from fingertips to tops of shoulders:
Warm up before playing with light finger, wrist and arm stretches as well as head, neck and shoulder rolls to loosen muscles
Like in sports or intense athletic training, build in rest time every few days to allow muscles and bones time to rest and recuperate
Never play through pain or with an injury
If you suffer from chronic aches and pains as a result of playing an instrument, please contact us for an appointment with one of our specialists.
