science

Health problems of musicians

Health problems of musicians is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Health problems of musicians rather than just read about it. In short: Musicians can experience a number of health problems related to the practice and performance of music. The differences in career paths, occupations and performance scenarios are some of the determinants of a wide range of possible health effects.

Key takeaways

Health problems of musicians belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Health problems of musicians to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Health problems of musicians from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Musicians can experience a number of health problems related to the practice and performance of music. The differences in career paths, occupations and performance scenarios are some of the determinants of a wide range of possible health effects.

Health conditions The most common injury type suffered by musicians is repetitive strain injury. A survey of orchestral performers found that 64–76% had significant repetitive strain injuries. Other types of musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and focal dystonia, are also common. Non-musculoskeletal problems include:

contact dermatitis, hearing problems due to exposure to loud music, such as tinnitus, hearing loss, hyperacusis and diplacusis, respiratory disorders or pneumothorax, increased intraocular pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and psychological issues such as performance anxiety. They are also at an increased risk of having problems with the stomatognathic system, in particular the mouth and teeth, which may in some cases lead to permanent injuries that prevent the musicians from playing. There is little consistency across the hearing healthcare sector with respect to the care of musicians' hearing and the provision of hearing protection. However, the American Academy of Audiology has published a consensus document regarding best practices for hearing loss prevention with musicians. Playing a brass or woodwind instrument puts the musician at greater risk of inguinal hernia. Woodwind instrumentalists, in rare cases, suffer a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also referred to as saxophone lung, caused by Exophiala infection. It is held that this can occur if instruments are not cleaned properly. The risks for disc jockeys working in nightclubs with loud music include noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus. Nightclubs constantly exceed safe levels of noise exposure, with average sound levels ranging from 93.2 to 109.7 dB. Constant music exposure creates temporary and permanent auditory dysfunction for professional disk jockeys, with average levels at 96 dB, which is above the level at which ear protection is mandatory for industry. Three-quarters of disk jockeys have tinnitus and are at risk of tenosynovitis in the wrists and other limbs. Tenosynovitis results from staying in the same position over multiple gigs for scratching motion and cueing; this would be related to a repetitive strain injury. Gigs can last 4–5 hours in nightlife and the hospitality industry; as a result there are potential complications of prolonged standing which include slouching, varicose veins, cardiovascular disorders, joint compression, and muscle fatigue. It is also common for other staff to experience these, such as bartenders and security staff. The World Health Organization launched the Make Listening Safe initiative as part of the celebration of World Hearing Day on 3 March 2015. WHO reviewed existing noise regulations for various entertainment sites – including clubs, bars, concert venues, and sporting arenas and released a global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events as part of World Hearing Day 2022.

See also Performing arts medicine Safe-in-Sound Award Safe listening Hyperacusis Diplacusis 2023 concert abuse spate

References

External links Okoshi, Kae; Minami, Taro; Masahiro, Kikuchi; Tomizawa, Yasuko (2017). "Musical Instrument-Associated Health Issues and Their Management". The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine. 243 (1): 49–56. doi:10.1620/tjem.243.49. PMID 28931767. Retrieved 31 December 2020. National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Advisories on Hearing Health. [1] Make Listening Safe Campaign UK

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Health problems of musicians

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Health problems of musicians claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Health problems of musicians before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Health problems of musicians ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Health problems of musicians

In research: Health problems of musicians appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Health problems of musicians in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Health problems of musicians is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Audiology, Health risks of performing arts, Hearing loss, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Health problems of musicians outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Health problems of musicians in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Health problems of musicians means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Health problems of musicians out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Health problems of musicians in simple terms?

Why does Health problems of musicians matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Health problems of musicians?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Health problems of musicians.