title: Occurrence and co-existence of localized musculoskeletal symptoms and findings in work-attending orchestra musicians - an exploratory cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to ergonomic exposure musicians are at risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, back, and upper extremities. The literature confirms musculoskeletal problems in these anatomic regions among orchestra musicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  An explorative cross-sectional study among 441 musicians from six Danish symphony orchestras; 216 underwent a clinical examination constructed for the purpose. Prior to the examination the musicians rated their maximally perceived trouble within the last week on a scheme blinded to the examiner. Accessibility to the clinical examination differed between orchestras.The aims were to assess the prevalence of 1) perceived symptoms within the previous week in the neck, back and limbs and of 2) clinical findings in the neck, back, and upper extremities, and 3) to investigate the co-existence of the perceived symptoms and clinical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms and findings were most common in the neck, back, and shoulders. Due to a poor co-existence between self-reported symptoms and clinical findings musicians experiencing bodily trouble could not be identified through this clinical examination. Free accessibility to the examination was of major importance to participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In compliance with the purpose, perceived symptoms within the previous week and present clinical findings were assessed. Although both symptoms and findings were most frequent in the neck, back, and shoulders the co-existence of anatomically localized symptoms and findings was generally quite poor in this study.Discrepancy between symptoms and findings might be caused by the participants currently attending work and therefore being relatively healthy, and the fluctuating nature of musculoskeletal problems. Furthermore from a comparison of different measuring units - self-reported symptoms being period prevalence rates and clinical findings point prevalence rates; a bias which may also be inherent in similar studies combining self-reported questionnaire data and clinical findings.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit of Occupational and Environmental Health, Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. helene@paarup.net
authors.forename: Helene M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Paarup
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baelum
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manniche
authors.forename: Jonas W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wedderkopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001415:Back; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D009146:Music; D009333:Neck; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012782:Shoulder; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult