title: Musicians' medicine: musculoskeletal problems in string players.
abstract: There is increasing attention to medical problems of musicians. Many studies find a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians, ranging from 73.4% to 87.7%, and string players have the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal problems. This paper examines the various positions and movements of the upper extremities in string players: 1) basic postures for holding instruments, 2) movements of left upper extremity: fingering, forearm posture, high position and vibrato, 3) movements of right upper extremity: bowing, bow angles, pizzicato and other bowing techniques. These isotonic and isometric movements can lead to musculoskeletal problems in musicians. We reviewed orthopedic disorders that are specific to string players: overuse syndrome, muscle-tendon syndrome, focal dystonia, hypermobility syndrome, and compressive neuropathy. Symptoms, interrelationships with musical performances, diagnosis and treatment of these problems were then discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho Youn
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jun O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jin Sam
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Myeung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Iman W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Aminata
authors.forename: Won-Joon
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009146:Music; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: Musculoskeletal problems; String players; Upper extremities