According to the Canada Council for the Arts, there are an estimated 35,000 career musicians across the country. A large number of them are situated here in the Greater Vancouver BC area, which calls upon their (your) skills for performances on the stage, for film productions, and in the commercial sector. As someone who enjoys a livelihood in music, you understand that the slightest pain and discomfort in a part of the body used to play an instrument can significantly compromise your ability to perform. Consequently you’re searching for information on physical therapy for musicians. You’ve come to the right place. Below is a straightforward breakdown of how and why physio is instrumental to your overall health and wellness.
How Physiotherapy Can Help Musicians of All Types Improve Performance While Preventing and Treating Common Injuries
Musicians certainly aren’t excused from the risk of acute injuries. For instance, tripping and falling over electrical cords is a daily hazard for performers. That being said, most injuries are repetitive strain injuries (RSI) which occur as a result of the repetitive movements required to play instruments. Each type of musician faces a distinctive risk which is based upon what they primarily play. In identifying these overuse injuries you will be able to better understand why you’re experiencing chronic pain, and why physiotherapy is the key to managing these injuries.
Treatment for Most Common Guitarist Injuries
A compilation of 18 individual studies have found that guitarists are commonly afflicted with more playing-related chronic pain than all other types of musicians. The most common among them include the following:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis (mainly in the hand, wrist, and elbow)
- Tennis elbow
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
Physiotherapy treatments are highly successful for managing chronic pain coming from these injuries. For example, petrissage massage is effective in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrom, while manual therapy, range-of-motion exercises, strengthening exercises, and even acupuncture and dry needling can assist with hand and wrist tendinitis. Furthermore, a full service physiotherapy clinic with a chiropractor on staff can directly address back and neck pain.
Treatment for Most Common Pianist Injuries
Pianists share RSIs with guitarists, but also have unique conditions to contend with. The most common among the injuries include the following:
- Bursitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Focal Dystonia (in the hand)
- Tendinitis (in the hand, wrist, and elbow)
-
Tenosynovitis
The same physiotherapy treatments above can be effectively used to manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and tendinitis in addition to hand dystonia, while IMS dry needling (among other treatments) can help with bursitis. Tenosynovitis can be treated with massage therapy, laser therapy, dry needling, and TCM acupuncture.
Treatment for Most Common Drummer Injuries
Drummers share RSIs with guitarists and pianists, but have unique conditions to contend with due to their seated position, use of feet, and at-times aggressive movements. The most common among the injuries include the following:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Lower back pain
- Tendinitis (in the hand, wrist, and elbow)
The same physiotherapy treatments for guitarists and pianists (above) can be effectively used to manage Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, hand/wrist/elbow tendinitis, and lower back pain in addition to achilles tendonitis.
Treatment for Most Common Injuries of Brass Instrument Players
The “brass class” is a large and diverse one, including saxophonists, trumpeters, tubaists, tubaists, and horn players. They too share RSIs with the other types of musicians above, but also have unique conditions to contend with. Anyone who has ever held (and played) a 30 lb tuba can relate! The most common among the injuries include the following:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis (mainly in the hand, wrist, and elbow)
- Tennis elbow
- Lower back pain
We have addressed physiotherapy treatments for all of these above.
Remember, regular physiotherapy is effective not just in treating the above RSIs and corresponding chronic pain. Ongoing physical therapy will also help prevent them from occurring and reoccurring in the first place. Make physiotherapy a part of your health and wellness regime today. If located in the Greater Vancouver BC area be sure to schedule a consultation at our Burnaby BC clinic prior to your next performance.
PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR MUSICIANS IN BURNABY AND GREATER VANCOUVER BC:
CALL: 604.558.2273
EMAIL: in**@ab****************.com