The present epidemiological study was designed to examine the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain among musical instrument players according to type of instrument played. 300 instrumental musicians and 159 non-musicians were included in this study for an experimental group and a control group respectively. The experimental group was divided into 4 subgroups according to their major instrument played; Group Ⅰ for brasswind instruments, including trumpet, trombone, cornet, French horn, and tuba; Group Ⅱ for woodwind instruments, including clarinet, oboe, and bassoon; Group Ⅲ for violin and viola; Group Ⅳ for other instruments.
After completing questionnaire about health problems, they frequently suffer from location of chronic musculoskeletal pain, and physical or emotional symptoms and feel just before or during performance, each subject was examined for verification of subjective symptoms.
The results obtained were as follows ;
1. The prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain was 93.0% in violin-viola group, 89.8% in woodwind group, 68.0% in brasswind group, and 59.2% in non-musician group. Comparing to non-musician group, the statistical significance was found in violin-viola group and woodwind group (P<0.05).
2. The first 4 prevalent sites of chronic musculoskeletal pain were shoulder-finger-chest-arm in brasswind group, shoulder-finger-wrist-upper back in woodwind group, shoulder-upper back-wrist-arm and neck in violin-viola group, and shoulder-neck-upper back-leg in non-musician group.
3. The prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain is likely to be higher as the length of time as an instrument player increases.
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