Published 12 December 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a2646
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2646

Feature

Christmas 2008: Music

A symphony of maladies

Sarah Bache, core surgical trainee 1 in plastic surgery 1, Frank Edenborough, consultant respiratory physician1

1 Northern General Hospital, Sheffield S5 7AU

Correspondence to: S Bache sarahbache@doctors.org.uk

Sarah Bache and Frank Edenborough uncover scores of health problems associated with making music

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.


Touring with a band or orchestra may lead to disrupted routines, late nights, poor food, reduced exercise and stress, all of which take their toll on general health
The instrument itself, as result of its composition, weight, and shape, together with the force required to play it and the prolonged and repetitive nature of practice, may lead to a host of instrument specific injuries
Overuse syndromes, focal dystonias, dermal sensitisation, and respiratory, oropharyngeal, and cardiovascular anomalies may result
Minor injuries are amplified by the precision required to play at the highest standard and may be career threatening


Classical musicians have never been considered a daredevil bunch, and playing classical music is one of life’s more genteel pastimes. Yet the perils of the seemingly innocuous activities of the orchestra have long been a closely guarded secret. Fearful of being exposed as weak and jeopardising their place in the orchestra—or worse, their . . . [Full text of this article]


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