ABSTRACT
Instrumentalists and specifically percussionists have been found to develop musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the nature of their work. This study aimed to assess the MSD risk factors associated with playing the steel pan, which was invented in Trinidad and Tobago in the 20th century. A sample of 13 pannists and 13 non-pannists completed a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and data analysis included multiple correlations, Student's t test, the Moore-Garg strain index and calculation of compressive force at the L5/S1 vertebrae. The prevalence of pain was found to be greater among the pannists; a strain index of 22.78 was calculated and the compressive force was determined to be 4507.8 N, which indicated that pannists have a high risk of developing MSDs of the upper limbs and lower back. The risk factors identified for the development of MSDs were similar to those of previous studies.
Subject(s)
Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology , Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology , Music , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Adult , Ergonomics , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Upper Extremity/physiopathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate vocal tract discomfort and quality of life in the voice of wind instrumentalists. METHOD: It is a cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 37 musicians of the orchestra of Caxias do Sul city, RS, Brazil. The participants answered a nonstandard questionnaire about demographic and professional information, the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), the Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) scale, and additional items about fatigue after playing the instrument and pain in the cervical muscles. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: The most frequent symptoms mentioned by musicians in the VTD, for both frequency and intensity of occurrence, were dryness, ache, irritability, and cervical muscle pain, in addition to the frequency of occurrence of fatigue after playing. The musicians showed high scores in the V-RQOL survey. Several symptoms evaluated by the VTD had a negative correlation with the musicians' years of orchestra membership and with V-RQOL scores. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of vocal tract discomfort are present in wind instrumentalists in low frequency and intensity of occurrence. However, these symptoms affect the musicians' voice-related quality of life, and they occur more in musicians with fewer years of orchestra membership.