Health Advice...

Advice Sheets | Resource Guides | Health Education

Advice Sheets

You can download and print the following:

• Prevention of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PDF-30KB) - Advice Sheet.
• Risk Factors of Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PDF-30KB) - Advice Sheet.
• Grading Scale for Severity of Pain due to Playing-Related Musculoskeletal disorders (PDF-40KB) - Advice Sheet.
• Return to Play Schedule after Injury (PDF-40KB) - Advice Sheet.
• Physiotherapy and Dystonia (PDF-3MB) - Read p.15 and 16 of the Dystonia Society Newsletter - Dystoniamatters!, Issue 70, Winter 2010.
• Exercise for musicians (PDF-137KB) is a small article reinforcing the importance of regular aerobic conditioning as well as specific exercises for shoulder stabilisers, abdominals, and spinal postural muscles. Written by Bronwen Ackermann.
• BAPAM has recently produced useful advice sheets (free downloads) on a range of health-related topics for performers.
  

Resource Guides

• "Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries for Musicians and
  Dancers" (PDF-5.5MB) - Resource Guide.
  This extensive guide provides useful information on common injuries affecting musicians and dancers, and their prevention. It was written by SHAPE (Safety and Health in Arts Production and Entertainment), Canadian association. Beware of file size before you download! You will also find useful PDF advice sheets for musicians and dancers on SHAPE website.
• Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Injuries affecting Musicians (PDF-43KB) - Summary written by SHAPE.
• Prevention and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries affecting Musicians (PDF-52KB) - Summary written by SHAPE.
• Patient UK - You will find up-to-date health information leaflets provided by GPs to patients on a wide range of medical conditions, including musculoskeletal conditions.
• Insight on Focal Dystonia - This article from The Times (July 2007) reviews in layman's terms some of the issues and treatment options for focal dystonia affecting musicians.
  

Health Education Lectures

Patrice Berque has used the following powerpoint presentations for talks on health education and prevention of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders. You can download them.

Patrice has done lectures on these topics at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO), Scottish Opera, the Musicians Union London (MU), the Dystonia Society Scotland, and to music teachers in secondary schools in the Glasgow area.

• Musculoskeletal Disorders affecting Musicians and Considerations for Prevention:
  • Powerpoint Show (4.3MB).
  • PDF File (2.5MB).
    
    
• Focal Task-Specific Dystonia affecting Musicians'
  Hands:
  • Powerpoint Show (1.1MB).
  • PDF File (520KB).
    
    
• Conference Abstract - 3rd International Conference on Movement Dysfunction, Edinburgh, October 2009 - Focal Hand Dystonia Study Preliminary Results:
  • PDF File (100KB).
    
    
• Focal Hand Dystonia Study Final Results - 28th Annual Conference on Medical Problems of Performing Artists, Snowmass, Colorado, USA, July 2010:
  • Powerpoint Show (3.4MB).
  • Conference Abstract - PDF (40KB).
  • Handout - PDF (840KB).
    

Back to top