News...

Conferences | Research | Video Clips | MBF Scheme | Press Cuttings

December 2011 - Susanne Klein-Vogelbach Special Award 2011
Patrice was awarded the Klein-Vogelbach Special Award for his paper "A Combination of Constraint-induced Therapy and Motor Control Retraining in the Treatment of Focal Hand Dystonia in Musicians", published in Medical Problems of Performing Artists in 2010, vol.25:149-161. The prize is awarded to researchers in neuroscience, orthopaedics, anatomy, whose work is oriented to a better understanding of the underlying principles of human movement and its rehabilitation, with the Special Award being granted to excellent papers from the field of physiotherapy. The Special Award has only been awarded twice before (in 2004 and 2010). Click here to see the News entry on BAPAM's website.

October 2011 - Long-Term Follow-up Study on Focal Hand Dystonia
A 3-year follow-up study of the study published in December 2010 in Medical Problems of Performing Artists is on its way. Data collection was carried out in September and October, and statistical analysis will now take place. The aim of the study is to investigate the long-term effects of constraint-induced therapy and motor control retraining in musicians affected by focal hand dystonia.

10th August 2011 - Piping Live!
Patrice will be doing a talk at Glasgow International Piping Festival on Playing-Related Health Problems affecting musicians, with a special focus on pipers and guitar players. You can check the programme of the festival by clicking here.

June 2011 - Journal Article on Focal Hand Dystonia with kind permision of the publishers "Science and Medicine" (USA). To download the full article, go to the publications list.

Research Article Publication - December 2010
The research study on Focal Hand Dystonia, started in 2007 and completed in March 2010, has now been published in the medical journal Medical Problems of Performing Artists. To get the reference of the article, go to the publications list.

Dystoniamatters! - Issue 70, Winter 2010
The newsletter of the Dystonia Society, winter issue 2010 has been published. It is a special issue on Dystonia and Physiotherapy. Several articles are featured, including a large scale research study that has been carried out in Scotland on Cervical Dystonia (p.13,14), and an article written by Patrice on his research study on Focal Hand Dystonia (p.15,16). Click here to read it (3MB download), or go to the publications list.

New website - "Athletes and the Arts"
This new website, designed for performing artists, was announced at the annual conference Medical Problems of Performing Artists held in Snowmass, Colorado in July 2010. The website is the result of a collaboration between the Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). It aims to identify key medical and wellness issues unique to musicians / performing artists, and deliver educational material. Click here to access it or go the Links section.

"Medical Problems of Performing Artists", Colorado, USA:
29th July to 1st August 2010
The research study on Focal Hand Dystonia, which started in 2007, was completed in March 2010. The full results were presented at the 28th Annual Symposium on Medical Problems of Performing Artists in Snowmass, Colorado, in July 2010. This conference was organised by the Performing Arts Medicine Association, USA. More information on this conference can be found on their website (PAMA). You can also read the study abstract here.

"Scottish Dystonia Conference", Perth, Scotland: 22 May 2010
The Dystonia Society organises an annual conference in Scotland. This year, it will take place in Perth, Scotland. Patrice will present the final results of his research study at the conference.
Title: "A Combination of Constraint-Induced Therapy and Motor Control Retraining in the Treatment of Focal Hand Dystonia in Musicians".

"3rd International Conference on Movement Dysfunction", UK
Preliminary results of the Focal Hand Dystonia study, which has been ongoing since 2007, have been presented by Patrice at the Third International Conference on Movement Dysfunction (website), held in Edinburgh at the end of October 2009. These preliminary results involve a guitar player and a flute player. You can read the conference abstract here.

October 2011 - Long-Term Follow-up Study on Focal Hand Dystonia
A 3-year follow-up study of the study published in December 2010 in Medical Problems of Performing Artists is on its way. Data collection was carried out in September and October, and statistical analysis will now take place. The aim of the study is to investigate the long-term effects of constraint-induced therapy and motor control retraining in musicians affected by focal hand dystonia.

Research Study on Focal Hand Dystonia
The research study on Focal Hand Dystonia, started in 2007 and completed in March 2010, has now been published in the December 2010 issue of the medical journal Medical Problems of Performing Artists. To get the reference of the article, go to the publications list.

In 2007, Patrice started a research study with a two bagpipers, two guitar players, two flute players, an accordeon player, and an oboe player affected by focal dystonia. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee at Glasgow Caledonian University. Data collection started in May 2007. Participants will be monitored up to one year in order to evaluate their progress. One of the guitar players completed his full year of rehabilitation in May 2008. You can watch his progress over the year on a series of video clips.

Video Clips - Dystonia Study
You can now watch a series of video clips showing sensory motor retuning with one of the guitar players.

MBF Scheme for RSAMD students in Glasgow
The Musicians Benevolent Fund has set up a new scheme to help students by providing a grant towards health-related treatment costs. If you are a full-time student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, you will qualify for help up to £250 if you contact BAPAM. However, there are some conditions:

You have to be a full-time student at the RSAMD.
You need to download the "Student Application for Treatment Grant" form on www.mbf.org.uk/studenthealth.
You must have the first page of this form signed by the person responsible for the scheme at the RSAMD, before contacting the Clinic.
Your health problem or injury needs to be related to playing your instrument.
You will be able to get help if you are a singer and experience problems with your voice.
The MBF Scheme also covers students suffering from anxiety or stage fright.
You will be assessed by a BAPAM GP, and if you need physiotherapy, the GP will refer you to me for subsequent treatments. Contact the BAPAM helpline for more information.

Press Cuttings

BAPAM (2012) Patrice Berque wins Movement Research Award. Click here to see the News entry on BAPAM's website.
Wright J (2010) Treating Musicians: "When Practice is a Pain". Frontline Magazine,The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Vol.16(8):24-27. This article gives an insight on my work with musicians. Online Article - Frontline Magazine.
Graham J (2009) Suffering for their Art: Focal Hand Dystonia. Piping Today. Vol.43:22-24.
Hickling F (2007) Pain Stopped Play. The Guardian. Friday 9 March 2007. Online Article - The Guardian.