A Study of Musculotendinous Problems of Students Majoring in Musical Instruments in Korea

기악과 학생들의 근육과 건 증상에 대한 조사연구

This study was undertaken to identify the musculotendinous problems and contributing factors to those problems In students majoring in musical instruments in Korea. The data were collected from March 2, 1996 to March 31, 1996 from 261 music students in various geographical areas. The data were analyzed for descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square using SPSS $PC^+$ program. The results of this study were as follows : 1. In a questionnaire survey of 261 music students, one hundred twenty five(47.9%) reported having had various musculotendinous symptoms. Twenty seven students among the those who had previous symptoms(21.9%) reported the present symptoms. 2. The experience rates of musculotendinous problems in keyboard players, string players and woodwind players were 50.3%, 48.2%, 33.3% respectively. 3. Most of the students practiced most intensively during their high school years and the musculotendinous symptoms began at the same period. 4. Pain, tenderness and stiffness were the most common symptoms, while paresthesia and motor dysfunction were rare. This indicates that most players had muscle tendinous overuse, while small number had nerve entrapment and motor dysfunction. 5. In past and present symptoms, string players experienced musculotendinous symptoms mainly in both sides of shoulders, lumbar area, left finger, and left wrist, while keyboard players experienced more symptoms in the right wrist, shoulder, fingers than left side. 6. The major contributing factors to the symptoms were weight of instrument, types of instruments, types of daily activities, duration of practice, and playing technique. 7 The most frequent treatment modalities for the symptoms were acupuncture or moxibustion, other alternative therapy such as heat compress and massage. Through this study it was found that the musculotendinous problems might be increased along with their career, due to lack of knowledge about preventive measures and patterns of health behavior seeking alternative modalities rather than professional consultation. Therefore, preventive measures that focus on playing habits such as duration of practice, frequency of rest and position while playing should be developed and taught to the students, their parents, and music educators. Doctors who are interested in this area should attempt to correct the position and posture while playing of the posture. And measures for reduction of loading of instrument weight should also be developed.