Relationship of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Musical Practice Intensity among Musicians During the COVID-19 Pandemic A Descriptive Questionnaire Study

Author(s)

Ferreira, Jenyffer Rodrigues ; Nogueira Carrer, Helen Cristina ; Cid, Marina Machado ; Oliveira, Ana Beatriz

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MEDICAL PROBLEMS OF PERFORMING ARTISTS; v. 37, n. 4, p. 7-pg., 2022-12-01.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: As soon as COVID-19 spread around the world, prevention and control measures were taken, such as masking and physical distancing, which changed people's routines, including musical practice among pro-fessional and amateur musicians. OBJECTIVE: This descriptive questionnaire study was designed to: 1) investigate how the pandemic affected musical practice among musicians; 2) determine how musicians remained motivated in their new routine; 3) identify the presence of pre-COVID musculoskeletal symptoms; and 4) ana-lyze whether musculoskeletal symptoms decreased, maintained, or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 89 musicians from Brazil partici-pated in an online survey, from August 2020 to January 2021. The survey form included questions about motiva-tion, musical practice frequency, and the presence and characterization of musculoskeletal symptoms (adapted from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, NMQ). Musicians were asked to consider the periods before and during the pandemic to answer the questions. RESULTS: During the pandemic, the frequency of musi-cal practice decreased (p<0.01), and it could be associ-ated with the individual's perceptions of motivation. Musculoskeletal symptoms in the previous 12 months were reported by 58%. When comparing the period before the pandemic to the present, 35.3% of musicians reported their musculoskeletal symptoms had not changed, while 33.3% reported that they had increased. Wrists and hands, lower and upper back, shoulders, and neck were the body sites with most frequent complaints. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/12800-8 - Identification of musculoskeletal symptoms and biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors in among orchestra musicians
• Grantee: Jenyffer Rodrigues Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation