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Musicians have more in common with athletes than one might think. Making music, like playing sports, takes time, practice, dedication, discipline, and teamwork. Both endeavors also require physical stamina, and both take a toll on one’s body. Musicians, like athletes, can experience discomfort, pain, and diminished performance due to overuse and repetitive motion injuries. Fortunately, chiropractic care offers treatments to help musicians feel better and perform their best.
How Common Is Chronic Pain in Orchestra Musicians?
Up to half of all musicians will experience some form of practice-related or performance-related musculoskeletal injury during their career. Repetitive motion injuries and postural imbalances are very common among instrumentalists. Backaches from holding a heavy instrument and hand or finger pain from repetitively pressing keys are frequent causes of chronic pain. Depending on the instrument played, musicians may experience discomfort or injury in other areas like the jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, and hips. Holding an embouchure, wearing a neck strap, or drawing a bow can all take a physical toll.
Some symptoms of these injuries include:
- Pain
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Stiffness
- Loss of muscle control.
These can be minor, or they can lead to decreased (or even loss of) ability to perform.
Can Chiropractic Care Help Musicians?
Musicians can benefit from chiropractic care to reduce pain or discomfort, improve posture, fix bodily imbalances, and restore range of motion. Treatments may include adjustments to remove subluxations, massage therapy, physical therapy, and the Graston Technique®, among others.
Our specialty is the Graston Technique®, which is especially helpful in treating hand, finger, thumb, and wrist pain stemming from carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, arthritis, trigger finger, nerve pain, and focal hand dystonia (also known as musician’s dystonia). Focal dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle spasms in the affected body part. It is common among musicians, writers, and athletes, and is often referred to as “the yips.”
The Graston Technique® is a type of therapy that uses specialized stainless-steel tools to locate and release knotted muscles, fascial adhesions, and scar tissue that can cause pain and inhibit movement. Graston improves blood flow to the impacted areas, which reduces inflammation and promotes healing.
At your next appointment, we can discuss treatments with the Graston Technique® for neck and back pain. Additionally, we can discuss how Graston tendon treatment can be used to heal other areas of the body.
East Bay Chiropractic Wellness Helps You Make Beautiful Music
For more than 35 years, East Bay Chiropractic Wellness has provided a broad range of chiropractic services to musicians, artists, writers, and other individuals who experience discomfort endemic to these activities. We can help you prepare for and recover from the effects of repetitive motion and overuse on your hands, back, neck, and other areas with the Graston Technique®, adjustments, massage, and more. Contact us online to schedule an appointment.
