Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001
For more information, contact:Joanne L. Swanson(847) 384-4035 [email protected]
A.J. Wright(847) 384-4034 [email protected]
Todd Schuetz(847) 384-4032 [email protected]
CARPAL TUNNEL, CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME TOP MOST COMMON INJURIES TO PERFORMING ARTISTS
NEW YORK--The rigors encountered by performing artists are similar to those endured by the professional athlete. They each undertake a vigorous regimen of training and conditioning, often eight to ten hours of practice daily.
"Musicians and other performing artists are exposed to tremendous amounts of stress in the upper extremities during practices and recitals," said Barry P. Simmons, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston, at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' Orthopaedic Update.
"Even the less aggressive music of the composers like Bach presents many of the same potentials for strain and injury, " said Dr. Simmons.
In this arena of professional artists, the demands of excellence, precision and endurance can be costly to the body of the performing artist, often leading to seriously debilitating conditions such as carpal tunnel or cubital tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel is caused by pressure exerted on the median nerve at the wrist and cubital tunnel is caused by repeated injury/pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
The conditions and treatments discussed today by Dr. Simmons are not limited to performing artists such as musicians. They may also occur in other artists, such as sculptors, painters who extensively use their hands and upper extremities.
Treatments available to performing artists result in a high degree of success and recovery. After operative and non-operative treatment, many musicians return to their careers to attain a peak level of performance.
"In the absence of modern treatments, we can only speculate as to how many careers were cut short or altered by the lack of effective treatment for an injury," explained Dr. Simmons. "Certainly, the modern musician is better-equipped than musicians at any other time to find relief from injury and proactively address causes and preventative measures."
Dr. Simmons provided helpful steps to avoid injury including:
-Always stretch before practices and recitals
-Allow for adequate rest periods
-Respond to the pain and cease practicing
-Understand the difference between normal discomfort and detrimental pain
-Get an evaluation from your physician
The 25,500-member American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) or (http://orthoinfo.aaos.org), is a not-for-profit organization providing educational programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public.
An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (www.boneandjointdecade.org), the global initiative in the years 2000-2010 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve peoples' quality of life.
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