Injured Professional Musicians and the Complex Relationship between Occupation and Health

Abstract

This mixed format (research and discussion) article addresses the relationship between occupation and health. The conceptual discussion is deepened by including findings from a phenomenological study of the lived experience of professional musicians with playing-related injuries. Participants described decreased awareness of time and of their bodies when they were healthy, particularly when experiencing flow. Participants described flow as detrimental to their health, and used strategies to disrupt flow in order to continue in their chosen occupation. This choice can be seen as unhealthy, particularly in cases where the musician has been advised to decrease or stop playing for health reasons. However, occupational science theories favour individual choice in occupations. This apparent contradiction can be resolved if the definition of health is broad and includes justice and freedom to choose.

Keywords:

• Occupation
• Health
• Flow
• Occupational justice
• Musicians

Acknowledgements

This article is based on a presentation given to the Combined SSO:USA and CSOS conference: Redefining Boundaries and Bridges in Occupation, in October 2010 in London, Ontario, Canada. It reports selected findings from the author's doctoral dissertation. The research was funded by a doctoral fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.