Musculoskeletal symptoms in university music students: does major matter?

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate and compare the prevalence and profile of musculoskeletal symptom (MSS) outcomes across cohorts of university music students with different ‘majors’: (i) performance and nonperformance students, and (ii) classical and non-classical performance students. Data were collected using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, and regression analyses were used to compare the groups. Of the 166 participating students, 92.5% reported experiencing MSSs in the last 12 months, and 72.6% in the last 7 days. Few significant differences were identified between groups. Musculoskeletal symptoms are a problem for all types of university music students, and all should have access to support to prevent and manage their MSSs, regardless of their majors.

Keywords:

• Musician
• music
• musculoskeletal
• pain
• comparison
• epidemiology
• occupational diseases
• adults

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the colleagues who provided advice regarding this project, and those who helped facilitate recruitment. The authors would also like to thank Elizabeth Broadbent for granting us approval to use the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire.

Additional information

Funding

JS was a recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, and a SafeWork SA WHS Supplementary Scholarship (funded by the South Australian Government). SafeWork SA and the South Australian Government do not endorse the content of this material, and the views expressed herein do not represent the views of SafeWork SA or the South Australian Government.